Nerve-the start of something new?

[karkus30]

Now I never have considered myself a drum n bass fan. Well all that changed when I went to see Jojo Mayer at a drum clinic in sunny Newcastle upon Tyne.

JM was amazing, a truly incredible drummer whos first performance in a band was at the age of 3 What I witnessed was simply a tour de force of incredible musicality and musicianship allied to a unique technique. It certainly had all the fireworks of Bozzio or Lang but with something more interesting.......texture.

All these drum tricks are great, but its not really what drummers are there for. This is where Jojo was different, he demonstrated what he would normally play in his band 'Nerve'. This was a real ear opener for me, the sounds he created imitated everything that an electronic drum machine could create and more, it was totally hypnotic, really amazing the different tones he could get out of the same drum during multiple strikes with a single hand.

It lead me to seek out what Nerve gets up to and opened a whole burgeoning underground sound from Jojos live party gigs called Prohibited Beats. This is a weird fusion of jazz, Rap, Hip Hop and D n B and I cant get hold of an album anywhere because record companies dont seem to want such avant garde stuff. Now the last time that happened was when grunge broke through the ranks spear headed by a little known band called Nirvana.

Now this music might only represent the beginning of something new.......infact Jojo refers to it as reverse engineered music.......but there is something about the way all the musicians are so passionate about the creation of something without compromise that reminds me of a time when music transcended corporate sponsorship. Worth checking out. Listen with an open mind as some of it is different and some will be parts of music that you may have openly hated.

[huwg]

I see what you mean, no human can possibly be playing that kit....

but a machine, just would not sound like that.

[karkus30]

Originally Posted by huwg

I see what you mean, no human can possibly be playing that kit....

but a machine, just would not sound like that.

He is a truly amazing drummer and musician. Where many drummers turn into the equivalent of a guitar shredder where it all becomes about the technique, speed and pyrotechnics, JM seems to have discovered something new and original, almost a reason why a drummer should be in a band at all.

Back before Buddy Rich and Co began to make a drummer the star of the show, with fireworks, drum solos and drum battles, drummers were only required to keep the beat in an interesting waywith the minimum of fills. It seems JM has re discovered this lost art and refined the technique of making the groove interesting. In effect this has created the drummer anew and allowed the drummer to be as important, but no more important than all the other musicians.

I really think this is a new direction in music and would expect to see more drummers looking to follow that new creative direction. I have noticed a trend in this style which is illustrated perfectly by The Battles drummer, although no where near the skill level of JM.

[FeisalK]

thanks very much for the heads up. the Joyful Noise solo is exhilarating

[karkus30]

Thats a far better example of what JM does. You can feel yourself going trancy just listening to that super accurate snare beat. Mental.

I tried to get hold of the Nerve CD at the gig and they were all sold out. I e.mailed mike dolbear and he said they were sold out on the first gig in the country............they are going to put it on itunes...meehhhh!

Please JM bring out the album, make a few copies whatever, I just need one.