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Jeff Savin
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Co-ordination is a gift. Before digging into the good and bad, I do believe that everyone has some sort of co-ordination, except maybe a baby who is learning to co-ordinate from an early age and George W. Bush.Co-ordination is needed when parallel parking, pouring a cup of coffee, hitting a tennis ball (into the net more than often) and with just about everything we do. From walking, shaking hands and sitting on a chair, without co-ordination we would fall over, shake an elbow or sit on the floor.A very good friend of mine is a drummer. He plays for a Blues band in the UK and I have watched him in practice sessions a few times. With my background in DJing for many years at clubs and parties throughout the 90's, I know that I have a sense of rhythm. During one practice session that my friend had with his group at the time, I sat down behind his drum kit, picked up the sticks and attempted to hit some beats. I blame the dreadful noise that followed on my friend being left handed (switched set up), but I know I'd be lying if it were true.Co-ordination of feet and hands did not click. It was not 20 seconds before I dropped a drum stick and then my foot swung across to hit a pedal and I nearly sent things scattering across the floor. "You need to be an octopus to play the drums" I told my friend. "I'm not an octopus and I get by" was his reply. "Now piss off away from my drum kit"!Drummers used to have this image of the mean, bare chested sweat monster of the group. I got to see a group who are not that well known in the UK but it seems are a little more known in the US. 'The Mars Volta'. They performed at last years ACL festival and brought with them their sweat monster drummer. In all fairness most groups performing in Austin, TX in summer, perspired a little. Outstanding music and co-ordination. All very well but can that drummer do a three point turn in a car? I thought. Can he shoot a moving target at 200 yards? If told to point which way was north, could he do that? No? Well that makes two of us.Jacob Armen is something else when it comes to drumming. After watching some clips and hearing such a talented musician, my friend can rest assured that I will not be sitting behind a drum kit any time soon. First I need to pass the 'pat my head and rub my stomach at the same time' test, to gain his respect again.