Band: That Red Head
Band Member: Lozz Benson – Drummer & Lead vocals
How long have you been drumming?
16 years. I played drums all throughout high school then studied Jazz at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Why did you first pick up the drumsticks?
I was drawn to the rhythms I could create with the sticks! The drums is what stood out most to me when listening to songs. My mum bought be “Get Behind me Satan” by The White Stripes when I was in year 5 and as soon as I heard Meg White I wanted to play like her!
Which drummer influenced your playing?
There are a couple – Gene Krupa, Travis Barker, Elvin Jones, Buddy Rich, Cindy Blackman and John Desmore!
Describe your kit.
I have a red 3-piece Grestch stop sign badge kit with an 18” bass drum that I use for all my rockabilly and blues gigs. I use a DW 3-piece kit with a 20” kick for all my punk and rock shows, and for the heavier gigs use my Pearl 22” kick drum!
How do you prepare for a show?
I normally do the rudimental ritual by Alan Dawson and play simple stick exercises with a metronome. I stretch my body and also do some deep breathing.
Which artist/band was/is your favourite to play drums with?
I love playing along to Booker T & the MGs. It’s all groove!
Tell us a quick, on the road or studio, anecdote.
When I was recording with Paul Kelly, we were getting stuck on doing takes and trying to get it perfect. He told me a really good bit of advice which should have been obvious at that moment He said a recording is a reflection of where you are at that point in time, and after that I relaxed a lot more.
What, or who, inspires you?
New music inspires me, and keeps me song writing. I really enjoy Kirin J Callinan right now, as well as GUM and The Dandy Warhols. I love listening to the Stray Cats and Black Sabbath and it still excites me to listen to old music. Keeps you thirsty to keep working hard at what you do.
Which song do you wish you wrote the drumbeat for?
Rosanna by Toto.
What’s next for you?
Recording an album at the end of the year and saving to travel.
What is the best thing about the Sydney Drum and Percussion Show this May?
Amazing artist performances by Virgil Donati, Thomas Lang, Pete Drummond & Dave Goodman. Workshops, new gear and products! It’s a great community open to sharing knowledge and advice for drummers.
What’s your scene?
The rockabilly scene! Creepers, dancing and live music. My scene at home would have to be watching 90s movies with my dog eating salt & vinegar chips.
https://youtu.be/GHz_F4ECMmY
Australian Music Association has today announced the inaugural Sydney Drum & Percussion Show set to engulf the Rosehill Gardens Grand Pavilion on May 27 and 28. Proudly presented by Australian Musician, the monster exhibition promises to be an electrifying presentation of all things hit.
Boasting an impressive live performance program with some of the world’s best players and biggest names including Thomas Lang (George Michael, Tina Turner, Peter Gabriel), Virgil Donati (Tommy Emmanuel, Steve Vai), Michael Schack (Netsky) and more (with Lang and Donati playing together for the first time ever), the show will also feature a huge array of drum gear and brands and will act as the country’s largest pop-up drum and percussion shop. You can see, try and buy drum kits, cymbals, orchestral and traditional percussion, electronic percussion, hand percussion and accessories from all the major brands, plus never-before- seen gear. There’ll be some tasty home grown and handmade gear too.
Run by the same team that put on the annual Melbourne Guitar Show (MGS) and based on the successful MGS model, the Sydney Drum & Percussion Show will also host information seminars, demonstrations, and live performances from Australia’s most talented drummers and percussion players including Lucius Borich (Cog), Lozz Benson (Urthboy, Drummer Queens), Stan Bicknell (Kimbra, Miami Horror) and more.
From double-kick drummers, groove and touch drummers and jazz stylists, to exotic percussion players, orchestral percussionists, and hard hittin’ rock n rollers, there’ll be something for everyone.
The voice of the Australian music products industry, the Australian Music Association (AMA) is thrilled to present this drum-centric weekend.
“There’s so much about percussion, it’s the world’s most accessible form of music – people take their first steps in music through percussion,” says AMA CEO Rob Walker. “We are excited to showcase our industry’s products and the wealth of local talent that Sydney and Australia has to offer, as well as international guests – three of the best in the world! We seek to educate and entertain, and showcase and grow our drum and percussion community.”
Punters will have the opportunity to participate in drum circles and other hands on percussion workshops, see Australia’s leading percussion ensembles, Taikoz and Synergy Percussion, as well as leading student percussion ensembles from The Sydney Conservatorium and combined school’s ensemble, Drumfill. They can experience the latest electronic drum technology, meet a stack of the industry’s finest drum and percussion players, take part in workshops on drumming for fitness and wellbeing, performance clinics, panels and more.
Additionally, the 2017 Sydney Drum & Percussion Show will provide a hands-on chance to see, hear and play a broad range of the world’s favourite brands. It will also see exhibitors offering great show deals.
If you can hit it, ring it, shake rattle and roll it, it’ll be at the Sydney Drum & Percussion Show.
The Sydney Drum & Percussion Show will be held at Rosehill Gardens Grand Pavilion on May 27 & 28, 2017
SYDNEY DRUM AND PERCUSSION SHOW DETAILS
SATURDAY MAY 27 | ROSEHILL GARDENS GRAND PAVILION |10.00am – 6.00pm | TICKETS
SUNDAY MAY 28 | ROSEHILL GARDENS GRAND PAVILION | 10.00am – 5.00pm | TICKETS
