MD: When you came into the band, were they strict about the way you played their material?
Mike: Absolutely, because they had never really played with anybody else. George Tutuska was the only drummer they had played with.
Mike: Absolutely, because they had never really played with anybody else. George Tutuska was the only drummer they had played with.
MD: So what was the audition like?
Mike: I had been a fan of the band, so that was my lucky in. I had their four previous records, so I just started calling out songs. I knew their material from having listened to them so much. But immediately, like in the first song, they stopped and said, "I think your kick pattern's wrong," and I was like, "Oh no, here we go. It's gonna be this way. " And that's how it was for the first couple months, until they got used to me.
Mike: I had been a fan of the band, so that was my lucky in. I had their four previous records, so I just started calling out songs. I knew their material from having listened to them so much. But immediately, like in the first song, they stopped and said, "I think your kick pattern's wrong," and I was like, "Oh no, here we go. It's gonna be this way. " And that's how it was for the first couple months, until they got used to me.
MD: Do you get to gig outside of the Goos often?
Mike: One of the things I'm trying to do more of is play outside sessions, which I don't get that much of a chance to do. The funny thing is, when I'm on tour, I get a ton of calls. But when I'm home for three months doing nothing, I get nothing. (laughs)
Mike: One of the things I'm trying to do more of is play outside sessions, which I don't get that much of a chance to do. The funny thing is, when I'm on tour, I get a ton of calls. But when I'm home for three months doing nothing, I get nothing. (laughs)
MD: With all of the touring you do, do you find that warming up is a good thing to do?
Mike: Well, warming up is a very good idea. I never used to do it. But when you don't, as you get older, your hands can cramp up. And I like to play harder live, so I have to do it. You just have to be careful on the road. The skin on my hands starts to wear out. Now I'm more aware of it and I try to take care of my hands by putting moisturizer on my skin before I play. But by the end of the tour I've got duct tape all over my fingers, with the skin splitting and stuff.But it's not as bad as it used to be. When I first joined the band , we were playing all of their old punk rock stuff. By the end of the show, I was in pain, and that was every night. But once we added "Name" to the set, it was like, here's a break. I warm up, though. I carry a little 6" drum pad with me. In fact, ninety-five percent of my practicing is on that pad. I use heavier sticks when I practice. I love to site down and do my rudiments.
Mike: Well, warming up is a very good idea. I never used to do it. But when you don't, as you get older, your hands can cramp up. And I like to play harder live, so I have to do it. You just have to be careful on the road. The skin on my hands starts to wear out. Now I'm more aware of it and I try to take care of my hands by putting moisturizer on my skin before I play. But by the end of the tour I've got duct tape all over my fingers, with the skin splitting and stuff.But it's not as bad as it used to be. When I first joined the band , we were playing all of their old punk rock stuff. By the end of the show, I was in pain, and that was every night. But once we added "Name" to the set, it was like, here's a break. I warm up, though. I carry a little 6" drum pad with me. In fact, ninety-five percent of my practicing is on that pad. I use heavier sticks when I practice. I love to site down and do my rudiments.
MD: There must be a balance between playing hard and not over-exerting yourself.
Mike: Yeah, and you have to stay in shape. Running is my other passion. I'm a sick runner. I run stupid distances. I did a fifty-mile race in November. When we're on the road, I force myself to run a few times a week. Obviously, I have the most physically demanding job in the band. It's funny, but I've known some guys who have never done a sit-up in their life and who chain smoke, and they're fine. I don't know how they do it. I couldn't! It's weird, because I'm thirty-four now, and unfortunately, it's starting to get noticeable. As you get older, the hands and the muscles start to cramp. I haven't really had any major hand problems, though, knock on wood.
Mike: Yeah, and you have to stay in shape. Running is my other passion. I'm a sick runner. I run stupid distances. I did a fifty-mile race in November. When we're on the road, I force myself to run a few times a week. Obviously, I have the most physically demanding job in the band. It's funny, but I've known some guys who have never done a sit-up in their life and who chain smoke, and they're fine. I don't know how they do it. I couldn't! It's weird, because I'm thirty-four now, and unfortunately, it's starting to get noticeable. As you get older, the hands and the muscles start to cramp. I haven't really had any major hand problems, though, knock on wood.
MD: Let's talk about one of the tracks on Gutterflower. "Up, Up, Up" has kind of a retro-rock feel to it.
Mike: That was inspired by one of my favorite drummers, Cheap Trick's Bun E. Carlos. He has that swingy rock feel that I love. He has such a groove thing going on. If anyone else played it, it would sound stupid. But when Bun E. plays it, it's perfect. He's awesome-another great, overlooked drummer.
Mike: That was inspired by one of my favorite drummers, Cheap Trick's Bun E. Carlos. He has that swingy rock feel that I love. He has such a groove thing going on. If anyone else played it, it would sound stupid. But when Bun E. plays it, it's perfect. He's awesome-another great, overlooked drummer.
MD: What are some terms you'd use to describe your approach to the kit?
Mike: Consistency. And I try to be musical and to be a part of the song. I've known of a lot of technically amazing drummers who could never really play well in a band. "Truth Is A Whisper," the last song on Gutterflower, has a really simple Motown feel in the verse. We played it forty different ways over three and a half weeks. I'm talking subtle little differences, just trying to find out what would work perfectly for the song. Sometimes doing that type of thing drives you crazy, and you think, "Man, I just want to go home. It's not going to matter." But in the end, it does really matter.
Mike: Consistency. And I try to be musical and to be a part of the song. I've known of a lot of technically amazing drummers who could never really play well in a band. "Truth Is A Whisper," the last song on Gutterflower, has a really simple Motown feel in the verse. We played it forty different ways over three and a half weeks. I'm talking subtle little differences, just trying to find out what would work perfectly for the song. Sometimes doing that type of thing drives you crazy, and you think, "Man, I just want to go home. It's not going to matter." But in the end, it does really matter.
