100 Drummers #6: Starring Brandon Walsh (Plattenbau)

Long have I had a thing for drummers. Something about the way they sit, mysterious and enigmatic, behind their varying configurations of drums and cymbals, keeping time in a myriad of drummerly ways. Oftentimes, too, it seems that drummers are the forgotten member of the band, garnering less press than perhaps their bandmates do. But those intrepid keepers of the beat need love, too. In this series I want to fix this egregious, yet probably accidental, oversight, and bring to your attention some of my favorite keepers of the beat. And so, inspired by a line in the Dylan classic “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall,” I present to you, friends, 100 Drummers.

Berlin-based post punk outfit Plattenbau really gets my motor running, and they'll probably warm up your engine too. With their slightly sneering, bruising delivery and delicious darkness, the trio absolutely hits all the right notes. Anchoring the band's ferocity is the drummery of Brandon Walsh, keeping time with a controlled attack. Read on for insights into the backbone of the rhythm section of one heck of a thrilling band. 


Fuzzy Logic: How old were you when you first picked up the drumsticks?
Brandon Walsh: I think I started playing casually when I was 12. Just jamming on my own in the basement, getting my energy out. I got a little more serious in college, and now Plattenbau is my first serious band where we regularly play and record.

FL: Which drum is the best drum and why?
BW: Whichever drum is available haha. I'm a big fan of the floor tom because it is simple and powerful. You don't need a pedal contraption like for the bass drum, you don't need the snare mechanism like for the snare drum - it's just the drum and your stick.

FL: Who's your favorite drummer of all time?
BW: Right now it's Keith Strickland of the B-52s.

FL: Singing drummers: on the cool side like Levon Helm or on the questionable side?
BW: Yeah I think singing drummers are great - I'm not much of a singer myself, so I'm always impressed by people who can do both. I'm usually not into having the drummer as the only singer, because in a live performance I want to see the singer up close, not stuck behind the kit. But as a backup / harmony singer or a part-time lead it's great.

FL: Say you break a stick during a show and you have no spares. What do you do?
BW: Flip it around and play with the other end!




[posted 6.11.16]

[photo courtesy Plattenbau]