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One of my biggest influences on drums, Deantoni Parks of The Mars Volta is dropping an electronic album at the end of the month. Listened to the few available tracks and it’s sounding really good. Seems very much in the vein of the stuff he was doing with KUDU pre 2009, which is by no means a complaint.
Deantoni Parks is a drummer with considerable style – it’s a subtle blend of mechanistic, well-timed beats and sensual, almost laconic, grooves. He is obviously self-assured but without being cocky. He’s interesting to watch but without being showy and damn is he skilled. Yes he is.Before seeing him play with ORLG in San Francisco at the Great American Music Hall back in September (2010) I thought he was just another drummer in a long exhausting, and often disappointing, line of drummers who have played with The Mars Volta (and in Omar’s side projects). But after that show pretty much everyone, myself included, was pulling for him to be the next, and hopefully final, drummer to ground the band. Interestingly, while waiting for the band to take the stage an impromptu debate began as to who was the best “Theodore replacement”- a topic that never seems to die. Lots of back and forth ensued until one lone music nerd declared Deantoni Parks to not only be the most tangible replacement for Theodore, but the only player who would (not could, would) put an end to the “Theodore vs. Every Other Drummer Omar Ever Played With” debate. At that point the band swept onto the stage and began playing what Omar called “experiments.” The end of that onslaught had converted those who argued against Parks, and if you saw them play at the Great American back in April, then you have also been converted.
But aside from his growing legend as the next heir to the TMV drum thrown, Parks has honed his skills and developed his style through inspired collaboration with an eclectic group of musicians. From John Cale to Vernon Reid; Me Shell N’DegèOchello to Sade. And without being over-extended he also creates new mixes of old legends through his Dark Angels collaboration with Nicci Kaspar – also a member of their electric-funk trio, Kudu, which also features singer/bass player Sylvia Gordon. Seems like he’s got his digits in a lot of pies but he holds it down – somehow.
Fortunately for me (and you), I left my bag inside the GAMH after I did an impromptu interview with Marfred Rodriguez Lopez of Zechs Marquise. This provided me the opportunity to introduce myself to Mr. Parks who was hanging around talking to people. Even after I launched into a flurry of quips, comments and questions he still graciously agreed to this interview. It took place late at night, both of us were tired, but we managed to talk a long while about the why of drumming, the luxury of a music education and just how hot Sade truly is.
{ Deantoni is in the running to win the Art Takes London competition. Visit his portfolio page to vote!}
FLABmag: Who were you in the studio with tonight?
Deantoni Parks: Me Shell N’DegèOchello.
Deantoni Parks is the biggest inspiration to my drumming at the moment and has been for a while, this is a lengthy read but an awesome interview.
@1 year ago with 8 notesOne of my biggest influences on drums, Deantoni Parks of The Mars Volta is dropping an electronic album at the end of the month. Listened to the few available tracks and it’s sounding really good. Seems very much in the vein of the stuff he was doing with KUDU pre 2009, which is by no means a complaint.
Deantoni Parks is a drummer with considerable style – it’s a subtle blend of mechanistic, well-timed beats and sensual, almost laconic, grooves. He is obviously self-assured but without being cocky. He’s interesting to watch but without being showy and damn is he skilled. Yes he is.Before seeing him play with ORLG in San Francisco at the Great American Music Hall back in September (2010) I thought he was just another drummer in a long exhausting, and often disappointing, line of drummers who have played with The Mars Volta (and in Omar’s side projects). But after that show pretty much everyone, myself included, was pulling for him to be the next, and hopefully final, drummer to ground the band. Interestingly, while waiting for the band to take the stage an impromptu debate began as to who was the best “Theodore replacement”- a topic that never seems to die. Lots of back and forth ensued until one lone music nerd declared Deantoni Parks to not only be the most tangible replacement for Theodore, but the only player who would (not could, would) put an end to the “Theodore vs. Every Other Drummer Omar Ever Played With” debate. At that point the band swept onto the stage and began playing what Omar called “experiments.” The end of that onslaught had converted those who argued against Parks, and if you saw them play at the Great American back in April, then you have also been converted.
But aside from his growing legend as the next heir to the TMV drum thrown, Parks has honed his skills and developed his style through inspired collaboration with an eclectic group of musicians. From John Cale to Vernon Reid; Me Shell N’DegèOchello to Sade. And without being over-extended he also creates new mixes of old legends through his Dark Angels collaboration with Nicci Kaspar – also a member of their electric-funk trio, Kudu, which also features singer/bass player Sylvia Gordon. Seems like he’s got his digits in a lot of pies but he holds it down – somehow.
Fortunately for me (and you), I left my bag inside the GAMH after I did an impromptu interview with Marfred Rodriguez Lopez of Zechs Marquise. This provided me the opportunity to introduce myself to Mr. Parks who was hanging around talking to people. Even after I launched into a flurry of quips, comments and questions he still graciously agreed to this interview. It took place late at night, both of us were tired, but we managed to talk a long while about the why of drumming, the luxury of a music education and just how hot Sade truly is.
{ Deantoni is in the running to win the Art Takes London competition. Visit his portfolio page to vote!}
FLABmag: Who were you in the studio with tonight?
Deantoni Parks: Me Shell N’DegèOchello.
Deantoni Parks is the biggest inspiration to my drumming at the moment and has been for a while, this is a lengthy read but an awesome interview.
