Sometimes you need to go backwards to move forwards in life. I have always considered myself a 3-dimensional well-rounded person with lots of interests and talents, not a 2-dimensional one-trick pony. So with that said, having lots of likes and being into lots of different things is not always easy. As we all get older, I personally find myself finding less and less time to have time or the funds to delve into every hobby I indulged in of years past. With action and adventure sports I had to narrow them down, you just don’t have the time but you don’t want to loose the skill set you have built up over the years.

However, there was something I had really liked and enjoyed as a youth and that was playing the drums purely for the joy of it all. At the time, the state of Rock ‘N’ Roll was solid and the whole music scene was real creative, but the now reality-show based MTV and corporate America, in my opinion, have completely ruined music. There were a couple of years where I didn’t even turn on the radio. For me, it was like the whole music scene disappeared, and the new music coming out was lack luster and totally uninspiring. So I kind of gave up on music, and was really disappointed. What happened to the true artists and musicians? Eventually, I sold my beloved heavy metal Tama Grandstar 2 drum kit; she was beautiful with power-toms and two 24” double bases, with the heaviest Paiste and Zildjian cymbals made. She sounded great, but I wasn’t feeling her any more after being away at college and being separated from her for a long period of time. At the time, never finding the right drumsticks didn’t help any either. During this time, I was evolving as an artist or as I like to say devolving. That’s what art & design school and living in the media capital of the world will do to you, causing information overload and creative burnout, while stunting your growth as an artist. Not good for a creative person.

With all that said, I have been playing some old CD’s of great bands that I have always liked such as The Police, Led Zeppelin, The Doors and Duran Duran and I’m totally rediscovering their amazing music and hearing it in a whole new way. Basically, I have been rediscovering music of all genres, and sometimes you have to go backwards to find what you are searching for. Music and playing the drums brought great joy and rhythm to my life, especially in the autumn and winter months. Rediscovering an old love has been a unique experience, one in which I plan on approaching with more wisdom and care this time around.

It has not been easy to find the things I truly love in life, it has taken a long wile for me. I find it a strange journey, coming almost full-circle with lots of other things as well. As a creative individual, I find it hard to stay motivated and creative sometimes, so I suggest doing whatever works. Different scenery, different people, a different approach, and a different perspective may just be what the doctor ordered.

Well I have finally found the right drumsticks. I feel it is critical to find the right sticks, they are an extension of your hands and they provide you your voice on the drums. Now I am just waiting on Chris Brady of Brady Drums to finally offer and make a 26-Inch base drum, then we are all-good.

www.YouTube.com | The Big Beat hits LI by Newsday – New York Hard Rock Drummer Casey Gobbi interviewed

Well The Big Beat was a total success! The event took place at SUNY Farmingdale Campus (Roosevelt Hall), Farmingdale, NY on Sunday, November 7, 2010 and was held by The Original Long Island Drum Center in Plainview, NY. I have to personally thank Dennis Ricci, Andrew and crew of the Original Long Island Drum Center on organizing such a killer event and for accommodating me, so thanks guys!

New York and Long Island drummers of all skill levels and experience participated with ages ranging from 8 to 67-years young. It was the largest gathering of drummers ever assembled across North America to celebrate the joy of drumming and to raise money for Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation and local charities, and to break a Guinness World Record of 6,000 drummers simultaneous keeping a beat, and we did!

What a bunch of cool guys and galls that participated in the rocking event. Just to see over 100+ super cool vintage kits mixed with modern drum kits of all sizes and colors with all that glistening chrome hardware was totally spectacular. The bands were great; the synchronized Soul-O-Drums – Bill Donnell’s 3-piece percussion ensemble was cool, Frank Bellucci with his super fast hands, and the funky Brooklyn, NY Approaching Storm Marching Band was wicked. There was a fastest hands and fastest feet competition that took place, and their were lots of goodies given away via raffle. The camaraderie was amazing but that is typical of drummers, and everyone was awesome; we shared fist bumps, high fives, and hugs after the marathon event. I will never forget it. I am so glad I participated in it, and that my Uncle, my drumming hero, was there to share it with me made it even better.

They held The Big Beat event in two New York locations one on Long Island in Farmingdale, NY and the other upstate in Buffalo, NY but not in Manhattan yet. I really hope they continue this on Long Island, if not ever year but maybe every other year or so would be cool and to have it grow with more participants and even more synchronized playing time.

Check out another The Big Beat 2010 – Long Island video on YouTube.

The Big Beat | Seattle, WA: Drummers

Drummers Giving Back for Charity!

Twenty of the top percussion companies in the industry have donated merchandise totaling more than $235,000 in retail value for the Five-Star The Big Beat that will occur in 15 cities in North America on Sunday, November 7, 2010. Each participating store will be giving away more than $15,000 worth of drum gear to participants in this exciting charity event that will benefit the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation and in some cities, the addition of a local charity as well. Plus, one lucky winner in one of the 15 cities will get a special Dream Theater “Black Clouds & Silver Linings” replica tour bass drum head autographed especially for this occasion by drummer Mike Portnoy and the entire band!

The Big Beat will bring together the largest gathering of drummers ever assembled across North America to celebrate the joy of drumming and to raise money for worthwhile causes. Not only will each location try to break the individual city record for the most drummers playing the same beat at one time, but the participants will also try to shatter the record the Big Beat set last year for drummers playing the same beat in multiple cities at the same time! This marks the third year that the Five-Star Drum Shops group has organized this event, with the hope of expanding each year, until drummers across the globe are locked in on one worldwide groove.

Drummers of all skill levels and experience are encouraged to get involved and contact their local participating Five-Star member for details:

Plainview, NY: The Original Long Island Drum Center, www.lidrum.com
• Date: Sunday, November 7, 2010
• Location: SUNY Farmingdale Campus (Roosevelt Hall), Farmingdale, NY