Hound Dog

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For the last few weeks I’ve been working on a brand new play presented by Ars Nova: Hound Dog. We are currently in previews and open this coming Saturday. Here’s the official blurb:

In Melis Aker’s world premiere play HOUND DOG, a young musician returns from abroad to her hometown of Ankara, Turkey to look after her widowed father. Forced to reckon with the family and community she left behind, an investigation into her grieving parent’s strange pilgrimage to Graceland unravels into a sonic mirage of memory packed with humor, nostalgia and the love we cultivate across generations.

I’ve made a lot of new friends on this show and get to play with a really excellent band, including lead singer Sahar Milani, guitarist Maya Sharpe, and Mel Hsu on bass.

Here are some setup shots:

I’m playing a delightfully acoustic setup: 5-piece Gretsch kit with darbuka, triangle, tambourine, and wood block.

The view of our lead singer, Sahar Milani, from my seat. We are on the second story of the set that has windows that open up to reveal the band.

Of course I need the Miller Machine to make this show happen!

The array of sticks I’m using

Me with Maya Sharpe and Mel Hsu. We are the Flaming Sultans!

The Miller Machine

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About this time last year, I was asked to make a promo video for the Miller Machine. My video was cut together with videos from a bunch of other amazing percussionists, which you can watch here. Today, I am happy to share with you my full video that I created with the help of my wife (and cat). We had a lot of fun making this!

If you aren’t familiar with the Miller Machine, you are probably not a percussionist who performs in musical theater. Easily one of the most important percussion innovations of the last 50 years, the Miller Machine allows you to play triangle without having to fumble around for a beater. This is especially handy during a quick change situation. For example, you can be playing timpani with your fluffiest of mallets and execute a perfectly sounding triangle note a beat later without having to put down your sticks and grab a triangle beater. It’s easy to position in any type of setup and is small enough that it can fit in your stick bag when you’re on the go. If this could be of use to you, head over to Billy’s site and grab one for 10% off your first order!

Long Live The Miller Machine!

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The Miller Machine is one of the most important percussion inventions of the last 50 years! Are you even playing a musical if you don't have one (or three, like I use in my setup for The Grinch)?

Stay tuned for the full videos from me and all of these amazing percussionists that I am honored to share the screen with. Thanks so much for having me, Billy Miller and Jeremy Yaddaw!