by kevin shephard » Mon Nov 05, 2007 1:20 pm
My name is Kevin. I play drums and work as a software developer at Aliant. Although (shhhhh), I'd rather be drumming for a living then writing if...then...else statements. I have been drumming for quite some time now, starting in high school when my parents bought me my first drum kit. I took some lessons from my friend and neighbour, Scott Collier (John's cousin) who taught me independence and how to listen to the songs and figure out what the drummer was doing. Between high school and now, Malcolm has been my biggest teacher, listening to hours upon hours of different things and opening my eyes to so much, playing along to all kinds of stuff, learning about time-signatures, shuffles, etc, etc, etc, and doing the mirror-image double drum thing, or "making noise" as we always called it.
I have played in a few bands over the years. The first band I was in that actually played out was NFA (Not From Athens, notfunnyanymore, Hospital Grade) with Jason Ogden, Ian Shonoman and Sean O'Halloran way back. Very cool shit. Malcolm recorded our demo in an old movie store in Quispamsis using, ummm...two tape decks, was it? Oh, how times have changed.
After NFA, I formed Gopher Soda with Wayne Dempsey, Ken Shore, Brian McRae, Matt "Lymie" Lydon (RIP Matt!!), Kim Shephard, and Lori Shore. We played out and about around town in the early nineties. It was fun.
Took a break from drums for a few years when I moved to Halifax and had my first child. My drum room turned into the nursery.
I am now playing in Big Easy (have been for about 5-6 years now). Great musicians, these guys are. And it is a blast to rock out with them.
I play Pearl Masters Studio drums and Zildjian cymbals. I want Malcolm's Quick-Beat hi-hats.
I have three beautiful children who are my life. Jonah is turning 10 this month (wow, I remember being impressed when I was a decade old) and is in grade 5, Mini-me, I mean, Josh, is 7 (8 in January - yes he was ALMOST a millennium baby - just 5 days off) and in grade 2, and my little darling Sydney is turning 5 this month and is in kindergarten - and yes, she has me wrapped around her dainty little fingers. I am actually finished Christmas shopping for them - which is unheard of for me (eh, Malcolm?).
I am going to shut up now. Anyone who knows me knows this is probably more words than I say in a year.
K