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View Full Version : Amsterdam, november 9, 2003.


frank
11-10-2003, 10:19 AM
Hey people!
Any of you guys went to see the clinic Virgil did yesterday? It was GREAT!!!

Unfortunately, I was 5 minutes late, because we (my brother and 2 friends) couldn't find a parking space.. :S
When we finally parked and arrived at the venue, I immediately rushed in, didn't even hang my coat, and pushed myself too the front. I was at the 2nd row in the middle and had a great view! I could even see Virgil's right foot through the hole and transparant 'head' (or whatever it's called) in the bassdrum! Freaky to see him change from right foot bassdrum to rightfoot hihat and left foot bassdrum to left foot hihat...

Anywayz, when I got in, he was in the middle of the solo where he started with, and I was instantly blown away by his sick stick twirling tricks and way too fast bassdrums!! And after only 1 minute or maybe even less, Virgil threw a stick in the air, which was heading my way! So I put my arm in the air and cought the stick.. strangly enough there wasn't anyone else who tried to catch the stick.. It was heading straight for me, as if Virgil recognized me or something hehe.. Well from that moment on, I was REALLY happy and I knew it was going to be a great show..

Virgil's solo was just sick, speed, independence and creativity are the only words to describe it.
When he finished his solo, the crowd went wild.. or at least I did hehe..
Then there were some papers handed out, with some excercises, as well as some PX songs on them.. He started to explain a few things about quarter triples and stuff like that, which was pretty nice.. When he eventually played it, it looked like the basic rythm of OTV's Pyramids on Mars..
Then there were some paradiddle and 'five-a-diddle' exercices... FREAKY STUFF!!!
The most impressive thing he did was the five-a-diddle, where he did the following:

[[Left foot on the hi-hat, left hand on his 2nd snare, right hand on his bassdrum, right hand on his 2nd hihat..]]

He then did this: LF-LH-LF-LH-LH and at the same time he did RH-RF-RH-RH-RF-RH-RF-RF Then he paused and played it the other way around, so right became left and left became right..
He then took it to the next level and did it faster, and changing left and right without pausing!!!! WOOOOW!!!!! :O :O :O

The man's amazing...

Then, when he had explained about half the paper, he said, "let's answer some questions now... any questions you guys have?"
So then a few ppl fired some questions at him, but it didn't take long before the audience didn't have any questions..
So Virgil was like "No more questions? Well I'll start asking myself questions then!! Virgil, what's your favourite poly-rythm?" And then he started answering himself, explaining some really cool stuff and playing some amazing things..

After that, he went back to the paperwork and there was some more polyrythmic stuff, really interesting!
And then he started explaining Ataraxia, and after that he played the song, along with music... GREAT!!!! His playing was GREAT, and even more impressive then on the album MoonBabies.. There were some insane fills and he played incredibly cool and tight as hell of course.. There was a solo part over the theme which was longer then on the album, and of course it was very impressive!!

After that came my favourite part of the show... He played Quantum Factor!!!! YEAH!!!!! It was SO GOOD!! I can't even describe the sick stuff he did!!! It really doesn't get any better than that..

When he finished that song, he explained the weird and fast part from "Atlantis part 1 - Apocalypse 1470 BC", from Derek's first solo album "Planet X". He played that too along with music, first slow, giving great insite in what the heck he's drumming there anyway, and then he played it normal tempo, which was impressive as ever.....

After that, he threw away a few sticks he had used. And then he threw away unused pairs of sticks! So there were lots of ppl walking around with pairs of sticks... But I like my single stick better, cuz Virgil actually played with that one and threw it to me when I was just there.. :) I can buy a pair of his sticks anytime for 10 euro or something..
I guess Vater wants Virgil to promote his sticks a lot...

There was a really funny moment during the show, after his solo, when he was thanking everyone from Slagwerkkrant, Pearl, and Paiste cymbals... He's playing Sabian!! Of course he was aware of his mistake and he went on saying he was thankful to Paiste for ending his contract and to let him hook up with Sabian..

So Jimi, I didn't see you!! You where there right? And there were a few more ppl right??
Didn't see you guys!!
Maybe I did see you Jimi, cuz when I was getting an autograph and wanted to ask Virgil some questions, he was just signing a poster, writing "To John"... was that you? In a blue soccer shirt?

Man I had a GREAT TIME!!!!!!!!

Thank you Virgil Donati for being such a great influence and inspiration...!!!

Cheers!!

jagdkommando
11-10-2003, 10:51 AM
hi frank ... I was on the balcony with jimi on the right side ... somewhere in the crowd was ILSE :)

jimi was the guy with the poster ... you're right .. and I was the guy next to him on stage with the picture in the hand of me and virg he sighned after the poster :)

Christopher
11-10-2003, 10:56 AM
Awesome writeup frank! Thanks so much!

frank
11-10-2003, 11:05 AM
You're very welcome Christopher! :)

@Jagdkommando: COOL! I didn't really pay attention to you, but I did see someone hand Virgil a photo him and a fan..

My brother was up on the balcony on the right side too somewhere, I waved at him shortly after I cought my stick.. :)

So Ilse was there too? Too bad I didn't get to meet any of you guys.. I wanted to stay afterwards, but unfortunately my brother wanted to leave..

jimi
11-11-2003, 04:16 AM
frank, was your brother up at the very front upstairs on the right? i was talking to some guy up there before the clinic and i told him about setting up virgils kit for him and that

frank
11-11-2003, 06:24 AM
Nah, wasn't my brother I guess.. we were 5 min's late.. :)

SteelProphet
11-13-2003, 08:36 AM
I was at the left balcony with a friend of mine, really nice view by the way...

frank
11-14-2003, 04:58 PM
Where you by any chance the guy that asked: "Drumtechniques?!?" when Virgil asked if we had any questions? LOL!! :D

"So.. any more questions?"
"Drumtechniques!! What kind?"
hehe.. :O :D

SteelProphet
11-16-2003, 03:05 AM
haha noowp, i didn't asked anything, dough there where like 4 guys after me who asked things all the time :) No i wasn't the israelian guy ;)

drumsland
11-17-2003, 03:11 AM
Hi frank...Please where I can find the song
"Quantum Factor"...
THANKS

frank
11-17-2003, 03:15 PM
Well it's not an kazaa and it's not released yet, there are a few bootlegs out there I guess..
Most ppl have the song on mp3, I do too..
If you have MSN messenger I could send it to you.. add me anytime.. franktinge@høtmæl.cóm

good luck!

jimi
11-18-2003, 03:21 AM
http://timhwang.com/PlanetX3.MPG

here you go drumsland (and the rest of you)... ENJOY!!!:)

drumsland
11-18-2003, 06:37 AM
Guys you are Gread!!!! thanks a lot...
Pease to visit webb www.houseofdrumming.com I have sent some trancripciones of Virgil...

jimi
11-19-2003, 03:18 AM
Thanks for that too drumsland:)

quitou
11-19-2003, 08:38 AM
Wow, thinks a million guys, I haven't checked out the transcriptions yet, but the video is very cool....Thank you one again :)

wcma
12-01-2003, 08:04 AM
so guys where do you think i can download the trencherman by planet x? its not in kazaa, but i like to download it for free. tnx

jimi
12-01-2003, 08:43 AM
Trencherman is on Virgil's OTV album called Serious Young Insects.
You can download a clip of it right here on virgildonati.com! :D

MaltBuddow3
12-07-2003, 03:59 PM
I saw him in 2002 when that 5adiddle agnst a paradiddle thing was still something he didnt pull out in public too much, at least I think he didn't. Someone asked him to make something up, and he told us he'd been working on that. It was awesome. He sat for 5 minutes, or at least it seemed that long, just trying to get it going. And of course once he felt it he blasted it out at 5 million miles an hour! I dont think he did it backwards though! It's so awesome for a pro to emphasize constant learning and experimentation, not to just quit learning after you graduate from a top notch school or whatever.

Thank you Virgil for completely blowing down the door of "standards!"