I set up the kit in the room, I realized I wish I had brought more things from home. Something to put the computer keyboard on, etc. I hung up my blue icicle lights on the back wall. This room was pretty much a cube with the same carpet on the walls, ceiling and floor. It had 2 heavy doors, the inside one covered with foam. On my first day there, I wandered around looking for a washroom, at first I feared there wasn't one. But there was, all done up in treadplate metal, and it it had a shower too. The whole place was very clean and organized. And I realized that despite my bad first impression, it was actually very well run and put together. There were 3 floors of rehearsal spaces, each a corridor that went around in a rectangle, with doors on both sides. There must have been 20 on each floor. Some band size, many personal small rooms like mine. In the front there was a little common room, which was usually empty. And signs everywhere explaining that smoking was no longer allowed outside the rooms. And that noise had to stop at midnight. Later I learned that this was because people actually lived there on the top floor. (no playing after midnight, check your lease !'.
I think I know now what the problem with my 'technique' is. Well, there are two problems. But the 'left-right' problem goes back to my box playing days. For my brain, the kick and snare were on the the same side (right), as i would alternate the position of the 'stick' on that hand to play one or the other. Even when programming drums, I do the same thing, kick and snare with the right. My brain needs to learn the separation of, kick on the right, but snare on the left. This is way all drummers think about beats, but never me. The amazing thing is, I went a long way to overcoming this in that very short month of rehearsal.
Eventually I had a routine. I managed to get down there about 3-4 times per week. I would be there about 2 1/2 hours with 2 hours of playing. I would play for about an hour, and then take a break. I would take the street car there and back. On the way there I would stop at Sherborne and walk down to front. On the way back I would usually walk all the way to Younge street and catch the street car at King or Younge. Often, I would eat a the Quizno's in the next block across the street.
The drum playing thing was very difficult. Often I did not want to go, or was intimidated by the idea. There was lots of self hatred I always had to work my way through. But I pushed myself, as I have with this whole project, very hard. To the limit. And that experience was quite spiritual. Always a battle to get to that place, and feel I was making any progress. I loved the feeling I would have during my break. The room was hot. And I would play shirtless in my 'drumming shorts'. When I took my break i would pour water on myself. I felt good, I felt horny, I felt physically alive.
I never took any pictures of the space. We know why but, I also feel like I am denying my own life, my own right to live, for holding my breath now for 2 years. I wish I had taken 1 shot...
I wanted to get him to come out and tune the drums. I did get somebody, a young kid named 'James'. I did rent a beefier snare though. A ridiculously thick "Vinnie Paul" Pearl signature. And an extra crash cymbal.
On December 4 with Jim Zolis, we loaded up the drums and took them from the rehearsal space to the studio. What can I say about Jim. He has been one of my Angels, who, for some reason has supported me all along in this project. It simply would not be without him. All along I had been wanting to remove the false hung ceiling in the drum room. I was trying to push for some kind of renovation job where it would all be done before Dec. This would be an expense and time though, and time was quickly running out. I had thought that maybe we should just take out the tiles but, didn't think that would be an option. Before I had any chance to ask him. Jim told me he had a idea, that if we number the tiles we could take them out. He had been somewhere, staring up at a false ceiling, and this idea had come to him.I was so excited, this would be a solution. But I would have to do it. So, Dec 4 at the studio was a long day, starting with me removing all the tiles. Up on a ladder, with all kinds of dust and bits falling on me! I felt a little like this was crazy. Up there was exposed insulation, and even the possibility of falling bits of concrete. some chunks where there, I wondered if more would fall...
