From Fan to Friend: How One Sign Changed Everything

What starts as a fan moment can turn into a life-changing opportunity. In this episode, Jack Battaglia shares the unbelievable story of how bringing a sign to a show led to meeting one of his favorite drummers, eventually filling in for them, and building a real friendship and mentorship along the way.

The conversation dives into the intensity and passion behind live performance, stories from Warped Tour, Travis Barker’s impact on the scene, and what it really takes to chase a career in music. From vomiting behind the drum riser and still finishing the set, to discussing the next generation of pop punk drummers, this episode is packed with inspiration, chaos, and love for the craft.

If you’re an artist, musician, or someone chasing a dream, this episode proves the music industry may be more possible to break into than you think.

Featuring:
• Jack Battaglia
• Stories from Warped Tour
• Travis Barker moments
• Tour life and mentorship
• Passion, persistence, and independent music

Fuel the habit. Support independent artists.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

What's up Adobe Radio? It's Mike Chaprari and loyal to the craft coming at you from the Crystal Coast of North Carolina here at the Loyal Lounge. When I was fifteen years old, I started building drums in my grandma's basement. And shortly after I realized the power of networking. I learned how to navigate and build a career in music. And I made drums for all of my kids. And I want you to know that you too can have a sustainable career in music. Let's learn from friends that I've met along the way. And tonight we've got we've got Jack Medaglia on the show to talk about his budding career in music. He just got off tour filling in for Damage, where Tosh was lady giddy gaga and couldn't play. Hung out with Jack for a week. And I'm so excited to catch back up with you, Jack. It's been about a month. Welcome on to Loyal to the Craft.

SPEAKER_00 0:47

Thanks, man. I'm so stoked to be here. Thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_02 0:50

Yeah, dude. How's it been? I know you just got school. How has that been from literally being being taken out of school for a couple weeks to go on your go on your first ever tour feeling in Tosh, and now you're back in the grind to go into school, dude, dude?

SPEAKER_01 1:04

It's like so like crazy because like it's like the schedule is so different. Like my schedule, like I don't know, I just felt like the days went by way like quicker because I was having more fun on tour than like in school. But yeah, like I just because like you have to like also wake up earlier, but like it's kind of the same thing if you think about it, because like you have a you have like to be that somewhere on time, and same with like you know, you have to be in the lobby on time. Like it's kind of like the same type of like deal in a way, just it's not as fun.

SPEAKER_02 1:36

Not as fun. It's kind of like college, actually, because you're living on your own, you gotta be lobby, but you got your own hotel room and all that stuff in the van, you're touring. So it's kind of like you experience college a little bit.

SPEAKER_01 1:48

Dude, 100%, man. Like that that's a great way to put it.

SPEAKER_02 1:52

Man, how did you meet tell me I I heard his side of it, but you tell me, how did you how did you and Tosh ever start interacting like be like become friends and and you get this opportunity?

SPEAKER_01 2:01

Yeah, so um I met Tosh when uh I went to a Jaden show in like 2024, I think. And he was playing at this place called the Paramount um here on Long Island. Um and I was just I didn't even know him. I was just like, okay, I'm I'm I'm I want to come here, but like I don't want to just like go there and just like enjoy the show. I want to like actually like get something out of it. So I was like, so I was like, alright, I'm gonna make a sign and it's it's gonna say, Tosh can play your drums. So I literally like I I what happened? I got like the um just like this like crazy pizza before. Fun fact. And like and um, yeah, so I my mom was like, my mom was like, uh like just like kept like like thinking about like like if you she was like if you don't like come home when I get on stage, you you're not allowed back in this house. I'm like, damn, okay. That's a supporter's parent, dude. Yeah, I know. So um I go to the show, right? I have like the sign up the whole time, and I'm I'm like at the time I I was like four foot like nothing. So like I was just like a little guy, so my dad like had me on like his like uh shoulders or whatever, and um during like the last song uh Jaden said, Um, yeah, you can come up here and uh do whatever. So um I went back there, the security guard took me, and yeah, it was crazy. Like I I've never seen anything like it, like backstage like that, like at a show like like that and like that intense. And um, yeah, so Tosh was just like we got on the stage and he was just like, Do you want to do a sh do like a drum solo at the end? I'm like, Yeah, sure, because like I didn't know the song. It was like an unreleased song at the time, and um, so yeah, I just for like I don't know, like a minute, I just did a drum solo and it was like the coolest like moment. Like it literally I will I would like to say like it like changed like a lot like of how I see things and everything. It's just like so wild to me. And um, yeah, we've been friends ever since, like, yeah, we just text all the time and stuff.

unknown 4:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 4:23

So I mean, just you went for it, right? You put yourself out there, and with was that I mean, obviously your mom pushed you, you had the idea, the idea to do it in the first place, but was that hard for you? I mean, as a young artist, I talked to a lot of young musicians that want to make it in the music and be be part of this this this scene, if you will. And it's hard to put yourself out there, you know. Building the confidence and building the repetition, what was it like? Were you were you nervous or were you just confident I'm gonna crush this?

SPEAKER_01 4:48

Um, I think it was like a mix of like nerves and excitement. Because like I like I like knew all like the music, so I was just like having a fun time, but like I was also just like kind of nervous. I was like, what I'm always nervous about, like when I used to like have like signs or whatever, I used to be like, how the heck am I getting on that stage? Like you know, that's like but then I just like figure out like oh security will take care of that. But yeah, like I don't know, like I didn't really like I feel like it happened so fast that like nerved, like were like really in my brain. I was just like so excited to be there and stuff. So yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:26

And that led obviously to a chip with with Tosh where he's become not only a mentor to you, which is super important. One of the big pillars of what loyalty craft stands for is musicians with infants that that they were once a 13, 15-year-old dreaming of doing what they're doing now. Take nurture and take on the up-and-coming musicians and show them the ropes and remove some of the barriers and let them jump on stage age and play. Whether it's on sound check or saying what's what's up to them outside by the bus or the van. You know, Tosh is one of those guys, and I and I've watched watching your relationship with him grow and watch him take him under your wing, so to speak, to allow you to chase your dreams all the way leading to this year at the beginning of the year, like I said earlier. You you literally got the call to fill in for Tosh with damage and go on tour for a few weeks, you know, you know, south, you know, of the country, all the way all the way up the east coast. Tell me about the whole experience.

SPEAKER_01 6:22

Yeah, so like I've never been on tour before, so I don't I didn't know what to expect. So like I was just like my main thing was like, okay, so like I get the call right, but like like everyone, I feel like I feel like when like you get a call, or like I don't know, like this is just like what uh how I see it, like like I feel like everyone gets a call and they like think about like everything else. They think about like how they get in there and everything, but like I've like I'm not worried about that part. I'm worried about the music, like that I'm gonna remember the music. So I like for like I don't know, like two months or a month it was, um, I just like practice the music every day. And um, yeah, the main thing with those songs too, because they're so fast, was just stamina. So I used to like so I would go on the treadmill and like run to the BPM of every song. And um, yeah, so the first day um was in Austin, Texas. Um and yeah, that was that day was like that day just like felt to me like okay, so this is just because like I'm just so used to like playing like one show and then I'm like, alright, I'm gonna go home. Right? But like, no, no, but like I'm staying at a hotel, like you know what I'm saying? And and then it happened the next day, and then but like the first it took me like at least three days to get used to routine of like the same thing every day. And um, but yeah, I couldn't have like asked for like better people to tour with, like, like Johnny and Manu, like they they couldn't treat me like better, like, and it was just like it was such a great experience, and um, yeah, it was it was awesome.

SPEAKER_02 8:01

The show shows are crazy. We were lucky enough to be there first handful of shows and watching you, and it didn't didn't seem like you were nervous at all. Where did who did you get actually first? Where did you get the idea? Run on a treadmill to the BPM. Did you see somebody do that? Did you do that? Like, who who told you about that?

SPEAKER_01 8:17

I think I saw like some Instagram reel of someone doing it, like to a slipknot album for like for fun, and I was like, dang, I should do that with the damage songs.

SPEAKER_02 8:26

That's a good idea, dude.

SPEAKER_01 8:27

Yeah, it I don't know. It was just like, yeah, I think I should do that. But I I still was dying like the whole time because the songs are so fast. Right, right.

SPEAKER_02 8:35

Well, like the the the energy shifts from rehearsal in your own room and you're having to sound check to actually people in the room room and the energy's different, right?

SPEAKER_01 8:45

Oh my gosh, it's crazy. Like, I did not expect it. Like, cause I think it's probably like the lights and everything on you. It's like, oh my gosh, like, it's nuts. But and like there's no click, so like, just like playing as fast as you can. But like, man, it was it was so fun. Like, those songs are so fun to play.

SPEAKER_02 9:04

What was the most surprising thing that that happened on tour that you were like, I didn't expect like this, like this to happen, but it did.

SPEAKER_00 9:11

Um surprising.

SPEAKER_01 9:16

I don't I think I think I've talked for myself for myself about this. I think it was the fact that like I kind of figured out how to do my own laundry. Like, funny enough, I was like surprised at myself. I was like, dang, this was not as hard as I found it. But yeah, I I did I think I did my laundry like the most. I think I did my laundry like every day. I was like a psycho about it, but yeah, that was like one of like the funniest things for me. But I don't know, like maybe like you said surprising, right?

SPEAKER_02 9:51

Yeah, that's a surprising one, dude. You're growing up right before us on on the road, man. I remember we were page age and um, I forget where we were, one of the last shows that was that we did, and you were looking at the machine, and I think Sammy was trying to was showing you to put the little little laundry pod into the machine. So happy to hear here that it that it that you did it. You did your laundry.

SPEAKER_01 10:10

Yeah. Yeah, that that was like that was like crazy for me. But your favorite city.

SPEAKER_02 10:16

Do you have do you have a favorite city of the one and two then too that surprised you?

SPEAKER_01 10:19

Yeah, I think Fort Worth. Fort Worth was like, is that a city? Yeah, Fort Worth in Texas. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, that that that place is sick. Like, um, Austin, like the drummer, like he he uh took me like um to like the strip and everything, and it was like insane to see. It was crazy. It's cool, man. Cool, man. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:39

What was it like from your parents' side? You know, I know I spoke with your dad. That's again another pillar, as well as loyal, is like really giving the prospective parents, right? Because it's like, what a decision to make. You get the call from Tosh. Can you do this? A, you're gonna be taken out of school. B, B, you're gonna be traveling in a van at night playing playing clubs without security with you guys guys and with band members that aren't you know familiar with you and you're not familiar with them. What was it like talking to your parents about it? And like, were you scared? Were you nervous they were gonna say? No, how'd that all go?

SPEAKER_01 11:11

So Tosh called my dad first when like um like he first started talking about it, and then he just wanted to make sure it was cool with my dad. And my dad's like, yeah, I think it'd be a good opportunity, and then just the main thing we just had to like talk to the school or whatever, and they were really cool with it. Um but yeah, it was like I feel like um it was more of like a uh this is like like a great opportunity, you know. Like, but yeah, I have like I'm very grateful to have like very supportive parents, and um, yeah, it it was it was really cool to like to see how like easygoing they were because you don't know like with like parents like how they're gonna be like you just put them like you know like a 15-year-old kid out on the road, you know. But like my my par I was so lucky that my parents were like so cool about it.

SPEAKER_02 12:01

Yeah, and your dad came out to their show, he was there at the last show in Nashville, pick you up you up and take you home. What was uh what was that like? Did you miss them? Did you want the tour to slow longer? What what was it like when the tour finally up?

SPEAKER_01 12:14

I don't know. Like I feel like it was just like a mix of like crazy feelings. It was like, dang, I gotta go back home, but like I low key just wanna like keep doing this. It was kind of like I don't want to like I guess post-tour depression kind of thing, but yeah, um it's funny, like someone said to me the other day, because I was telling them how like or like someone said to like someone else, we were talking about it, like how um like my dad like picked me up and drop off. It was like at school, like at school, like you picked him pick him up and drop him off in the span of three weeks.

SPEAKER_02 12:51

Yeah, and he's and he's following you in the printer van instead of the school bus.

SPEAKER_01 12:56

Yeah, exactly. It's so funny.

SPEAKER_02 13:00

Well, dude, we're gonna take a quick quick break, but when we come back, I want to hear about the advice and any kind of pointers and tips that Tosh gave you either dur during the tour or after the tour. We'll be right back. What's up, I dobe radio? We're back here, loyal to the craft, talking with Jack Medaglia, all about the tour that he filled in for Tosh the Drummer while he was away touring with Lady Gotha, and Jack was playing for Tosh's other band image. Jack, what was like filling the shoes of Tosh the Drummer? What advice did he give you leading up to it? And how and how did it go? Did did you did you do a job in his eyes? And what was it like at the end of the tour? Tell me the whole experience.

SPEAKER_01 13:40

Um his main advice was just like think before you speak. I think that was just his like main advice, like and then it was just like, yeah, just like don't say everything that's on your mind. Like it can be hard because like, you know, if you're at home and you're like close with your parents, like you kind of just say whatever. But yeah, his main advice was just like just he's like just sometimes it's just better to be calm and like just like kind of just like lay back and hear what everyone else has to say. But yeah, um that was that was like his main advice, and like that's probably like the best advice like I could ever ask for. And um yeah, he he was just like, don't mess up the songs. I'm kidding. But like he was just like, um, yeah, just like just be laid back and like just think about what you say before you say it.

SPEAKER_02 14:32

Did did he tell you good job? Did you do f fulfill the job well, do you think, or was it just uh you did it and it was over?

SPEAKER_01 14:39

Uh I think I think he was happy about it, yeah.

unknown 14:42

Cool.

SPEAKER_02 14:42

Yeah. How do you how do you get in this in this position? Other than bringing that line to them to the show and putting in the putting in the hours, I see a lot of comments videos those that we've been posting from from this from this opportunity that you got. And I've seen a few comments where people are just saying, How can I be Jack? How do I get an opportunity like that? What would you say to those people? You know, how d how do you put yourself in the position to get a call like this?

SPEAKER_01 15:08

Um what I would say is just be like just be a genuine person. Don't be like a um don't be like someone on camera and then you're like they just like kind of like mean off. You know what I'm saying? Like just like be like just learn how to be the like the same person and like because that's the main thing with like this kind of stuff, is just like personality. Like like anyone can play the drums. Well, I don't know. But like like I don't know, like a lot of people play drums nowadays.

SPEAKER_02 15:40

You can play the drums if you if you put the time and the effort in and learn how to play the drums.

SPEAKER_01 15:45

Yeah, exactly. And I just think it's like showing that you're like truly passionate about it, and like not that you're like just like being like forced to kind of do it, if that makes sense. But yeah, I I just feel like making it look like you actually like love it and you're just like a cool person, like you don't ask like too many questions, like don't be annoying, and like yeah, just like stay out of people's way and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_02 16:16

You got the call pretty pretty early, you know. You're you're you're dean, you know, you're you're you got the call early. I think that there's a level of envy for something like that, but also it that call could come when you're 20, 30, 40, 30 years old. Like, what do you what are your what's your perspective on patience, especially when it comes to the chasing your dreams and making it happen?

SPEAKER_01 16:38

Do you mean by um like patience of like waiting till I go on tour?

SPEAKER_02 16:42

Yeah, yeah, o of getting an opportunity. I mean if so for put a different way, if you think you didn't get this call, would you be imp impatient right now going, when am I gonna get a call on tour tour? When can I do it? Because picture the thousand thousand m many thousands of of kids kids that see this opportunity. Again, like I like I said, there's envy and there's why isn't it me? But like you said, you did the work, put in it put in the time, you you became friends with Tosh. You bring you brought brought the sign, which is uh which is huge. That's a huge thing. You gotta have confidence and confidence to do that and the supportive parents that'll let you do encourage you to do it. But if you didn't get called what's your mindset on patience and and and what what is a good timeline for you to actually get on tour? I mean, you're still in high school, right?

SPEAKER_01 17:26

Yeah, so I I would say just like just like keep practicing your and like keep posting videos because like some people are like the best drummers in the world, but they don't post videos. Like how are you supposed to show who you are? Like back in the day, it was like kind of different, like you didn't really have to do that, and like you'd probably still like get gig it was just kind of more like who you know. I mean still is like who you know, but yeah, I think like networking is like a big part of it. Like I like me personally, like I used to like I still do, but like I just like I just write down like all like these shows I see on like Instagram and I'm like okay, I'm gonna go to these shows. But like my main thing is just like not to act like a robot, like at every like one, like not acting where like I'm trying to get something out of it. Like I'm just trying to like you know be like cool with with like people like and like stuff like that. So um, but yeah, my like for patience wise, like like there'll be like there'll be like times like when you don't like get something and you're like bunked, but like I think it's just uh consistency that's like or just like never giving up and stuff like that is like the most important thing.

SPEAKER_02 18:40

What's what's on your agenda next? Like, you know, what's your get list to is there another band you want to tour with? Do you see you see yourself playing with damage again? Talk to me about finishing high school and balancing that this this music career that you're building and and what your pipe pipe dreams are.

SPEAKER_01 18:55

Yeah, so um, yeah, I'd I'd eventually like probably would want to like join like an official band. Um like how Tosh has joined Alkaline. And but yeah, my my main goal is just like play as like with as many people as I can. And um I wanna I wanna record a lot of drums for people too as well. Like that's like something I really enjoy doing. Um But yeah, I just like I just like like getting better better oh my god. I just like getting better at drums, you know what I'm saying? Like that's just like literally one of my favorite things. Like just to get better at drums. Like, um like if I don't get better at drums like once a month, like I like lose my crap. Like, like, but like I don't know, I feel like you have to be kind of like you have to be obsessed in a way about it. But um, as far as like high school goes, like my high school is like really like supportive and um yeah, like I have a show um like up and coming and like I think like like some like people from the school will come to it, and it's just like really cool like to see like how supportive like um people are from like my high school and stuff.

SPEAKER_02 20:12

That's how how do you balance it? You know, you're in school from early early morning until mid-afternoon, just coming humming home and playing drums, and how are you dic dictating you getting better or not? Like what are what are your metrics for for that? What's your team of of practicing and continue to be inspired and getting better?

SPEAKER_01 20:30

Yeah, so um I I usually go to school and then I go to like the gym and then like after like an hour like take like the fattest nap of my life, and then I go play drums um like for the whole night, like until like I get asked to stop playing. Um But yeah, I just I just like my thing is like is just like literally like on like the other day, like I was just like on YouTube, I was like on like drummyos like like like website or whatever, and I was just like, yo, there's all these like free videos on like how to like learn all these rudiments, like why would I not just go through each one? But yeah, that and um I also take lessons with um Thomas Pridgeon like once a month, I'd say. So it's just like but like there's just so many videos on like online, like even like on Instagram reels of just like drum lessons, like free drum lessons. Like this like people usually not post like free drum lessons like back in the day. It's just like people are just like showing like like how to get better and stuff, and like it's just like sticking. It's like it's like one thing to like the video and then just be like, alright, whatever. But it's another thing to like actually like save the video in your cam roll and then like actually like learn it.

SPEAKER_02 21:49

Yeah, yeah, yeah. 100%. Well you're an instant inspiration for a whole genre and a whole whole you know uh bracket of upcoming musicians as a whole, not even. Drummers drummers. You know, what you did and what you accomplished is really admirable. And we're so happy that we got to be a small part of that journey and document document it. Let's uh let's call some some some up-and-coming drummers in the community that you think does deserve some some light. Who are you looking at that's inspiring you? That's an up-and-comer people should be keeping an eye on.

SPEAKER_01 22:20

Yeah, um Austin is one. Like he he just I just saw a video of him started to sing the other day. Like, no way. Austin Right, right, right, correct? Yeah. Yeah, he's great. He's great. He's so talented. Monster. Yeah. And uh Bronx. Bronx is killer. Um think of the drummers. I've been like like watching. I've been I just it's funny, I I watch like a lot of my like the drum the drum teacher, like Thomas Bridgeon. I just watch a lot of his videos and um yeah, I just I even I even started like watching just like Van Warptour. Um like just like I just looked up Vans Warp Tour clips and I was just like, I'm just gonna find drummers and like just try to like get inspired like from these drummers.

SPEAKER_02 23:13

Who who are a couple from the Warp Tour tour that you've been inspired by that you didn't know of more?

SPEAKER_01 23:18

Um I don't know how to say his last name, but uh he was just on uh Loyal to the Craft. Uh Devin um Oh Devin At hard. Yeah, Devin Attard, yeah. He's great. He's amazing. Yeah. And um him is a big one. Like it's so cool to see like how much like like is it intensess? Intenseness? Like like how much like power he puts into those drums. It's like freaking insane.

SPEAKER_02 23:45

Dude, when we were with him when we were with our landlando at warp tour last year, he literally was so hard. He was so into it and intense. He literally turned her through threw up behind the drum riser and then just kept he he takes it to a novel meaning and he's like hitting himself in the head and he doesn't miss it. He hits hits so hard, and he is he is an intenser for for sure. But he he lives his life that way too. It's it's just straight passion and emotion, which is incredible.

SPEAKER_01 24:09

Yeah, yeah, he he's a big one, he's great. Um Rog played MGK MGK Rogue, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 24:17

You like uh you like you like P3 from The Paradox? He's a great pop-pop punk drummer. Oh yeah, he's sick.

SPEAKER_01 24:23

Yeah, he just hit me up the other day. He's amazing.

SPEAKER_02 24:26

Yeah, yeah, he crushes, he's awesome. We we've gotten this to hang hang and see him play behind the scenes a couple of times. It's awesome awesome.

SPEAKER_01 24:32

Oh heck it, yeah. They're they're doing they're doing amazing paradox. Like oh yeah. I remember when they like first came out with um Do Me Like That. I was like, damn. Like crazy, dude. Dude, oh my gosh, man.

SPEAKER_02 24:45

Getting produced and produced produced by Travis Barker, having him come in and put your song song and at warped were so amazing.

SPEAKER_01 24:51

Dude, it's so sick. That that was like one of like the big things of warped, like having Travis there.

SPEAKER_02 24:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:58

Sick. That was were you there for that?

SPEAKER_02 25:01

Yeah, I I I wasn't there like backstage. We were we were at our but we could we could see that stage from where we were at and we watched like the big the big jumbo tri the big jumbo screen that thing was pretty pretty cool. Yeah, that's sick. Welcome back to the show. We're gonna play a segment from Tosh's view on Jack filling in and how it all came together. The full interview is up on the Loyal to the Craft YouTube channel if you want to check it out. Enjoy. Cool, dude. Week of firsts, man. Like this is a big week for Jack. How do you think he's feeling right now?

SPEAKER_03 25:30

Dude, I I mean, I know I would be terrified if I were, you know, in his position. Um I think he's stoked though. He seemed pretty hype last night, you know. Uh yeah, a lot of a lot of firsts, you know. It's it's weird not doing a tour with my own band. That's a weird feeling, but uh, you know, got work to do, and um I'm stoked I could pass it on to Jack to do it, you know.

SPEAKER_02 25:52

Huge. Why did you do that? Like in your mind when you were going through this, was it just like a automatic, like this just makes sense? Because obviously, this isn't the first time that uh you know a band's needed a fill in. Like you could have called somebody from LA. Like what made you choose Jack?

SPEAKER_03 26:05

Well, you know, I've had a a lot of fill-ins, and I have my go-to of guys that I use fill-in, and um, they're all like incredible drummers and great dudes and stuff, and I was like, you know what, someone gave me an opportunity when I was a kid, like a gave me a chance to, you know, try to prove myself and show that I could do it at a very young age. I was 16, and so I was like, he's close enough, and he's a ripping drummer, and I was just like, he needs that opportunity, he needs that, you know, that push to do it, and he just see if he likes it, you know. That's the truth. You don't actually you might think you like it, and then you go and do it, and like this sucks. Yeah. So yeah.

SPEAKER_02 26:40

So cool because it's like you're passing the baton, you're passing the sticks to him in such a profound way. Because like when I first started seeing Jack come up, I was like, it's a spitting image of you. You know, and I remember watching you when you were his age, and even younger than that, and like the way you play, how he's his elbows and everything, like he's he's definitely heavily inspired by you. So to have you as a mentor, but also giving him this opportunity, because it's just huge, dude. Like what you're doing is is uh paying it forward in probably the biggest way you could pay it forward to somebody.

SPEAKER_03 27:12

Dude, it's it's like you said, it's crazy. I'll like the way he starts his fills, the way he does it, it's like literally an exact image of me. I'm like, that's what I would do, dude. Like, I'm absolutely doing that. You know what I mean? So it's he the way he starts his feels, the way he looks when he plays. I'm I'm telling him, I would go, don't start with the head banging. It's not worth it. You get you get addicted to it, I do it every night, and I wake up every day like, why do I do this, dude? It's not worth it.

SPEAKER_02 27:38

You guys jamming last night was first of all amazing, but like literally the back and forth between you two was like mirror image. It was perfect.

SPEAKER_03 27:47

It's so funny, dude. I love that. That was that was a good time. Last night was rad, dude. So fun. We loved it.

SPEAKER_02 27:52

We did a lot yesterday, dude.

SPEAKER_03 27:53

We and Oh my god, I feel like we just ran a marathon yesterday, dude. I'm like, oh my god.

SPEAKER_02 27:58

I think we we hung out upstairs until like four 3 30 or 4 a.m. and I was finally I was like delirious. I was like, I gotta go to bed, bro. I haven't stayed up this late until I was like for the past 10 years.

SPEAKER_03 28:06

Yeah, dude, but we were just spitballing, man. Going for it. So good.

SPEAKER_02 28:12

But yeah, he seems he seems um not apprehensive, he seems confident, which is what you need in a gig like this. Like you can't walk into playing a show and be like second guessing yourself. Because if you mess up, I've done that playing shows where I was like, I'm gonna not, I don't I'm so nervous, I stopped for I forgot what the song was. Yeah. And if the drummer stops, it's a train wreck.

SPEAKER_03 28:34

Oh yeah, that's the I mean anyone else can kind of sit out. The drums are pretty obvious.

SPEAKER_02 28:39

He seems confident like he's got that, but like I think there's so many new things he's about to experience. Kid from New York, never been on tour before, starting in Texas, going down Florida up the East Coast.

SPEAKER_03 28:51

He'd never been away from his parents before. Like his dad's out here right now, his dad's flying home after the show tomorrow, and he's on his own. He's with dudes he barely knows. And I'm like, that's it. You know, the amount of tours I've started not knowing anyone, and just hopped on and been like, Hope this goes well, you know, like I hope everyone's cool, you know. And it's it's uh it's a big that it's a life thing, not even just in music, it's just a life thing, is being able to hang out around people that are good people, and like and sometimes there might be someone who's not a good person, and he's gotta like navigate, you navigate and learn how to be around people. Because I'm like, I know my band, I know he's gonna be safe hands with my band. I trust them with everything in me. But you're on tour with two other bands. We don't know any of those people. It's like and that's how it is gonna be for the rest of your life if you're gonna do this forever. So I I uh throwing him in, dude.

SPEAKER_02 29:41

Throwing him to the fire, dude. And even like I remember going on tour when I was like 18, hitting Texas and just being because I'm from New England area. Yeah. So like for him, being in New York, obviously the weather's a thing, but the landscape and the amount of like when you're driving down the highway in Texas, I remember just being like, This is crazy. This is real.

SPEAKER_03 30:00

He's gonna see half of the country in the next three weeks. I know, and like he's like, what he was uh he was asking, he's like, What do you like why he's like, why do you guys keep talking about food? I'm like, that's about all you got. Yeah, you're working, dude. I was like, you're like, okay, let's find food. Yeah. It's like you gotta drive, you know, on a tour like this, you're in a sprinter van, you know, you're in a van, you got all your gear packed in with you, and you wake up, you drive, sound check, play a show, go to bed, wake up, drive, put every day. You know, there's he's got three days off in three weeks. And that those three days are travel days. You know what I mean? So he's going for it. And that's how that's how it is in the real life. Lady Gaga is not like that. I'm very lucky. But every other tour I've done, it's like show, bus, you know, show bus, like that's it. So it's uh he's getting to experience the real life, you know. Yeah. The first time.

SPEAKER_02 30:51

Do you give him any advice, or do you were you just like, dude, do you?

SPEAKER_03 30:54

The main one, I'm gonna cuss here. Shut the fuck up sometimes. You gotta. So, dude, sometimes just lay back and just shut your mouth and just be chill. Yeah, it'll be fine.

SPEAKER_02 31:04

Is it because he talks a lot, or are you just saying that's a good thing? No, no, that's just advice to anyone.

SPEAKER_03 31:08

Anyone. I it wasn't aimed at just him, it's just like that's my biggest advice for someone going on tour. You don't want to be the dude just like going at everyone, and you know, if something if you're concerned about something, you know. I told him, I was like, for something like this, at first, if you're like a little worried about something, hit me up. I'll call me at any time, I'll answer. Unless I'm on stage, I'll answer, you know. Um because you know, I had questions about things, I'm like, who's doing this? Who's doing you know, and I didn't want to ask, so I just didn't, and sometimes that's actually better, yeah, because you'll just you'll figure it out because it always will work itself out. So just you know, chill out and kind of you have to relax and just let it be in the hands of everyone else. Because sometimes it's not up to you, you know, everything that happens.

SPEAKER_02 31:51

What about for you going into the Gaga gig? That was you know, and you played MGK, Fallout. Well, you had already done some pretty significantly large shows, but going into this were like you're the drummer, and this is like this is a full-time thing for you, and you're in this camp in this world. For you, were there any firsts that were like hard to overcome? Did anybody give you advice going into the gaga thing or like crazy stories from the gaga? Like what what what surprises did you have in your life when you joined this camp?

SPEAKER_03 32:22

Well, you know, it happened so fast. They asked me on a Sunday night, and I played on a Thursday night, like my first gig with her. Um I knew that it was potentially coming, so I'd been learning a lot of the stuff, but I really went in and learned the songs for real and like went for it, and um, you know, had one rehearsal with her and then did the show. Yeah. Um so I didn't have a lot of time to stress out about it. It more happened the the main thing I was worried about, is like I hope she likes me. Because I'm like so different from her last two drummers who are incredible and like so good at drums, but like the opposite of me, you know. I'm like, I don't know if she's gonna like me, or what if she doesn't like me as a person, what if she doesn't like the way I, you know, anything. And um, so that was like I was definitely like worried about that, and so coming in, I just had to like go as prepared as possible. I think the the difference is on a gig like this, it's like Fallout Boy or something like that. Even MGK can you know he'll get recognized and stuff, but he can go to the grocery store, you know what I mean? Like this is a high-profile security like risk at all times. Like they need to be on it, so just like navigating, like, what do I, you know, like how do I operate around this? Is like that was definitely a little intimidating because you know, you've got like 15 security guards around all time, like dudes that look like they can pick me up and squash me, and I'm like, dude, like I don't want to do anything wrong. And it's like I don't know what I would do wrong, but you know, it's just always in your head, like, gotta be like, I just want to be chill and make sure everyone's good, you know.

SPEAKER_02 33:48

Well, pretty, pretty early on it seemed like she she was vibing with you because I remember very vividly, it probably was like one of your first couple shows. Like she came up and was playing the drums with you up front, and like you had a you had a moment there for for a bit, and like rolling into two and a half million people playing those shows, like you were literally just thrown right into it.

SPEAKER_03 34:08

Yeah, dude. I mean SNL was pretty, they were like, Oh, she wants to come up and play drums, and I was like, What? And I I thought maybe they're gonna bring some drums on the front of the stage or something, and she walks up and she's like, Can you like teach me something to do? It's like uh okay, so uh, you know, she's like, What are you playing? So she starts playing symbols with me, and I mean she's smart and talented, so she knows what to do. And um, but watching that shot back, I was like, Oh my god, it's literally just me and her on the SNL stage, and I can look up and have my dad right in front of me, dude. He was sitting right there. So cool. The very he had the per he was on the front of the balcony, because it's all balcony because they have to film down low. So he's on the front of the balcony, and I'm just watching him. It's my dad, Quest Love, St. Vincent, all just sitting right there watching us play, and I was like, this is the craziest moment of my life. Yeah. And then it got crazier because then we did Brazil for two and a half million people. I think the final count was 2.6. I'm like, dude, what? And at that point, the biggest crowd I had ever played was Coachella, which was 125,000, which I was tripping on. But like, I've done big shows. I've done shows that I was like, how am I gonna top this? I did with Troy Savon and uh in Barcelona, we did 80,000 people, and I was like, how am I gonna top this, you know? Yeah, and then you get there and it's like our check, there was 500,000 people waiting outside. Like, like not outside, like literally on the beach, to trying to get as close as they can. Because you can't block it off, you can block it off for as far as you can, but not forever, you know? It's just on the beach in Brazil, and so it was uh that was pretty significant for me. I I was like, I was like bawling my eyes out after Brazil called my mom and I was like, Mom, I did it! They watched the whole thing too, because there's a live stream of it.

SPEAKER_02 35:47

Oh my gosh, dude. Nothing seems to phase you though, as far as like going back to like the confidence thing. You just you just did it. You're like, whether it's for a hundred people, eight people, eighty thousand, or two and a half million, you're like, I'm just gonna go be me.

SPEAKER_03 35:58

Dude, it it always hits me after. Always hits me after. Because like in the moment, I I remember my guitarist Tim was like, Are you nervous for tonight? And you know, we were walking or something, getting lunch, and I was like, like, literally lunch in our lobby of our hotel because we couldn't leave because there were so many people outside our hotel. Yeah. So we're just you know, we're eating lunch. He's like, Are you nervous for tonight? And I'm like, Am I supposed to be? Like, he's like, I mean, there's gonna be a lot of people there. I was like, Yeah, but it's the same set we've been playing for the last month and a half. Like, yeah, there's nothing that could go wrong with the set, you know. It's like a show like this, it's so dialed. I'm like, what could possibly go wrong? I'm more just like, the amount of people doesn't matter because I post a video of myself. There's how many people are on Instagram? A billion. Yeah. Any like a billion of those people could see it. It doesn't matter. Like so it's kind of like it's always out there.

SPEAKER_02 36:47

And you just love drums, dude. Like getting to know I've known you for a long time, 15 years now. Like, you just love drums, like it's not gonna phase you. You're just gonna play.

SPEAKER_03 36:57

Dude, I was like bummed, like, man, we have three days off, and I can't go play drums anywhere. This sucks. And I was like, then I I was just like, dude, yeah, let's play the set. I get to go, you know, I get to play drums. And you just get pumped and you're just going for it, you know what I mean? It's like I could play drums. If you have a drum set in here, I'd be like, oh, I guess I'm gonna play until you're ready for me to, you know, leave. Like, just because I like being on the drums. Pretty much every time you call me, I'm sitting on my drum set at home. Yeah, you know, it's like, we'll we'll talk on the phone, and it's like, yeah, I'm just sitting behind my drums because I love drums and I'm playing them, and yeah.

SPEAKER_02 37:28

It's where you it's where you live. Do you have a preference like going from obviously a two and a half million uh person show is is a rarity, but do you have a preference of like these damage shows at a at a bar club versus going to an arena? Like the what's what's the what's the difference for you and do you have a preference?

SPEAKER_03 37:47

You know, it's two completely different things, and I love them both. Like I I think I actually said this when we did the podcast last time, but there's a you know, Max Bernstein told me he's like, don't play a bar like an arena, play an arena like a bar. And I've always felt like that is like the smartest thing in the world because I just it's all it's all playing, you know, drums to me. But what is what I like about it is like I can play in this bar and I'm playing with my band. I'm playing songs I wrote with them and like drum parts that I came up with and stuff, and I uh that's just so fun. You know, you get to do that. But then you go play for Lady Gaga or anyone, and you're playing in front of a hundred thousand people, and I'm like, this is insane, this is awesome.

SPEAKER_02 38:32

Such an awesome story, and again, the full interview with Tosh is up on the Loyal to the Craft YouTube channel. You can check it out on our Instagram. Make sure you follow and fuel the habit. Thanks for watching and hanging out tonight with Loyal to the Craft on Adobe Radio. We'll see you next week.