This week’s guest is Ben Satterlee! Ben Satterlee also known as the “Nashville Drum Coach” is a professional drummer/educator based in the Nashville area. He tours internationally with Grammy award-winning Blues duo Larkin Poe as well as with various others artists when he’s not recording or teaching from his home studio. He’s also very active on Instagram and posts educational and light-hearted drum content.

He began playing drums in middle school and it quickly became his passion and what he wanted to pursue for the rest of his life. Out of high school, he dove head first into gigging. After getting married, he and his wife moved to Nashville in 2012. They have 3 little boys with another on the way.

Performed/Recorded with various artists including: Larkin Poe, Phillip Phillips, Little Big Town, Willie Jones, Kristian Bush, Morgan Evans, Locash, Zach Top, A Thousand Horses, Preservation Hall Band, Kaleo, Sam Palladio, Kingfish, Adam Hambrick, Griogair Labruidh, Runaway June, Ruthie Foster, Aaron Tippin, Neal McCoy, Cochren and Co, Jon Reddick, Swon Brothers, Apple TV, Alyssa Bonagura, Striking Matches, and others.

Performed on various tv/award shows including:

Jimmie Kimmel
Today Show
Nashville
Live with Kelly and Mark
CMT Awards
Americana Awards
Ascap Awards

Performed as an opener for artists including: Blink-182, Post Malone, Sheryl Crow, The Black Crowes, Rascal Flatts, Keb Mo, Slash, Pearl Jam, Marty Stuart, Hosier, Lenny Kravitz, Aurora, Shinedown, Jason Aldean, St Paul and the Broken Bones, Toby Mac, Mike Campbell and the Dirty Knobs, Brantley Gilbert, Vince Gill, Noah Kahan, Tyler Childers, Train, Beach Boys, Third Day, Natasha Befingfield, Hanson, Living Colour, Newsboys, Guns and Roses, The Darkness, Lucinda Williams, Trace Atkins, Eric Gales, Randy Houser, Judah and The Lion, Lee Brice, Grace Potter, Charley Crockett, The Flaming Lips, Brothers Osborne, Chris Isaak, O.A.R, Rebelution, Sublime, Blackberrry Smoke, Wynona Judd, Dave Matthews Band, Tim Mcgraw, 311, POD, Lauren Alaina, Turnpike Troubadours, Mac Powell, Danny Gokey, Joe Diffie, Billy Idol, Indigo Girls, Toby Keith, Little Big Town, Morgan Wade, Rival Sons, Eli Young Band, For King and Country, Faith Hill, Kelsea Ballerini, Clint Black, Kaleo, Allman Betts Band and many more…

Drum instructor at The New School in NYC and Camp Electric.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to friend of the show Will Fry! Will is a multi-percussionist based in Peckham, London. Will moved from his hometown of Brighton to London at twenty years old and quickly began working with a wide range of influential musicians, including Alex Wilson, Snowboy, Roy Ayers, Mark de Clive-Lowe, Nathan Haines, Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers, Sola Akingbola, Jamiroquai, Duffy, Roberto Pla and more.

Over the next ten years, he performed in over thirty countries across six continents, including Baaba Maal’s Blues de Fleuve festival in Senegal, Java Jazz festival in Jakarta and Fuji Rock festival in Japan. Later performance credits include Eliane Correa, Ola Onabule, Giovanni Hidalgo, Eliel Lazo, Joe Bataan, Dele Sosimi (Fela Kuti), Native Dancer, Femi Temowo, Ill Considered, Rene Alveraz and more.

Happy Birthday to friend of the show Tim Greene! Tim Greene Sr. is currently in his sixth year as the Assistant Band Director/Percussion Director for Cypress Ranch High School out of Cypress Texas, in West Houston. During his tenure at Cypress Ranch High School the percussion section and band have become highly competitive in both indoor and outdoor arenas. Most notable awards include; Area Finalist in the UIL State Marching band contest 2018, Earning Sweepstakes with 1st division ratings across the board for Marching and Concert ensembles 2017-2018, Best percussion at multiple marching band contest, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 earning first place in Scholastic A division TCGC Championships indoor percussion contest in 2015.

Happy Birthday to Rich Redmond! Rich began playing drums at age 8 and eventually played in the prestigious 1:00 Lab Band at The University of North Texas. Receiving his Master's Degree in Music Education, Rich now combines his classical training and 'street smarts' musicianship to bring his passion filled drumming to the world. Rich’s versatile, dynamic, and rock solid drumming is the sound behind many of today's top talents.

Rich has toured/recorded/performed with: Jason Aldean, Ludacris, Kelly Clarkson, Bryan Adams, Bob Seger, Joe Perry, Jewel, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Thompson Square, Steel Magnolia, The Pointer Sisters, John Eddie, Pam Tillis, Susan Ashton, Deana Carter, Montgomery Gentry, Alabama, John Anderson, Trace Adkins, Keith Urban, Emily West, Lauren Alaina, and many others. Rich has played drums and percussion on 19 #1 singles.

Happy Birthday to friend of the show Fabio Oliveira! Dr. Oliveira is a performer and educator with a wide variety of professional experiences as percussionist, improviser and conductor, working regularly in orchestral, chamber, solo and artist accompaniment settings, and navigating consistently between European classical and traditional Brazilian music. Transversing these traditions is an important and distinctive feature of his work. As a scholar, Fabio concentrated in matters related to multiple-percussion performance - dealing with music by Aperghis, Xenakis and Tutschku, preparing performances with live electronics, text translation in Instrumental Musical Theatre, composer-performer collaboration, and instrument building. Dr. Oliveira has recordings released on Tzadik, New World Records and Mode Records.

Happy Birthday to friend of the show Iain Moyer! Iain is the Director of Athletic Bands and Music Programs Recruiter at Widener University. As Director of Athletic Bands, he oversees all aspects of the Widener University Marching and Pep Band, which performs at home football and basketball games, along with other university events. In his role as a Music Programs Recruiter, he is responsible for recruiting high school students with a music background into Widener’s academic majors and placing them in one of the many Widener music ensembles.

Iain also serves as the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps' Front Ensemble Arranger. Prior to joining the Boston Crusaders, Iain served on the percussion staff of The Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps, where he served as Front Ensemble Arranger from 2009-2016.

Gig Alerts

Friend of the show, Dr. Jeffrey Barudin has some new job openings posted to his website. Sign up for updates and apply to a job!

The Steve Weiss Mallet Festival is happening in Philadelphia, PA from July 27th-Aug 2nd. Some of the people involved include friends of the show, Warren Wolf and Tony Miceli.

Jam Cruise 23 cabins are now on sale. This will take place from Feb 4-10 2027 and leave from Miami, to Mexico and back.

The Newport Jazz Festival is happening July 31-Aug 2nd. Shout-out to friend of the show, Nate Smith for taking over as artistic director of the festival.

Educational Spotlight

The Italy Percussion Competition is happening this September. You can check out the details HERE.

The Boston Crusaders Drumline will be back at PASIC this November. Stay tuned for more details!

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Iconic Recording

The iconic recording chosen by Ben is “Tom Sawyer” by the band Rush, from the album, ‘Moving Pictures’. You can see them on tour with drummer Anika Nilles.

Music News

The Boston Symphony Orchestra parted ways with Andris Nelsons, its longtime maestro, and went to war with itself. Inside the struggle over who controls one of American music’s crown jewels—and whether it can survive being saved. -Article

The stage adaptation of Prince’s musical film Purple Rain is coming to Broadway in 2027, coinciding with the anniversary of the original film. It’s exciting news for Prince fans, though the production has survived a number of major creative and personnel changes ahead of its debut. -Article

Jason Michael Webb and friend of the show, Gene Lake will be participating.

Chris Brown pleaded guilty to brawling at a London nightclub in 2023, in which he hit a music producer on the head with a bottle. -Article

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Ben Satterlee Interview

The song leading into the interview is, “Runnin' Down a Dream” originally by Tom Petty, performed by Larkin Poe with Ben on drums.

Damon and Ben start the interview backstage at the Levitate Music and Arts Festival. Shout-out to Marshfield, MA native, Chrissi Poland.

Damon’s vice is baked goods. Ben’s vice is the blue nerd ropes and Dr. Pepper.

Damon recommends some Ginger Beer brands to try. He also mentions Owen’s.

Ben is from Oklahoma and attended Booker T. High School. He talks about Red Dirt Country music.

Ben and Damon talk about using clicks while playing. He uses the Tempo app.

Ben talks about leaving Oklahoma.

Ben teaches and you can sign up for lessons with him. Reach out to him on Instagram, @NashvilleDrumCoach.

Ben talks about growing as a musician in Nashville, TN.

Shout-out to Don McCauley.

Damon brings up the fact Steve Jordan played on the “Pina Colada” song. Ben talks about Steve’s first “big break”.

Ben talks about why some of his playing is left hand lead.

Damon mentions the Giovanni Hildago episode.

Ben talks about being a bigger individual and his health journey as well as some about his kids.

Ben talks fitness and his workout routine. Damon mentions the NY TImes 7 Min Workout.

Damon mentions the book “The Best Diet Book Ever: The Zen of Losing Weight” by Dr. Joseph Parent.

Ben had 20 chickens and is down to 16. He also has cats and a dog. He talks about his garden too.

Shout-out to Ross Pederson and his new garden. The two books Damon recommended to Ross are Square Foot Gardening and Epic Homesteading.

Ben talks about Freedom Gardening.

Ben talks about teaching at The New School in NYC and Camp Electric. He talks about teaching and the various levels he has taught at.

You can go HERE to study with Ben.

Ben talks about this recording of “Blue Moon of Kentucky”.

Ben chooses the iconic recording for the week. Honorable mention to “Rock Steady” by Aretha Franklin, “Clocks” by Coldplay, “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson, “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel, and “Gravity” by John Mayer.

Damon talks about the four stages of learning:

Unaware - Unable
Aware - Unable
Aware - Able
Unaware - Able

Ben mentions Carlton “Carly” Barrett.

Ben uses Aquarian Drumheads, Innovative Percussion Implements, DW/PDP Hardware, AudiMute Acoustic Panels and Soundproofing, sE Electronics, Gretsch Drums, K-Wat Drums, Timothy Roberts Cymbals, Stack Ring Percussion, Latin Percussion, Williams Drums, Canopus Snare Wires, Dream Cymbals and Gongs, and Battlefield Drums.