Jose Pasillas (Incubus) Drum Kit Tour

Jose Pasillas gives a tour of his drum kit for Incubus 2018 European tour. Exclusively for en.beatit.tv/ - the drummers' website. Shot on August 20, 2018, in Berlin, Germany.
en.beatit.tv/jo...
“I’ve always thought one of the positive aspects of the fact that I’ve never taken any formal training in drumming is I’ve never really felt restricted to any one thing. I feel like because I didn’t take lessons I kind of devoured everything that I listened to and tried to dissect everything that interested me musically. On the other side of it, I feel I kinda lack proper technique and even chops.
I’ve always loved marching band. I did do marching band for one year. I think I was in 6th grade, so that was very basic teaching of reading and some sticking but it was kind of switching between playing cymbals, bass drum, snare drum. I wasn’t really focused on any one thing and that was the only year that I played music in school. For the most part, I’m self-taught. I did take lessons from Peter Erskine. It was maybe 6 or 7 years ago for 8 or 9 months. I’d go there a couple of times a month. I just kinda wanted a mentor and I’ve always been interested in jazz. My feeling was always that if you could conquer and master jazz, you could play everything. But that takes years and years and years of doing, so I took about a year of lessons with him. It was really cool and he’s such an amazing guy. It was a really good experience. I still feel like I could use some training…
How did you arrive at the configuration you’re using right now? I especially mean the low hanging toms and floor toms.
The configuration I’m using right now evolved over the years. I’ve been playing this setup for maybe 4 or 5 years now. My setup has always been pretty much the same for the last 10 or 15 years. I had two rack toms, two floor toms. Home is where I like to experiment, have fun and try a lot of different things. Then, I’ll bring that setup out on the road. Playing at home and playing live are two different things for me. I actually think that this is another disadvantage of not being trained because if I had technique, I would apply that whether I’m playing live or at home. Because I’m at home, I’m more calm, I feel stripped down, and I’m very focused, I play totally different then when I play live with the energy and adrenaline. I would always scramble to put my kit back to the way I had it before, so it kinda stayed the same for the last decade or so.
I’ve always sat really low. I start with my seat. I always started sitting down and having my legs horizontal or perpendicular with the floor so that the core of my body was easy to lift my feet up and have good balance. That’s where I started. From there, I’ve always played low, essentially ’cause I’m short to begin with. I always wanted a rim shot, no matter if I was hitting the snare or the tom. I liked the way it sounded. Growing up, I didn’t know you weren’t really supposed to do that with the toms. Our old manager was friends with Bernie Dresel, who was the drummer for the Brian Setzer Orchestra. He came into my jam room one day, I asked him for some pointers, so he said: ’Let me hear you play’. I was hitting rim shots every time and he asked: ’Why do you do that on every hit?’. I’m like: ’I don’t know, I like the sound of it’. I’ve always just loved this sound and over the last few years I like the feeling of being more on top of my drum kit, so the lower my snare went, the lower my toms went and the lower everything went. It just sort of slowly evolved to that over time.
What do I get out of drumming after all these years? It’s the same sort of feeling. Playing live in front of an audience is always the same adrenaline high. I’ve always been chasing that adrenaline pretty much my whole life. I’ve always skateboarded and surfed, done very physical activities and I think part of that is the adrenaline and the endorphines that I get. Playing music does the same thing for me. It was a very creative outlet. I’ve always been an artist my whole life - drawing, painting… Music is just another extension of it. I really enjoy playing with my band. I like playing to music and it’s sort of a canvas. The songs are structured, they have parts that are relatively the same, but it’s still a sort of a blank canvas that every night you’re sort of winging it. It’s just that feeling. It’s still there and it’s still as vivid as when I was a little kid.”

[@michaelhidalgo9861]

One of the sickest drummers!

[@jonn443]

I have that same 21" HH Raw Bell Ride and it's the best sounding ride cymbal I have ever heard in my life.

[@mattperkins7038]

Yessir

[@matthewgonano636]

Yeah man. It really is

[@monumentsNmelodies]

Jose Is the reason I started playing Drums 18 years ago. Thanks for this video.

[@ENBeatitTV]

Welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@ImSueeb]

Same

[@desertnate]

Me three 😁 I saw you live in Cincinnati 2012 but have been listening since 98

[@monumentsNmelodies]

@Jotunn Incubus Is not "Pop" lol.

[@monumentsNmelodies]

@Jotunn So you're saying Incubus Is the same genre as Brittany spears? That songs like Redefine or Sick Sad little World are Pop? You can't put Incubus In a specific Genre, which is a big reason their fan base is so diverse

[@derrickperez7490]

i need those sticks for sure. all these dudes have inspired me half my life now. seen em live on August for my 12th time, there live shows I could die happy after hearing them live.!! quality is fckn))) bing boom bam splash boom boom boom, Ra da koom bat!!

[@upgradedfirenation1465]

I like how he describes it as a Lowrider Kit 🔥🥁🔥 ¡Simón Jose! 🔥😎🔥

[@Not_Andrew_Huberman]

Why isn't the prototype his signature yet?

[@BDizDaBest]

Surprised at the volume of negative comments here about Jose. Would it be nice if he sounded more excited and was more knowledgeable about drum terminology and different aspects of drum kit setup and all that? Sure. But you have to remember that he never took any formal training or lessons. He's just a guy who picked up some sticks and started bashing. And he happens to be pretty freaking awesome at that, so who really cares about all the other stuff?

[@theladiesmanou812]

We need Jose Cam in 2019.

[@jasonlindsay196]

Awesome badass drummer!!!

[@Enkonstigtyp]

His drumtech could just switch out the entire kit and he wouldnt notice

[@mattnormandrums]

Haha I don’t understand how drummers on this level have no idea or seem to really care about the details of their gear. I’m nerdy about drums so maybe I just like the details.

[@chriscucinotto]

Sad to see that. He’s one of my favorites.

[@monumentsNmelodies]

There's a few reasons. As you hear him say in the video, at certain times he has 3 kits ready to go all around the world. When they play live shows you don't have to be as worried about what specific tones of cymbals, heads you're using because you're not recording an album. Also, when you've been an endorsee for as long as Jose has been, he probably has a room full of cymbals that he's never even touched or played, compared to someone who's not endorsed who might have to save up for 3 months to get a new ride or crash. So It's not that he doesn't care, once you get to that level with that much touring, you pay someone (Tech) to worry about all of that so you don't have to. @@mattnormandrums

[@Greenredfield]

It's because all his gear is quality at this point and his tech knows what he likes.

[@brittonshupe]

​@@mattnormandrums I'm a nerd about gear too but I read his interview on Drum! and he mentioned how many times they switched snares, cymbals and toms throughout each song in the studio. He said most of the stuff was so old you couldn't even read the logo on them anymore. So I'm sure after a while you just stop caring and just tour and play them gear and enjoy how it sounds.

[@airmike._.]

jOSE the beast!!

[@rhysevans7903]

Jose forgets what he plays because he is baked 😂

[@hughrobertsjr.3032]

Man ome of the coldest drummer next to Vinnie Paul. #omeofthegreayest!!!

[@do8671]

Hahah! He is not a gear geek but so a cool and laid back guy haha! 👌🏻🤘🏻

[@spinblackcircles]

This comment section is why some musicians go out of their way to not learn about the gear. Cause you don’t really have to care that much about the specs to play an instrument and people that are snobby about that are pathetic. Obviously it’s cool if you’re into specs but like anything else, looking down on someone especially in this case a respected and multi platinum drummer with objective major chops, is so pitifully stupid.

[@caseydoremus5324]

I understand what you are saying. But as someone who worked in a music store and talked to manufacturers, it's very unprofessional to not know your gear to the point to representing it to the public. When you are endorsed by a company that means you have to endorse them too. Most artists I know are actually really happy to rundown their gear because they get to give back to the companies that have been giving them HEAVY discounts for years. I've seen artists from smaller cymbal or stick companies who opening use other brands even though they are "endorsing" a company. That's really upsetting. If you are going to work with a company you need to be loyal and promote them the best you can.

[@lastcall9998]

Wow, didn't know Incubus had a mexican drummer till now, lol. GG

[@secretjourney4815]

and that matters.... how???

[@jerryguzman9691]

You mean "of Mexican descent" boi

[@lastcall9998]

@@jerryguzman9691 Did you make his wikipedia page? lol, just kidding. Wow, I didn't know he never took lessons. Nice.

[@OneMansLoss]

Heck yeah man, José "This is My Low-Rider" Pasillas

[@KyleBevis-u7j]

What's that little device next to his kit? Is it a metronome?

[@user-dh2kn1qc6y]

He looks like Sean Lennon right there.

[@FanaticDrummer]

Kinda awkward though, cymbals are so high while the drums are low lol

[@braepil]

I think this used to be a popular way to mic to keep the cymbals from bleeding into drum mics if I'm not mistaken. Some drummers also like to have their cymbals "out of the way" so they dont over play them unnecessarily

[@FanaticDrummer]

Brae Pilgrim Portnoy always had one of the best sounding live kits, cymbals are shoulder height and not a crazy distance from reach or mic. People just need better engineers or cymbals that dont kill the overheads lol Its also terrible to always over extend. Self restraint is way better than a uncomfortable set up.

[@birdsmail]

Does anyone know why he angles his kit side on?

[@WINGRIOT]

He said Rim-Shots

[@M.RQ.Mittag910]

Think he means the whole setup configuration, not just the angling of the [main] snare drum

[@M.RQ.Mittag910]

And it's so he can more easily watch/pay attention/perform, easily watching everyone else on stage, particularly I'd say Ben Kenny on bass, and DJ Kimore on the 1s & 2s; for all intents & purposes, those two plus Jose on drums more or less compose Incubus' "rhythm section"

[@Starslope2]

Is that really a rototom? Looks more like an octoban to me.

[@erraticboss168]

Starslope2 it’s an octoban

[@damionchrist]

Ratatom

[@M.RQ.Mittag910]

Damn good call. Was literally thinking this exact shit the ENTIRE time lmfao, fuckin idiots

[@turbobernardi]

Maybe he knows his name… ?

[@mktfree]

ah ah..

[@robertcroix]

1. they are called short stack toms 2. not a roto tom but a rata tom just FYI José

[@Duzz14]

All these kit tours they never ask the 1 question I care about. What fucking pedal are you using?!! At least let us know if he’s using a double or single. I think he uses a single. Man. I don’t care what size your 3rd splash cymbal is. His hardware is all DW but they make so many different pedals now.

[@theorionprogram3323]

He uses a DW 9000 double pedal and hi hat stand, you can see it in his home videos. I know I’m late, just thought I’d give the information lol

[@M.RQ.Mittag910]

Yes he does, and before that, for years he used its predecessor: the DW 5000 single kick pedal

[@Jrock-dx6cd]

Every drum rundown ive ever watched with jose he has a runny nose. Wonder what hes putting up there lol

[@wilmckillop7363]

Worst kit run down I've watched. He seems so uninterested

[@TempoDrift1480]

Dude doesn't even have a clue what he's using, I'd hate to see what happens when he needs to change a tire. Seems like he couldn't lift a can of beer.

[@cr1pt0g0d9]

He has a team that do the work for him. Prob has a different kit every month

[@Quartiano]

Frank J agreed, when you are this caliber of fame you probably have someone set it up, change your kit based on what companies your endorsed by send you on a semi regular basis. Probably just not much of a concern. Other factors are involved I’m sure. He also seems to have pretty good knowledge of whats going on.

[@85ddrummer]

You’re so alpha you just beat your chest instead of a $15,000 kit that you didn’t even have to pay for hey

[@shawnwaitschies2859]

Lol um they say remo

[@aavila1206]

He's a better drummer than you sir

[@TempoDrift1480]

I'd like to see a video of him setting up, I bet he wouldn't even have the slightest idea where to start... Unbelievable how sissy men are now days.

[@DeadtreeFilms1]

All of that just because he didn't know what drum gear he was using? Chad Smith doesn't stay super on top of his gear either, but no one would call him a sissy man. I'm not hating. I just want to understand the reasoning behind that.

[@dye182]

Sounds like a true bitch ass hater

[@lucienfournier0]

Wizzle IM ALPHA AS FUCK, WHY ARE NO GIRLS ATTRACTED TO ME, BECAUSE I CAN MAKE FUN OF MORE FAMOUS DRUMMERS