Zildjian LIVE! - Thomas Pridgen

Zildjian LIVE! Episode 6: Thomas Pridgen
“Sput Lives in 7”
Written by: Robert Sput Searight and Mark Lettieri
These LIVE performances represent the energy and passion that’s generated when you bring together artists from around the world for a true Zildjian Family Experience!
Zildjian LIVE is hosted by Mike Dolbear, musically directed by Robert “Sput” Searight and features the band Ghost-Note!
Filmed in the iconic Studio 1 at EastWest Studios in Hollywood, CA!
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Thomas is using his Zildjian Artist Series Drumsticks in this performance:
zildjian.com/thomas-pridgen-a...
Thomas's Cymbal Set Up:
16" Avedis HiHats
20" Avedis Crash Ride
10" A Flash Splash
22" K Dark Medium Ride
19" Avedis Crash
22" K Constantinople Renaissance Ride
16” Stack
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The Zildjian LIVE! Schedule:
Episode 1: Larnell Lewis - May 23rd
Episode 2: Kaz Rodriguez - June 20th
Episode 3: Omar Hakim - July 18th
Episode 4: Nikki Glaspie - August 15th
Episode 5: Will Kennedy - September 12th
Episode 6: Thomas Pridgen - October 17th
Episode 7: Aaron Spears - November 4th
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Ghost-Note Band:
Robert Sput Searight - music director/keyboards
Nathaniel Werth- percussion
Dwayne “MonoNeon” Thomas - bass
Sylvester Onyejiaka - baritone sax, flute
Jonathan Mones - alto sax, flute
Mike Jelani Brooks - tenor saxophone, flute
Vaughn ‘VKeys’ Henry - keyboards
Xavier Taplin - keyboards
Peter Knudsen - guitar
Mike Clowes - guitar
Audio Engineering:
Kevin Majorino
Chris Denogean
Tyler Shields
Audio Mixing/Mastering:
Ben Burget
At 206 Studios
Videography:
Scott Quade
Trevor Bowman
Evan Chapman
Kevin Eikenberg
Nick Hughes
Photography:
Francesco Desmaele
Special thanks to Livemix for providing the monitoring system, and Earthworks for the microphones.
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FOLLOW ZILDJIAN:
➤Website: www.zildjian.com
➤Facebook: / zildjian
➤Instagram: / zildjiancompany
➤Twitter: / zildjiancompany

[@100RoundDrums]

HALF A MILLION VIEWS!!!!! BIG THANKS TO ZILDJIAN AND EVERYONE WATCHING THESE VIDEOS !!!!

[@chillin_abner]

Thomas Pridgen 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@kampen9868]

I just heard about you and I'm a 20 year drummer , dude totally killing it, very well played , i like your style so much. I really appreciate, that you were mentioning to go with your own style, not the style from other drummers, in one of your interviews. That's really true ! Greetings from Germany

[@DanielColageo]

Dude! You're a beast. Well done

[@shaharluxenburg4640]

What a beast

[@ferrernic]

thank to u !!!! alien!

[@tylerweibel8049]

I just want to watch Larnel watching Thomas

[@coltonmykael]

I thought that was him! How friggin cool!!!

[@drewbrewer8379]

Larnel is like..."Tommy...T-t.T-Tommy....The hell you doin up there!?!?!?!?!"

[@Snook_]

Larnell is actually way better though. Larnells feel is far above

[@jesseanderton2]

Aaron Spears is right next to Larnell, too

[@allentheskywalker]

Tyler Weibel Honestly😭

[@jaquezimoto7998]

This is literally the best series on youtube

[@loganstriker2973]

Is it literally?

[@antoinecoston6944]

This and vf jams are literally the same series.

[@ahsanrogers]

No doubt

[@drummerjosh901]

@@antoinecoston6944 just wish they'd do transcriptions for these ones!

[@SmoothKat180]

I am still recovering from Nikki lol

[@Mugen3812]

That was the most aggressive windchime stroke I've ever seen in my life lol

[@marvaff6878]

This is the comment I was scrolling for loool

[@gustafsone]

He flashed his tattoo and everything. Werth is a baller!

[@alanpartridge4681]

They're not wind chimes, it's a mark tree.

[@DrumeoOfficial]

Fantastic performance by Thomas and the entire band. Props to Zildjian for hosting this event, it looks amazing!

[@ZildjianCompany]

Thank you Drumeo!

[@andysimmons311]

Oh hey Drumeo! Love your stuff. I’ve been watching for years now!

[@joewood1051]

This whole series of zildjian live now seems like an episode of dragonball z where all the other characters are fighting for their lives to wait for Goku to arrive. He just got here🔥🔥

[@andysimmons311]

I mean Larnell as good better for sure

[@joewood1051]

@@andysimmons311 yeah larnell is a beast for sure, just making a joke mate. Thomas went in

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

🤔 your goku might be royster jr. 😂 ( if he played, i saw him in the crowd in at least one of these )

[@sonsauvage]

haha yeah man, he just beat that kit into submission

[@MauricioPintoHN]

Your Goku might be Aarón Spears for sure 🤣

[@randyporter3491]

To those that gave this a "thumbs-down".. Is everything ok at home ? Would it help to talk with someone ??

[@tommyp7547]

The entire band is off the charts. Killer.

[@loganstriker2973]

I would never listen to this.

[@ericmsandoval]

@Bret tbh, I wouldn’t either but that doesn’t take away from this entire band being “off the charts.” Credit where credit is due. Great musicians all around.

[@MaeyoMusic]

@@loganstriker2973 No one cares

[@loganstriker2973]

@@MaeyoMusic -- Awful music.

[@gustafsone]

@@loganstriker2973 I know you're trolling but on the off chance that you're not, then why in the fuck are you even here if you don't like this genre of music?

[@TrevWILL79]

I like how Sput is able to write to every drummer’s strengths

[@8020drummer]

Thomas is obviously one of the most gifted drummers of all time. But I think he's extra entertaining to watch because, a little like Blade, he never sits comfortably within his bubble. He's always pushing and taking risks.

[@donaldham1218]

1. He caught all the "hits" like it was light work. 2. His fills were like a Titanic boat hitting you in the chest. 3. If your a true fan of Thomas then you already know before you tap "play" that this was going to be epic.

[@JustinMcBrainDrums]

strong agree.

[@dynamike435]

A rudiment monster!

[@donaldham1218]

@@JustinMcBrainDrums 🎵....

[@mrbananaman8032]

Love his style but I wish he'd just take a breather, like a bridge in a pop song or something. Although it's crazy fun, it's also too much after 5 minutes imo. He even said "I didnt know what to play everywhere" and you can tell his default is to overplay.

[@donaldham1218]

@@JustinMcBrainDrums Right

[@OzoneDrummer22]

I’m feeling Larnell’s eyebrow raise at 2:27...the whole time!!

[@Fendermn]

Larnell has a great music taste

[@JonYen69]

Aaron spears is right next just chilling like that solo is easy to pull off lol

[@benkornak]

Imagine the legend you have to be to give that whole crowd of musicians plus Larnell & Aaron stank face

[@robertchambers369]

Thomas Pridgens and Larnell Lewis have the best Zildjian performances out of all who did it. 🤷🏿‍♂️

[@Agatsu13]

Everyone thinks that Thomas' solo finished when he won the guitar center drum off in 1992. Nope. He just takes breaks to eat and sleep.

[@sjograas]

This sounds to me like a lovechild between Snarky Puppy and Mars Volta :D

[@tyreepenn-hasan6307]

Thats exactly what it is!! LOL

[@kylededo6320]

Everyone wears headphones so you know this is serious and good music

[@sanoshimano7127]

Man if they did a record together, I’d die in peace

[@romarioroach6453]

That moment we find a video with Thomas still wearing a shirt😂

[@patynoriega5052]

Jajajajaja

[@jboi707]

I remember when I discovered Thomas Pridgen on gospel chops vs tony royster jr.. Man he's come a mighty long way!! Much respect!!

[@sonsauvage]

dude I remember first hearing him play on TMV's Bedlam in Goliath. I hadn't been exposed to much of the gospel chops stuff yet so I was amazed he could play so busily and with so much force and still follow the melody of the songs in a tasteful way. He was already a beast then and like you said, he has come a long way

[@JWillDrums]

Jeremy Barnette same he use to my least fav out of the GC crew now he’s my favorite. Playing definitely went to the next level.

[@jboi707]

@@JWillDrums Man I feel you, I used to think he tried to fill too much. But my perspective has definitely changed from them until now

[@MrSixtysevencamaro]

I remember discovering him as an 8 year old breaking cymbals, sticks and heads smashing in church. The beginning of gospel chops LIVE

[@tribejudahjudah6289]

That's probably because you don't know Thomas he's always been a beast

[@drummerjosh901]

That bass looks like something out of a Dr.Suess book.

[@drummerboy2521]

LOL! I was wondering what was wrong with him or where did I see him before.

[@khund03]

@@drummerboy2521 "MonoNeon" is a musical "Beast" On Bass and Lead guitar!!!!!

[@JudeAbrahamJD]

He’s MonoNeon

[@drummerjosh901]

@@khund03 I meant the actual "Bass in the Hat!"

[@khund03]

@@drummerjosh901 My Bad Lakland 55-01

[@dariusscales3129]

2:16 THAT PERCUSSIONIST TOOK THAT PART THERE!!!!!

[@xenophagia]

The Pridgen Escape Plan.

[@TrevWILL79]

Thomas just “walks up and punches you in the face an apologizes because you were the wrong guy” kind of performance. He doesn’t let you up for air on this one. 😂 He gave us everything.

[@Manneeyy]

It took me a whole 5mins to get over the first 30seconds because I kept restarting it 🔥🔥🔥

[@gmorton916]

"Get off them damn drums"--lmao--gotta love Sput

[@xsdexbutze333]

I understood "drugs" 😂

[@drummerjosh901]

@@xsdexbutze333 I know Thomas likes his bud, but if he's this good, gimme some of that shit!

[@gmorton916]

lol--i know right

[@johnmitchell8254]

That part had me rollin

[@steamsteam6607]

So change of time signature 7/4, 0:34 9/4, 1:07 7/4, 1:30 9/4, 2:02 7/4, 2:14 4/4, 3:45 6/4, 5:08 7/4. That's pretty awesome that it sounds so damn tight. The guitarist at 3:45 was counting hard to fall in it seems. Awesome playing.

[@IAMxSugarPlumx]

2:01 is the most serious face someone’s ever made while playing wind chimes

[@johanmiranda2399]

Like The Mars Volta Vibe!!!

[@JMkni14]

TOTALLY

[@cakesnatcher4541]

The only thing

[@halimdrummer777]

@@cakesnatcher4541 yes

[@neiljsmith11]

So much Volta vibe. Guitarist almost trolling. 😂

[@andrewolivetreemixing]

Haha i felt like they made a volta ish arrangement for him

[@oneanddone7992]

For those not familiar with Mr Pridgen, this insanely great performance is rather tame compared to many other performances of his playing. Note that the entire band, and audience, is already riding high before the first note is played because they know what is about to happen: mind-boggling drumming with even his double strokes being both hit harder than most of us can with singles. He is not of this world.

[@fivebyfivesound]

Pridgen's explicit passion, unabashed personality, and level of commitment to every single stroke makes rhythmic figures and voicings I've been hearing on the kit for decades sound fresh and undeniably powerful. Great finale to the season!

[@ZildjianCompany]

we have one more to come! Stay tuned for Aaron Spears' episode coming November 4th!

[@marvaff6878]

@James Bond this was my reaction too lol

[@THEEBlackAnime]

Before I EVEN WATCH this!!!! Liked 🔥🔥🔥

[@ReubenLujan]

Wow. Just wow man. But let's talk about how Robert can write anything! Sput's compositions sound tailored so that each drummer shines.

[@cjg786]

I agree Reuben, I have noticed that too, with this one and also particularly the track with Matt Greiner. Sput is the man

[@TheDajome]

2:26 If Larnell is leaning like that, something sick is going on...

[@Sleeper_build_benny]

Man he killed it I would love to see Chris Colman and Eric Moore

[@jay2xtremefy]

Yes sir!

[@pandahammonds9590]

Leave Eric home but CHRIS COLEMAN would be incredible.

[@pandahammonds9590]

Give us Nate Smith instead.

[@valentinamenesesgaleano3705]

Nate smith and eric, Chris is meinl right.?

[@onn.studio]

Sure... if Mr Coleman will choose Zildjian one day ;)

[@1dudecrush]

I love the stank faces Aaron and Larnell get when he goes off Edit: 2:25 especially gets me

[@drummerjosh901]

When does he not go off 😂

[@SRplaysdrums]

We’re all just looking for someone to watch us play drums like Larnell watches Thomas with the “gawwwwdd damm” face 😂 that’s some love and respect for another player right there.

[@thomyyyyyy]

Less noticeable but in that same moment, the dude on the far right has a really funny « wtf am i watching » face too 😂

[@alvarocarignanipodesta7882]

Those faces dude!!! 😂😂😂

[@JonathanGonzalez-tx5jy]

Went to the comment section for this

[@mobijaymusic]

This guy's energy levels are off the charts 🔥🔥

[@NatalieHawkinsMusic]

I’m out of breath just watching him. Don’t know where he gets the energy. This is so awesome! He’s amazing.

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

🧐when a random youtube comment and an interesting channel pic gains you a subscriber 😂

[@nmagain24]

Hes been like that since he was a kid at church lol

[@Giiiiiiiooooooooo]

I love the mutual respect between all the musicians! Something thats lacking now a days!

[@misfit2022]

This guy was crazy good way back when with Mars Volta and seems to have got better with age. His sticking is unbelievably good

[@williamkjwilliamkj1815]

I was taken by surprise how explosively precise that perfermance was. I have heard and seen Thomas play before but that was insane man!!! Great job!!!!

[@BobSchoepenjr]

Who finds the fill starting at 2:48 out of this world?

[@alimhdrum]

I watched it in 0.25 and while I still can’t figure out exactly how he started the fill (it’s approx 2 herta variations?) he is only hitting the snare twice in between the two toms although it sounds like 4. It goes T T S S - - T T S S - - T T S S - - then to the triplet single stroke around the kit

[@davydan8689]

THOMAS PRIDGEN LEGENDS LIVE ON UNTIL THIS DAY👌🏽🙌🏽👏🏽

[@MsLacy707]

The bass player is a calm beast 💪! Love to my bro Thomas 💙👊 #BayArea

[@mr_starbeast]

Wow, this might be the best zildjian live there is!

[@nuckfut420]

3:14 this man waited his whole life for this moment

[@diecarly]

I am so proud of this guy. representing the entire Bay Area in such a good manner. Keeping the place alive for sure

[@johnbensinger4931]

Those are the smallest hats I’ve ever seen Thomas play😂

[@matthewmwangi5710]

🤣That’s really saying something

[@snakepliskin23]

I want some lol

[@gustafsone]

He used to have hats that had enough room to hold his beer, but now the beer sits off to the side and holds itself.

[@adamk9700]

That look on Larnell Lewis’ face @ 2:27 is how you know you’re fuckin killin it!!

[@licoesdebateriaonline1912]

Look at these faces. Larnell and Aaron during the fill 2:24 - "maaann!" It was awesome!

[@moneyman999100]

Couldn't help but notice how thomas leads the band! He switches effortlessly from playing ahead of the beat, conducting the band, to playing just behind the beat, supplementing the band while keeping the groove. Even his pocket is killer! Truly a great musician

[@volpe_sol]

Imagine playing for a room full of INSANE musicians :O

[@prod_adrian]

Man, Thomas is a beast! Really looking forward to Aaron Spears for the grand finale!!! thats gonna be lit

[@danieladeyinka3829]

I know right! I'm so anticipating it!!!

[@EIStudent]

Dude....that was just ridiculous. I love how Sput said "Get off them damn drums" at the end. He blew everyone away.

[@tribejudahjudah6289]

The best drum performance on KZbin hands down!!

[@samuelekum6826]

I love thomas any day any time, his energy is nothing to be compared with

[@joelyyy4404]

Such deep expression in his unique phrasing. Fantastic.

[@SJ-ym4yt]

Can we take a moment to appreciate the mixing? Fucking stellar job

[@MrJoshDrums0490]

Thomas Pridgen is my favorite drummer and this song is so damn sick!!! Awesome performance 🔥🔥

[@ddawg470]

Man this band and music are so inspirational!! They cover everything so well the MD Robert Searight knows how to put a band together cannot wait for the playalongs much love and respect to everyone involved real music still lives🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@doncharles1296]

This moves me to tears! It’s awesome

[@philipchaves4986]

Thomas “Monster” Pridgen🥁🔥 Som brutal demais! Show 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@lieutenantking7710]

Thomas "Phrygian" Pridgen

[@jnfransoi6998]

larnell's and aron faces at 2:27 are priceless

[@MakesiJosephRiddimRider]

Thomas is a Beast... the mixes are getting better every time too KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK GUYS

[@nutzolocc6174]

Listening to this with the volume on 9 because it's the 47th time I've played it and my wife knows how hype it gets me!

[@thebarak]

So Avedis Zildjian Co. puts together these concerts so that the top drummers can showcase their cymbals, but everything gets upstaged by the ever improving Ghost Note band. What a band!

[@funkslave9425]

Thomas is one of my heroes! Amazing rock/fusion player. He has that x factor that literally separates him from the typical 'gospel chops' crowd

[@RogerBiwandu]

Savage, clean and dirty in the same time, believing in each note played, thats what I'm talking about, the intensity is there, right on !!! Shout out to "Sput", all the musicians involved, and the legendary Zildjian Company, respect.

[@jalenwoods4407]

Tom’s timing is crazy ridiculous and technique I just wanna pull my hair out listening to him

[@believeinittobe]

Admittedly, I never really got where Pridgen was coming from... until NOW. He comes from another planet. That was fun...

[@dvs6121]

That was so good, the BAND was applauding for the drummer.

[@angelmoncada382]

Hadn't seen him play in a few years. He's gotten way better.

[@ELsplitterz]

Another LEVEL!!

[@drummerboy2521]

WOW! Thomas is a beast with sticks! What power and speed this Kat posses for a guy who used to beat on buckets.

[@FernandoCuadro]

no doubt that he is the best now is it me or at 3:23 when the keyboradist is laughing its heard a snare fill that he does not play? it seems that they make a bunch of takes and then they use the best of everything, now i'm not complaining This is AMAZING thomas is a beast. Just the first time i saw it ( yes, i watched it like 3 times in a row), it threw me off. Anyway i miss The Mars Volta and that line up with thomas was a dream.

[@joshjones9749]

Can we just keep this going with different drummers...forever?

[@jazzpunx7889]

This one of those songs I hate because there’s no Spotify version but it’s still worth it

[@riccardomusiu510]

OH YEAH!!! OMG!!! THE BEST OF THE BEST!!! LADIES AND GENTLEMAN: THOMAS PRIDGEN... A RHYTHM MACHINE, PRACTICALLY A MONSTER 👊👊👊👌🇮🇹

[@dantelamusta]

Definitely one of my favorite performances on this channel! Much love to Thomas Pridgen!

[@dantelamusta]

This is a great group of musicians playing together! This should be a real project! Would definitely fuck with this on vinyl! Kind of a darker and slightly more psychedelic version of Snarky Puppy.

[@LeatherKeys]

Mono Neon smiled at 1:20 🙆🏽‍♂️🙆🏽‍♂️🙆🏽‍♂️🙆🏽‍♂️🙆🏽‍♂️🙆🏽‍♂️🙆🏽‍♂️🙆🏽‍♂️🙆🏽‍♂️

[@briancoleman936]

This video gets me every time. The level of musicianship from the ensemble as a whole is absolutely ridiculous!! I love it

[@mrPauljacob]

Its always great to see Thomas jamming ... All great musicians here. This song reminds me of main squeeze

[@davegods278]

I spot 4 great drummer there: thomas, robert sput, aaron spears, and larnell lewis.. cmiiw *oh yeah, and kaz rodriguez!

[@mjlettieri]

Thomas; you, Sput and Ghost-Note obliterated this tune! INCREDIBLE work, gentlemen!

[@ilovemapledrumsspaun4083]

This nearly blew me back off my couch through the wall behind me and into my neighbors house. Holy shit Thomas is insane!

[@danielirvine7468]

Ohhhhhhh speechlessness much.

[@gruwer92]

That was mesmerizing.

[@edwardcampbell5876]

This is final boss level music

[@Aldocello1]

Total respect for T Pridgeon , this is a whole new arena/typesetting of music that is not typical for Thomas but he got back there and owned it the man is major talent and time and time again gets behind the kit and does what he does, kicks ass and plays music !!!

[@christopherguayapersad1043]

Thomas just destroyed this ...lov this guy..best so far

[@jamalcampbell5049]

I've been waiting a long ime for this one and it was worth the wait 🔥🔥🔥

[@WhatAreDrums729]

I would love to see a compilation of just Larnell's reactions to the other drummers. His stank face is so good!

[@Ash_Hudson]

1:28 the raw power, and the way he feels that drum fill going into the next section is one of the best parts of this for me.

[@thundersnare]

That was an amazing performance by the ENTIRE band!!

[@SeanSentDaBeat]

😤😤 toughh

[@baihu4u]

This was so hard-driving and crisp!! Can't wait to hear what kinda dope Aaron Spears laid down for the close out episode next month!!

[@TimurBelobrovDrums]

So gooooooooood

[@gutostumpf]

Absolute monster!!! Nooooiiizzzxxx 🤘

[@Davenci_T1st]

i found JD Beck 5:53 top left corner

[@JeffRandallDrumming]

2:25 that face!! Bahaha. Yes

[@Rhinom11]

Chaotic Mastery at its best!!! Amazing!!!

[@izziweedman1117]

best series Thomas Pridgen best