Micah Turney Makes Monkey Melodies Shine
By Leslie Hampton Published March 13th, 2010
Drummer: Micah Turney
Band: Monkey
Venue: Homestead Lanes, November 28th 2009
Micah Turney is the drummer from San Jose's ska band Monkey. He's got a long resume in other Bay Area bands including NVS and Monster Pete & the Chiefs. Micah's approach is to enhance the melodies rather than steal the spotlight, though his good technique can hardly be hidden.
Micah's day gig is running the drum department at a Santa Clara music store called Starving Musician. He is a font of info on all things drumming.
MySpace:http://www.myspace.com/monkeyska
When not designing web pages, plonking her rare guitars or banging on her eBay drums, Leslie Hampton haunts northern California clubs and house concerts photographing musicians.[Ed. Note: Each episode of Caught In The Act features a photo of a drummer in action, from the famous like Danny Carey to the not-so-famous local indies. If you're a photographer who'd like to feature your work in Caught In The Act, drop us a note.]
Images © Leslie Hampton 2010.
Stephen O'Sicky Mixes It Up: Caught Live
By Leslie Hampton Published March 11, 2010
Drummer: Stephen O'Sicky
Band:Constellation Branch
Venue: Homestead Lanes, February 6th
Drummer Stephen O'Sicky of the Constellation Branches mixes it up with a fine bag of triplets, paradiddles and ghost notes. On tracks like "The False Awakening Pt. III: Poisoned Apple", he really skills as tricky as the band's way of naming songs.
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/theconstellationbranch
Stephen prefers black coated heads on his toms.
When not designing web pages, plonking her rare guitars or banging on her eBay drums, Leslie Hampton haunts northern California clubs and house concerts photographing musicians.
[Ed. Note: Each episode of Caught In The Act features a photo of a drummer in action, from the famous like http://www.drummagazine.com/caughtintheact/post/danny-carey-at-the-drum-off/" />Danny Carey to the not-so-famous local indies. If you're a photographer who'd like to feature your work in Caught In The Act, drop us a note.]
Images © Leslie Hampton 2010.
Clinically Insane: Jimmy DeGrasso and Todd Sucherman
By Andrew Lentz Published March 11, 2010
Drummers: Todd Sucherman and Jimmy DeGrasso
Venue:San Jose Pro Drum, Willow Glen, California, March 6, 2010
Before the first note of this two-drummmer clinic was sounded, Alice Cooper drummer Jimmy Degrasso stressed that he and sparring partner, Styx's Todd Sucherman, were not battling in this so-called drum battle. The two men grooved mightily, complementing each other's unique styles, before taking riveting solos. An informative Q&A followed with both players cracking wise and spinning yarns. To cap the event, DeGrasso played along to an Alice Cooper track that exhibited impressive double-bass work while Sucherman did a song from his wife's band, showing a more melodic kind of playing.

DeGrasso played one of his older Pearl Masterworks kits while Sucherman opted for a Pearl Masters MCX setup.
Sucherman offered a serious dose of power, precision, and speed.
DeGrasso's meaty double-pedal work had an almost funky quality. He was equally agile up top.
Nick Overhauser
By Leslie Hampton Published March 11, 2010
Drummer: Nick Overhauser
Band:Mountain Animal Hospital
Venue:The Crepe Place, Santa Cruz January 24th
Nick Overhauser plays atmospheric to mathy beats for the Santa Cruz-based Mountain Animal Hospital. They mix up their with synths and plenty of electronics.
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/mountainanimalhospital
When not designing web pages, plonking her rare guitars or banging on her eBay drums, Leslie Hampton haunts northern California clubs and house concerts photographing musicians.
[Ed. Note: Each episode of Caught In The Act features a photo of a drummer in action, from the famous like Danny Carey to the not-so-famous local indies. If you're a photographer who'd like to feature your work in Caught In The Act, drop us a note.]
Images © Leslie Hampton 2010.
Lindem Reed
By Leslie Hampton Published March 10th, 2010
Drummer: Lindem Reed
Band:Atheorem
Venue:The Crepe Place, Santa Cruz January 30th
Lindem Reed plays light ambient beats to harder, trikckier patterns. He gets a big sound from the Mapex kit with four wrap-around toms.
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/atheorem
When not designing web pages, plonking her rare guitars or banging on her eBay drums, Leslie Hampton haunts northern California clubs and house concerts photographing musicians.
[Ed. Note: Each episode of Caught In The Act features a photo of a drummer in action, from the famous like Danny Carey to the not-so-famous local indies. If you're a photographer who'd like to feature your work in Caught In The Act, drop us a note.]
Images © Leslie Hampton 2010.
