Rakk
11-09-2003, 06:22 AM
Heard of the clinic just the day before when I went into Musicstore. I know several clinics by different drummers on DVD, but none from VD.
To say the least, it is a really outrageous impression.
Mike Portnoy is one of my favs because I like the overall style of his. No doubt he is great too, but compared to VD even his style is like a bit "normal". As well as his music is "normal" compared to VDs music. MP seems to play at his personal upper limit, in clinics and on recordings. Again, no doubt he's great, but I must say: I am not sure if MP should dare to play one on one against VD. VD is capable to play incredibly complexxx. And at unbelievable speed at the same time. If you look at him playing you think of movie tricks. I never saw or heard something like that before, especially regarding his footwork.
The only "problem" may be exactly this complexity. It is hard to break down, and if you do not spend lots of time analyzing (if you can ever make it by just listening) you will never get the hang of it. And, within the midst of a song, you often have only a few bars time to "get" it, then it's gone and the next trick comes up. Really mind-challenging and most interesting for "progressive" drummers. But as always, it is much more difficult to analyze something complex than create something complex yourself, because in the latter case you have the look-ahead, that you miss when listening to some other.
But even if you are not a drummer, not even interested in music at all: just looking at his play is a show of its own. His physical capabilities alone must impress everyone. He could easily play at a circus just for that. A lucky guy, this VD.
Someone wrote, you'll stop drumming after you saw him play. No. Because it's like a normal Porsche street-driver watching a professional Rallye/Formula One driver racing. Worlds apart, so you don't feel ashamed in your bloody piece of car.
To say the least, it is a really outrageous impression.
Mike Portnoy is one of my favs because I like the overall style of his. No doubt he is great too, but compared to VD even his style is like a bit "normal". As well as his music is "normal" compared to VDs music. MP seems to play at his personal upper limit, in clinics and on recordings. Again, no doubt he's great, but I must say: I am not sure if MP should dare to play one on one against VD. VD is capable to play incredibly complexxx. And at unbelievable speed at the same time. If you look at him playing you think of movie tricks. I never saw or heard something like that before, especially regarding his footwork.
The only "problem" may be exactly this complexity. It is hard to break down, and if you do not spend lots of time analyzing (if you can ever make it by just listening) you will never get the hang of it. And, within the midst of a song, you often have only a few bars time to "get" it, then it's gone and the next trick comes up. Really mind-challenging and most interesting for "progressive" drummers. But as always, it is much more difficult to analyze something complex than create something complex yourself, because in the latter case you have the look-ahead, that you miss when listening to some other.
But even if you are not a drummer, not even interested in music at all: just looking at his play is a show of its own. His physical capabilities alone must impress everyone. He could easily play at a circus just for that. A lucky guy, this VD.
Someone wrote, you'll stop drumming after you saw him play. No. Because it's like a normal Porsche street-driver watching a professional Rallye/Formula One driver racing. Worlds apart, so you don't feel ashamed in your bloody piece of car.