Performance Spotlight: Robert 'Sput' Searight

Vic Firth Artist Robert 'Sput' Searight of Snarky Puppy performs "Bent Nails" for the VF cameras at The Fortress in downtown Los Angeles!
"Bent Nails" was written by Robert 'Sput' Searight for the Snarky Puppy Groundup Record.
The VF crew has captured HOURS of unbelievable music from some of the best drummers in the business! We'll be releasing a new video every month in this new series called "The Fortress Sessions"
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www.vicfirth.com/artists/seari...
The Fortress: www.thefortressla.com/theFortr...

[@DBSplayers]

dude has the most unique setups ever

[@brod_drumz]

yeah his cymbal is like not even facing him. & where there is suppose to be a floor tom he has a snare

[@JeromeB32]

His ballad snare is tuned so perfect and deep. Pocket

[@stixxandstones]

I love his spacing and control of his ghost notes. He's leading with his left hand more and more lately. One of my top 5 modern drummer/musicians for a reason!

[@milo6890]

How can he play it different EVERY single time???

[@enriquesosaoficial]

Believe me, it’s harder play it the same way.

[@Stickycub]

@@enriquesosaoficial Most won't really understand this

[@EthanHGray]

@@Stickycub true

[@rired2005]

Dang, every time I listen to this I feel like I'm back in AP Algebra class Junior year/HS.... I know there's good shit going on, but I'll be damned if I know how to describe it...

[@8020drummer]

This is killing, but I bet even he's rethinking the scarf...

[@CarlSackey]

The 80/20 Drummer lmaooo hilarious

[@malikb570]

It's because my man sput is soooooo cold! Lol

[@TimWatsonDrums]

dude I love your lessons!

[@andrewwray8778]

I think the scarf is dope haha!

[@MatheusPereiraBarros]

Good luck with Toto, man! Amazing!

[@peer_bot]

Gotta love this Drummer! Grooves like Hell

[@tomfoxen]

this man is absolutely genius and a stunning talent!

[@ELAMdude69]

One of the groups I play for just recently started covering this, charts and all, it's all pretty much in 4. The phrasing of the melodies is what throws it off. Great song.

[@kristianquinto5780]

That Snarky Puppy sound and vibes!🔥

[@JerkMorrison]

Sput Searight is the greatest drummer in the world.

[@brianboucher4248]

+John Mark Well, I just think there's no such thing as the "greatest drummer in the world..." My current 'top 5' list (changes ).... Jo Jo Mayer, Gerald Heyward, Adam Deitch, Sput, Chris Coleman... but soo many others as well... Fun stuff...

[@gustafsone]

Sput is amazing and most definitely one of the best current drummers, but there are so many others that are just as good. I don't even know if I could even pick a "best" drummer right now. I could name someone, then if asked the same question again a few hours later, it would probably give a different answer. A good example of this is if you look at Snarky Puppy alone. You have Sput at the helm for many of the records and tours, and he is phenomenal. Then you have Larnell Lewis on a couple of the other records and tours and he, too, is a phenomenal drummer. I'd have to say that whichever one I happen to be listening to at the time would be my favorite. They are on equal footing, in my opinion. Of course, then there is everyone else out there, some of which are just as good as Sput and Larnell. It's a good time for music. It's out there, you just have to find it. In the last 2 years alone, I've discovered more new music and musicians that I love than in the last 30 years of my life, and my record collection isn't small, either!

[@brianboucher4248]

Another new, great young drummer... from Japan, Senri Yawaguchi.... AND.... Mat Garatska...

[@Tone_OnDrumz]

I love the clap sounds in between the beats. Yesssss!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@SuperMolamola]

i love this guy !!!!!! awesom job guys !!!!

[@KGBDrums]

Finally!!! Roberts the man! Him in "Snarky Puppy" is simply perfection:)

[@TonyGellaDrums]

So different, tasteful and clean. Setup sounds perfect for this..hypnotic for me :D

[@doyledesign]

What a treat!

[@THEUNHINGEDSANITY]

So much groove! Whooooo!

[@miles-178]

that´s astounding drumming!!

[@theonapoloni]

awesome..clearly unique

[@DavidMcmenemy]

One of my favourite players.

[@NuOrder11]

Very impressive!

Phenomenal.

[@joshuaneuendorf6052]

Very cool

[@matycee]

Wheeeew! So solid.

[@TIRABATERA]

Awesooooome!!

[@semmes5342]

my new fav percussionist

[@drewper73]

I've never seen a drummer tilt their crash cymbal away from them like Sput does here. I think I understand why he does it. If it's tilted away like in this video, then you're going to hit the cymbal consistently at the same angle each time. Does that mean I would like my crash cymbal positioned that way? Nope.

[@recitalsforwrigglers2007]

you rock!

[@dimakireev]

Good style!

[@rired2005]

I'm not a drummer, but listen to much percussion. I just plain like this. It's different, technical/complicated. I don't understand much of what he's doing, but I like the sound... very interesting. Other drummers I really like: JoJo Mayer, Gerald Heyward, Adam Deitch, Aaron Spears, Johnny Rabb...

[@brandonpryormusic]

Thats a respectable list of drummers. Especially JoJo.

[@brianboucher4248]

Yes, the way my life has played out... :)

[@Bluejay-ri1yf]

@Caleb It's 4/4 and 7/4 lmao

[@tsobaby95]

My god. How does he get that flood tom sound out if that snare

[@borodrew]

It's so weird to hear the practice track version of that song and not hear the energy of the full band. Sput killed it though.

[@awosikadaniel54]

nice one bro

[@sambierman7954]

so tight.

[@brod_drumz]

time signature. oh my god!

[@StompL7]

4/4 bro. iknow its fucked up X)

[@mrrandomcuber]

I saw him and Larnell Lewis last night. He was greeeat

[@rired2005]

I like it, but my head is exploding trying to follow it.... especially without coffee yet.

[@robertchambers369]

LOL 🤣🤣

[@linthedrummer]

The track is Bent Nails by Snarky Puppy

[@dwiatmaputra]

The stacks combination (the small one on His left) pleaseee.. Anybody knows? Sound freakin awesome

[@williamkjwilliamkj1815]

Wait a second...This guy plays drums and keyboards....Holy Christ...What talent.

[@patrickmariovosshoff3116]

Love that stgged sort of Splash Cymbal type of thing, anyone knows what it is?

[@johnwooton]

Nice Sput.

[@moisesgonzalez6781]

woooow, sput!!!!

[@mswawa30]

funky

[@danusiabeatz]

whats the cymbals he using at .33 and .36

[@joshjones9749]

I know Bent Nails is by Snarky puppy but who the HELL made this track?! It's fire!

[@musicmeadow1868]

I think sput wrote it himself for SP

[@terrellescott2741]

What head do you use on your snare in this video

[@Vossfcn99]

What mics do u use for recording these amazing videos?

[@MrPilkers]

Anyone know what size / type snare and sand ride he's using? I could see the grey symbol on it

[@NinjaFlipsTV]

Wow...human computer. Beautiful.

[@kareemjenkins6198]

What kind of snare head are u using

[@gh0stn0tez]

Sounds like some music that would be in the background of a Super Mario game, haha. Sounds super fun and bouncy.

[@christ_channel9639]

can i get the minus one drum Bent nails?

[@Scarecrow6459]

Hey @Vic firth what kind of sticks was Sput using here?

[@sammykerns4397]

What sticks does he use?

[@ValdiGoin]

What stack are those?

[@sounakdutta5440]

what drumkit is he using? Is that an electronic one?

[@tracechiappe1148]

Anyone know what hats these are??

[@artisupitis2147]

Trace Chiappe they look like Byzance traditional 16" hats. I'm not too sure but I know sput is a fan of larger hats for sure

[@benjaminpeternorris]

What time signature is this in? - I can't figure it out. 5/4? 7/8???

[@iAmEdwinHamilton]

And is probably a better keyboard player than he is a drummer. Dude is a beast. Had the pleasure of shedding with him. So musical

[@JekDrummerTime]

What?! How is that possible?! If that's true is he on the level as the other keyboardist in SP like Corey Henry?

[@nobody4920]

wich rhythm is this?

[@rired2005]

I just found out... that day there was no heat in the recording studio.

[@EloyUnder]

hightly precision

[@ienjoyagooddrum]

that kit though, whats he playing there? it sounds awesome

[@tobyf.6033]

Tama probably

[@BBT609]

gretsch drums, this was before he was endorsed by Tama

[@bradleylewis7054]

So nice, but could the drums be turned up?

[@moolaboola1]

Anyone know his snare size?

[@bbtdrums1]

+moolaboola1 14 x 5 looks like

[@loroc223]

What sort of cymbal is that one almost directly in front of the hats? Is it quite a big splash? Makes the coolest sound

[@austinchoatedrums]

Jack Fogarty it's a stack, probably of a Classics Custom Trash Splash and a Byzance Dark Splasj

[@austinchoatedrums]

Jack Fogarty it's a stack, probably of a Classics Custom Trash Splash and a Byzance Dark Splasj

[@marcelovidal9246]

Parara para pah..pah!

[@CRodsnare]

I know this song is bent nails but he's playing along to a track without drums in it. I would like to get my hands on a copy if anyone knows how to.

[@dbanton83]

Download the app 'music download idoyou' search for the track on there. It's free.

[@AlCampopiano]

Is it cold in there?

[@8020drummer]

Hey! Respect the scarf. ;)

[@brianboucher4248]

+AlCampopiano Sput was into the French vibe...

[@rired2005]

But Sput, a fucking scarf? I'm sweating in my 68 degree condo looking at you...

[@donnyroem1358]

Can someone please tell me what is the time signature?

[@RobertSearight]

1st part is 1 bar of 7 and 1 bar of 9, bridge is 4 bars of 7 and 1 bar of 6

[@donnyroem1358]

Thank you Robert Searight. Thank you for using the God given talent! What a great blessing to have you in music industry. Greetings from Mexico brother.

[@joshjamesuk]

I think this kit sounds SO much better than that new Tama kit he's been rocking recently.

[@toonputteman5261]

+Josh Woodley what kind of kit is it?

[@joshjamesuk]

toon putteman I'm pretty sure it's a Gretsch USA Custom kit. Could be a Gretsch Brooklyn series. Definitely a high end Gretsch kit though!

[@toonputteman5261]

Josh Woodley thank you

[@joshjamesuk]

toon putteman Yeah man. Gretsch are one of the best.

[@agustingirard3318]

bent nails!

[@gospelplayer2]

when i have a child i'am definitely going to teach them to play left handed 1st.... that's if they want to learn the drums

[@gh0stn0tez]

why not both?

[@SuperKasual]

***** PORQUE NO LOS DOS

[@larrytate1657]

Teach them to play ambidextrously. Open handed always. Left and on hi hat, right on the ride on the right side. Make it so they never have to cross their arms. It makes the body naturally more relaxed being open handed always. Mike Johnston said the same that that is the way to go if your serious and just starting out. It's gonna be a lil harder for a while but the pay off will be well worth it if they're patient.

[@rundown306]

Metric modulation.

[@SuperDeverick]

He's so good, but he looks so awkward because of the left handed thing. Its weird, but I loved this!

[@bronzewand]

cool thing is he doesn't play left handed..

[@larrytate1657]

Open handed is actually a more relaxed less stressed way to play if anything as opposed to crossing over. Crossing over also puts tension on your right shoulder. But hey drums are hard enough so if u dont have time to learn your syncopated cascara patterns and what not with your left hand it's understandable.

[@nathans4957]

good idea to tilt the crashes for recording if that's their only intended use in that track... can rip off so much beyond beats from these guys haha.

[@8020drummer]

Suaaaaave!!!

[@StompL7]

+The 80/20 Drummer Mike Johnston tam tam festival ?

[@dariansanders679]

Yall shut thinking y'all no everything man sput great job drumming is harder than what you think and just noooo every drummer is different folks

[@pax1792]

Sucks that there is a Percussion track as well... Makes it hard to what he is playing and what is playback.

[@8020drummer]

That's also because he's locked up tight as fuck

[@jp6741]

Bruh...

[@christopherfreeman3357]

Using a snare as a floor tomb? Wow, that's so unique.

[@drewper73]

Jardy Rodger Was it his playing that lost you or was it the odd time? Or both? Personally speaking, a lot of times it's the odd meter that a band is playing rather than what the drummer is playing. If the time signature is very complicated, like a measure of 11/16 followed by a measure of 15/8 over & over, then I can get lost no matter what the drummer plays. And if I still can't find where "1" is after listening to it a dozen times then I tend to get frustrated. I don't think this tune is one of those examples though. I don't know why a band would want to write something so mathematical to the point that it doesn't groove anymore. I like odd time signatures but it has to make sense musically. That's just my opinion.

[@bamaking95]

drewper73 that makes a lot of sense. Perfectly stated.

[@drewper73]

bamaking95 Thank you. bamaking95... hmm... Does that mean you're a Crimson Tide fan? I hope so. Big game tomorrow...Alabama vs. Auburn.

[@bamaking95]

drewper73 Yes sir!!!! Biggest game of the year, every year!! Roll Tide!!!

[@Mllsttm86]

I believe it's 7/8 time... snarky puppy plays a lot of songs in 7/8.... this is one of those songs

[@ejeckk]

I was right there with him the entire song. I think it is 7/8 with a 3/4 to break it up then repeat. However, I did have a small problem figuring out how he counted off at minute 1:46. I couldn't figure out how he came back in. Otherwise I was all over it.

[@joshjamesuk]

The creepy intro sound effects don't really compliment the funky track!

[@jareddarnell1312]

Sand.

[@thebeat]

Larnel lewis > Sput

[@AquaAnim]

What a jackass comment

[@benkirk9538]

AquaAnim seconded.

[@CJCDrumming]

It is all subjective really... i am more of a fan of larnell lewis' driving groove, and i feel he has more energy when he played with SP, but i think Sput has much better chemistry with the group and just cant be replaced in SP. So in different scenarios it is difficult to say one is better then the other.

[@CRodsnare]

***** well said.

[@ocbfdog]

Sput composed this track. Could Larnell do the same?