I've been avoiding the interview sessions and the whole reality-show drama, so this is the first time I've even seen his kit or heard much from him, and both are rather impressive. Even if I do think that if you have so many things to hit that you need to have a second row of them above your head then there's kinda something wrong.
Definitely nothing wrong. Guys like Mangini are on another level. Despite the reality tv drama, the documentary was great, and shows just how passionate Mike was regarding the band. Mangini is a real class act, all around. I'm very excited to see what he brings!
I know it's not a rational reaction. But it reminds me of the 70's keyboard players, and how the more you had, and actually played during a night, the cooler you were. Stack 'em up, set them in a circle and stand in the middle, whatever you did. But that was because you needed your Hammond, Rhodes, Moog, Arp, Mellotron, Clavinet... they were all different keyboards with different sounds. Then came sampling and eventually digital synths and you didn't need all that. I wonder why a drummer has to have 30 or 40 things to hit. I saw an old Beatles video and Ringo Starr had a basic trap kit, eight pieces including cymbals, and he could do anything. It served the music perfectly.
True, Dream Theater music is much, much more complex than that, and if a drummer knows how to use each of those 30 or 40 pieces of percussion to augment that music, then that's great. But I can't help looking at that kit and hearing it scream "prog excess!" at me. Like the keyboardist with 10 keyboards, or the guitarist with eight guitars lined up on stage.
But you just said yourself that the keyboardists had all those different keyboards because they all had their own distinct sounds and purposes. Well each drum and each cymbal has its own distinct sound and purpose too. So if he hits all of those drums and makes them sound good in the song (which I foresee happening) then more power to the man.
This. Also remember, he's had to build a kit with playing DTs back catalog in mind. You've seen the size of Portnoys kits, he's probably trying to emulate parts of those kits so he can successfully play those songs. And even then, pretty sure Portnoys kits were bigger. Manginis kit seems smaller, but more spread out. The octobans and cymbals don't need to be mounted up top, he could have them mounted like normal, but I'm assuming he prefers them mounted like that.
Also, as for a guitarist having 8 guitars on stage, I don't see how that's a big deal. Unless they just feel like changing guitars because one is a different color, the guitars are probably all tuned different. So 8 guitars probably means 8 different tunings used throughout that night. I mean, unless you'd prefer them to halt the concert and re-tune (possibly even restring, depending on the tuning) their guitar between songs. OR they could just switch guitars that they've got ready.
Topic: New drummer interview (Read 11065 times)
