Drum Teacher Reacts: Ben Shanbrom - "The Closest I've Come" Earthside Drum Playthrough

[@EarthsideBand]

WOW!! This brought such a smile to my face :) I’m truly honored to have been requested for your reaction queue and also given such thorough and incredibly entertaining analysis. I just try to bring what I hear in my head to the kit and do my best to hang on ;) I really appreciate your mention of the lyrical and melodic aspects of the composition-it’s so cool to hear someone speak on that. Thank you so much, Andrew, and you as well, Nathan! You guys are LEGENDS. P.S. Here’s the recent drum playthrough duel some people below have mentioned that we did with Baard Kolstad of Leprous. Cheers! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXubnaSceqyHodE

[@inksentia]

Wow, never expected to see this on here! I love your drumming Ben, OG Earthside fan ever since I was sent promotion material before the album dropped. Can't wait to see what you guys do next :) Thanks Andrew as always for a fantastic video!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

That was out of this universe Ben 🙌👽

[@Arrow2theACL]

So excited to see you guys tour again. Good luck on all your future endeavors.

[@traviskreiger609]

Shit is fire! Love it -- instant fan.

[@nathanmcintyre694]

Ben I’ll see you in Lakewood next month!!!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Every now and then you get something unique that's just a bit special. This is enhanced when it is a band or drummer you have never heard of. This is what the channel is all about. I discover, and then share it. My. God.

[@donatedflea]

its also enhanced by lots of edits and a nice DAW

[@johnnyriley5943]

When Mr. Ben leaned down at 10:40, I thought he was swapping the snare over to a Tom. But, NOOOOO! He was just shifting the kit into a higher gear.... Great stuff!

[@caseyrogers573]

When I discovered this band I was immediately struck by how good a great writer and orchestrater Ben is. His parts are so musical but he still manages to have such a signature voice. Also I don’t think I’ve ever heard such a bright China before.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Well said Casey. Phenomenal player

[@phildupuis1084]

In the space of this video he went from very good to jaw-dropping. Would love to know how he put it all together and then remembered it all. There are no words.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Unbelievable

[@glennsmith3303]

I could listen to this for HOURS! Thank you for this, Mr. Shanbrom

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yes Glenn. Unreal

[@glennsmith3303]

This was seven years ago? How did you find this? How come no one else did? Jeez. Thanks again for this one.., awesome!!!

[@danielhadida3915]

"A dream in static" is a fantastic album, very refreshing for the genre.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Amazing Daniel 🙌

[@adladl4276]

One of the most beautiful piece of drumming I've ever heard.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Have to agree

[@gradypatterson1948]

I'm not seeing anyone else noting the time signature you asked about - I'm hearing 14/8 (but with a 1/4-note feel) subdivided into 6/8 + 8/8 ... (I'm a self-taught guitarist/bassist, so my wording might be weird ;-) ) I'd say the "timbale' " are just that, but tuned more loosely, to lose the super-sharp attack normally characteristic of the instrument? Similarly, in the beginning of the video, the high tom sounds tuned a bit looser than is popular - it allows more sustain, which creates a faint note that goes slightly flatter as it fades - almost like a roto-tom. That melodicism has been explored in-depth by one of my favorite drummers - Terry Bozzio 🙂 Ben is pretty clearly influenced by some great older drummers, and incorporated that well in his own playing! Awesome!

[@benearthside]

You got it! I count most of those 7 sections as a compound meter of 3 and 4 (1-E-&-Uh, 2-E-&-Uh, 3-E-&-Uh - 1-E-&-Uh, 2-E-&-Uh, 3-E-&-Uh, 4-E-&-Uh). I think I usually switch the 3 and 4 in the groove midway through (9:11). Almost anywhere it isn't in 4/4 it's in some division of 7.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

DAYUUUM Grady 'Ears' Patterson

[@nathanmcintyre694]

Hell yeah!! This guy is nuts. I actually got tickets to see this band next month!

[@wolframreactor74]

Where are they playing?

[@nathanmcintyre694]

@@wolframreactor74 The Foundry in Lakewood

[@wolframreactor74]

@@nathanmcintyre694 i may see you there

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

OMG

[@wolframreactor74]

I know the new owner Rae Gentry

[@chriscrim751]

Damn, halfway through I was like," I'm ordering this cd as soon as this video is over."

[@chriscrim751]

Unavailable through Amazon. If anyone knows how I can purchase the cd,please hit me up!

[@mattcav6992]

Nathan, thanks very much for the request. One of the reasons I follow Andrew is his followers come up with some great choices, will be subscribing on Earthside for sure. Absolute top shelf drummer and band for sure. Cheers.

[@DallasGunther]

Damn, that was about as tasty as a song is ever going to get. Absolutely amazing. I'd better investigate this band further.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Pretty much Dallas. Yup that's top tier

[@phillrobinson1517]

this Just blew my mind, I am now an Erathside Fan, Love your vids and knowledgeable reaction, it also opens up my interest in bands ive never heard before, AWESOME

[@mqmvm]

Forgot how good this band is! Don't be too suprised that you've never heard of them, they are criminally underrated. You have well over three times as many subs than they do

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

This is crazy good

[@clurigaconrad]

This...was...totally, mindblowingly amazing... This level of creativity on the drums I haven't heard since the glory days of Mike Portnoy in DT... Truly astonishing!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Incredible John. Glad you like it also

[@Arrow2theACL]

Earthside is one of my favorite bands, but they only came out with one, albeit, amazing album. @Andrew Rooney Drums at some point you have to check out a video where Baard Kolstad of Leprous plays with Ben. "All We Knew And Ever Loved" (Drum Playthrough by Ben Shanbrom & Baard Kolstad) The offical video itself is close to 10 minutes but the video I mention with Baard is 4. Trust me. Consider me blown...crickets....away.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Nothing like getting blown............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... away.

[@gwchomperz6471]

Same thing happened with Native Construct

[@EsDeib]

I had listened to Earthside a bunch, but I had never seen Ben play on video. Immediately struck by how far back he grips the sticks. It’s very particular. Looks like it gives him a ton of space. Incredible playthrough, too. He’s a beast.

[@sharonmattox]

I'm thoroughly impressed by this drummer's playing!! I could listen to him play for an hour, easily. Incredible control and mastery.. WOW!! 👏👏👏👏👏🔥🔥🔥

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Couldn't agree more Sharon!

[@springy-2112]

This is again totally new to me. From my first experience I see and hear a Composer and an accomplished musician who happens to play drums/ percussion. Although this is light years beyond my ability I love the fact I could still understand and enjoy the music. Although it was immensely technical I could hear every single nuance . I can't explain why I really enjoyed this when other equally technical and energetic modern ( yes I'm old) drummers leave me cold. Actually I can explain. FEEL. I'm in no position to judge as a player but I can give my opinion as a listener. ✌️❤️peace and love brother ✌️ ❤️

[@cestusfr]

7:12 Excuse my bassist vocab... To me there is the geography of a drum kit, and there is the "transportation" (the way you land the beat to one place) and this part had me cross eyed for a second! I love the way he landed his beat.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

I get ya!

[@AirwavesEnglish]

Haha, we can see that you really enjoyed this one! This is so incredible; thanks to the guy who recommended this. I like it because it has so much space in the music that he filled so well. There were some parts in there that I couldn't even hear where the pulse was but he made it fit so well and made it so tasty too.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yup tasty alright!

[@guillermorios3183]

Such a masterpiece of an album

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

I bet Guillermo

[@jospehbloseph7172]

Great video Andrew. I’ve never heard these guys. I like when it’s a reaction for me too. Having you to break it down while being as amazed as I am. Plus the timing of the comedic clips was spot on editing. Why I love this channel. Hope that 100k comes soon for you, you deserve it man.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Thank you Joseph!

[@adladl4276]

Beautiful, that's the word that came out first. The work on the cymbals is breathtaking. The rest is no slouch either! EDIT : it's totally mesmerizing.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yup. Next level

[@BobbyJetty1502]

Shades of Dave Weckl and Omar hakim absolutely this guy is a beast and beauty

[@julioivancontrerassoltero9828]

They are mindblowing

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

100% Julio

[@ghostrobot3714]

I actually have those hats somewhere. People dis the AAX series (they're mid-range), but for music that needs a brighter sound they get the job done. Recorded with them a few times. The sound is quite nice, but also quite loud and washy. Really good for rock, not so much for jazz. I play a lot of left hand on the hats, so I upgraded to some HHX clicks. They're super dry, but a bit more dynamic. Sick playing here. For the first part, I'm counting 7's but in groups of 6/8 and 8/8.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

NICE! Yeah I kinda love bright cymbals for the cut

[@Matrixeffect2]

Beside the fact that this guy is a complete monster, it seems like he listened to Gavin Harrison a lot. Very impressive.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Love this vid

[@lolh4x]

I don't really know how I've never given these guys a listen. What a fantastic song and display of drumming. Hey! Another Aquarian Drum Head artist you should check out is Danny Walker's playthrough of Fast Worms by Intronaut in Toronto. Amazing video, I know you'll love his drumming.

[@ghostrobot3714]

Danny Walker is a beast, Intronaut's so damn good. 'Fault Lines' and 'Australopithecus' are legendary. Dude got 'cancelled' though, so I think people tend to stay away from him.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Thanks for the tip!!

[@lolh4x]

@@ghostrobot3714 Yeah I think it's pretty obvious he's clear of all that shit nowadays though. He's in multiple bands and is still endorsed by a bunch of companies. Regardless of what you think, his drumming is fantastic and deserves to be seen still.

[@ghostrobot3714]

@@lolh4x I agree, I think people are far too quick to judge things they have no actual information about. Folks just saw he was fired, and for what reason, and made up their minds. I try to distance the players from the music, cuz you just don't know. I also believe in giving people a chance to better themselves, but the modern world is a pretty harsh and unforgiving place.

[@lolh4x]

@@ghostrobot3714 Completely agree.

[@kraterkop]

Yes Earthside! Waiting for about 60 years for their new album but it'll be worth the wait!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

I bet!

[@kraterkop]

They just dropped a new single and the drumming is again magnificient and powerfull!

[@danielwade1978]

Trying waiting 13 years (Tool)

[@schnerpify]

You should check out his drum duel with Baard Kolstad on the earthside song "all we knew and ever loved"

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

I'll get to it!

[@3drumsticks]

Yeah I agree, this is the best video request thing I've seen you do at least. Wow, that's so refreshing to watch/hear! And I also agree with the crisp brilliant finish cymbal sound cutting through the mix. Such a good thing here!

[@Kelly.sapphire]

Saw them live years ago when they toured with Leprous. Get to see them again next month with Vola. He and Baard (Leprous) have an awesome playthrough of their newest song.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

NICE!

[@donnelson6694]

Wow! That was very enjoyable. Great skills. Thanks Andrew.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

She always says all that!

[@infinite7501]

Wow, Great Pick. Ben is on another level. I sat down and tried to learn this when it came out. Super frustrating! So many time signature changes going on. Constantly switching hands. SYNCOPATION!! I walked away from the set a hundred times to get my bearings. Earthside is an amazing band all together. Their approach to music puts them in a class of their own.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yup this is a brain melter

[@Ironhandjohn]

It’s like watching someone tearing around the Isle of Man on a superbike or an aerobatic display at an air show. Tightly controlled but all over the place at the same time. Been a fan of Earthside since shortly after this album came out & revisit it often.

[@camerono8372]

That was really something 🎉 the execution of that song was brilliant. 😮

[@Nefville]

How have I never heard of this band? Ben is INCREDIBLE. He really does bring out the Clay Davis in me too because all I can say is: "sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeiiiitttttt"

[@Lifeaccordingtochrizz]

Never heard this band before but my god that drumming is absolutely beautiful

[@sunnyskye1106]

Best part is.... ALL their stuff is INSANE!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

This is soooo good

[@Therealozzy47]

I am too broke lately for PayPal but I did request this in comments quite some time ago. So glad you made it to this one Andrew! keep up the good work!

[@DecapitatedPlaythings]

Wait a damn minute! Between Ben Shanbrom, El Estepario Siberiano, Mike Portnoy, and Gavin Harrison I don't see a reason to keep drumming!!! That was ridiculous!!! I need a shot of whisky..

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

I hear ya

[@Drumsholic]

Earthside is amazing band and from the start seems very amazing cover!!Excellent Drumming, this guy is a beast!!!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

100%

[@asmitghosh6092]

Even Daniel Tompkins ( vocalist of TesseracT) was featured in one of their song called A Dream in Static. They are that good 👌

[@Drumsholic]

@@asmitghosh6092 from the first album, yes!!

[@kgbcorvette]

Great reaction!! He's playing style reminds me of Matt Gartska and Baard Kolstad ! Amazing!!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yup good call

[@johnnyresistance]

Damn, what a drummer, what a great band. Thanks for putting me onto new music! Awesome.

[@cptlooney]

My reaction at the 11:00 mark onward was the same, the timing of those fills was amazing

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yup! 🤯

[@woodentulike2no]

The magnificence of this piece is surpassed only by the magnanimousness of the Artist. But seriously...if you like this style of Drumming, look no further than Gavin Harrison. He is the living breathing Epitome of Magnificence.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yup Gavin is the man :)

[@dyrkeschaefer]

Wasn't yet aware of Earthside. Damn! That's nice.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Neither! Mind blown

[@chrisfranklin4061]

Great vid sir! Those appear to be Tama Mini Timbales (8"and 10"). Have a set myself. Awesome for adding a little something extra. Cheers!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Sound great Chris!

[@kostassyrtariotis3185]

The guy's done his paradiddles! And if this is one take... well I guess we have a new Gavin Harrison coming up here

[@freddieg]

Sheeeeet, 700 hundred to the 1 hundy k. Go Roons.

[@phildupuis1084]

Amazing performance and what a great drumming song

[@alexntemperley]

I love Earthside. The drumming is so tasteful and fits the music so well. At the same time I listen to the other instruments and wonder how the hell the drummer came up with his parts.

[@cheneyrobert]

Well whoever tuned that kit has some skills 😎👏👏👏👏thanks for the introduction….this was 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@martianshoes]

I hear shades of Garska, Collins and Harrison. Stunning. Like Rooney, I didn’t want it to end.

[@Jason17300]

Love the Hall and Oates shirt

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Thanks Jason!

[@timgelinas-drummer7802]

What. A. Monster

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Frightening.

[@aquadime333]

I've watched this video countless times. That entire album is phenomal. Also i forgot how (cussword) impressive he is. 😆

[@ryansmith9920]

Just discovered you as well as Earthside. Love your style man, great videos!

[@adladl4276]

Eagerly waiting for your cover Andrew 😉

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

On the way... #2035

[@exit1368]

🙌🤩 This was awesome! Thanks, never heard any of this before. That being said, your ⚡️ Hall & Oates ⚡️ T-shirt made me darn near fall off the chair! 😂

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

HAHA That's good to hear :)

[@Rassalcon]

The main issue with this playthrough is you run though every level of stank-face long before the song ends

[@danrmetal]

Love the kit sound and what a drummer.. shhiiiiiiiii.. 😆 😂 😆

[@LV426CX1]

I was waiting for you to find this!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

OMG Sebastian

[@LV426CX1]

He and his band Earthside is amazing

[@uGotGot1618]

“Hit me in the comments with your vitriol” cracked me up hard haha came outta nowhere

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

BAHAHA

[@Mulukkis]

Seen a lot more technically advanced and faster drummers, but this is top notch creativity and musicality. And all that in somewhat complicated rhytmic framework. F'N AMAZING!

[@TragicallySchapp]

Merry Crispness everyone! 🎅

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

HAHAHAHA

[@grahamkey8496]

Love Earthside, especially when Daniel Tompkins from TesseracT turns up on vocals. Skyharbor are another awesome prog metal band he sings with in similar style.

[@cainzking]

You re-did the intro fill! Sneaky boi ^^

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

YES! I made a video on the re recording :)

[@scottryan1989]

Brilliant drummer

[@GalegHelross]

In my head Earthside was a band I had heard before, but this is certainly not what I had in my head.

[@golo00011]

Brilliant!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

YUP!

[@nikitalila]

He's awesome 🔥

[@MickH60]

Great drumming..!

[@luckystryke9709]

wow. period

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yup!

[@ivanderbalifield]

... you must see video, when Earthside colab with Baard Kolstad from Leprous ... song name is All We Knew And Ever Loved drum playthrough ... its amazing ... :) ...

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

I will Ivan!

[@__Diagnosis]

I love this song so much ❤️ did you hear their new song?

[@aaroncole3941]

This has a kinda Daney Carey feel. Very cool. I'll be looking this up!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yup similar world for sure Aaron

[@marc1lawson]

Ben is awesome !I played drums along side big names in 60s and 70s then became a preacher but 2 of my sons now play drums so I hve heard many of the best of all stripes=jazz and metal.Ben sounds like a mix of Danny Carey of Tool , and Mike Portnoy of Dream Theatre and others today ,but as he develops will become a unique sound. Hard to say you can get much better than that.

[@TheLavaenygg]

Let's all remember that Martin Lopez and Martin Axenrot (Opeth) really opened the door for this type of lyrical metal drumming. It has come a long way since but I think Opeth's "April Ethereal" or "The Lotus Eater" will echo from the late '90 to 2024

[@nikitalila]

Ben recently published a drumthrough to the brillant song Let The Truth Speak

[@iav9488]

Love Earthside

[@ListentoFairToMidlandNow]

Saw them live was fuckin Awesome!

[@sanchezzz1]

Incredible

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yup!

[@gwchomperz6471]

Mr. Rooney, I’ll cuss for ya… holy shit that was incredible

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

THANK YOU

[@Silentghos]

INSANE 🤯🤯🤯

[@GeorgeTsiros]

snare sounds like a slap in the face

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

YUP!

[@GeorgeTsiros]

@@AndrewRooneyDrums not a drummer, I only have a drumpad. Still working on getting my left to be as consistent as my right doing paradiddles. Still, I pay a lot of attention to the snare. I suspect the snare is considered the most important component? Aaanyway, i like it when the snare sounds violent.

[@Ash_Hudson]

A long shot as I'm not a patreon subscriber just yet, but I'd love for you to listen and react to a song by the Mars Volta called Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt (the studio version). The drummer is Jon Theodore who is basically Latin John Bonham. I won't give away much more about the song, as I want you to be unprepared but I don't think you'll be disappointed either, my friend.

[@LoggR84]

Time signature was 7/4 in groups of 3-4-3-4

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Cheers Michael

[@LoggR84]

@@AndrewRooneyDrums cheers, Andrew! Big fan here. Keep doing your thing.

[@alanbevington4875]

I thought the same, although Drumeo may peg it as 6/8 with two 4/8 meas.

[@Tr0llmannen]

Regarding the time signature from 5:15 to 5:42: When I slow the video down to 50%, the phrase is repeated 4x and I count to 20 in each phrase. There is a weird triplet feeling going on as well which makes it very hard to figure out anything at 100% because the last hits of each phrase feel very odd.

[@chadjohnson5577]

It smells like timbales. It must be timbales. 🤣 Killer drums.

[@PaulHilburger]

Earthside rules. PROG ON ANDREW!

[@lisamitchell1355]

Andreas Lill from Vanden Plas 2010 Drum Solo is a good one

[@gregoryhuffman3071]

Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitaki mushrooms that was good for me... As Meg Ryan once said, "Yes! YES! YEEES!"

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yes and YES!

[@MickH60]

Andrew, you talk of "orchestration", have you ever listened to any drumming by an Aussie by the name of Grant Collins ? Last time I saw him he had 17 pedals on his amazing kit , He writes whole pieces just for the drums. Have a listen to "Tubby the robot" or the more "conventional" , "PROG ROCK with heaps time signatures" ! , they're on you tube, I was there for the first one, he's a monster drummer....! PS He's the only drummer i've ever seen that can play 4 different time signatures at the same time with each limb !!!!

[@michaelwoodward5787]

I wish I could be that good at something.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Insanity Michael!

[@dirkkrau-stangenberg5632]

This is stunnig, WOW !!! Reminds me of Delta Empire, check out this guy, Cheers !!!

[@warren_r]

I know Meinl is all the rage these days but the classic Sabian AAX hi-hat still is at the top of the mountain, far as I'm concerned.

[@academaciated7466]

Nope. I’m missing that part of the brain to count that sheeeeeet out 🤬 😂

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Mad stuff!