1 – Post of video of yourself playing the day’s rudiment with the hashtag #rudimentadaychallenge
2 – hashtag the name of the day’s rudiment.
3 – Tag me @mindianaj on Instagram if you do want to enter the contest for the free lesson!
At the end of the challenge I will pick 2 participants that tagged me and each will receive one free hour long virtual lesson!
You don’t have to enter the contest to join in on the fun either!!!
I encourage all my fellow drummers to join the challenge. Show your friends and family what drumming is about. Let’s inspire some new people to take up drumming.
Fellow teachers, I encourage you to join the challenge as well, and share it with your students. Let’s show the world how fun being a drummer is, as well as all the hard work that goes into it.
I wanted to share with you some of my stand out favorite bands I played with in 2019. There are so many great bands I shared the stage with this year, but these ones really impressed me. They are bands that kill it live and they also happen to all feature slaying drummers (suprise! Lol.) Go check them out, you won’t be disappointed.
The Pats Pats made an epic overseas trek from their hometown of Tokyo Japan to play Los Angeles in October. It was their first time here and they did not disappoint. Cute, fierce and catchy, they wowed a Halloween house show over-packed with excited new fans. The main members are Akiko on guitar and Midori on bass, with both on vocals. They have a rotating cast of top notch drum mates, bringing hard hitting Kotarods with them on this trip. They write solid rocking pop songs about love, girl time, and donuts.
Towards the end of 2019 I played 2 shows with Portland based noise rock band Fox Medicine. This dynamic duo describes themselves as “Bubblegum doom,” and that is pretty accurate. Full toned guitar lines that dance around between sludge and rock meld with dominant drums that can both keep the groove and impress with fast fills that fit the songs perfectly. All this under the charmingly aggressive vocals of guitarist Nee make for a one of a kind sound experience.
Fatty Cakes and The Puff Pastries take the term “girl band” to a whole new level, showcasing ferocious full on female force. They have a fun and playful vibe but are not afraid to call people out on their shit. Each member is a powerful presence, and combined they are an unstoppable force. Fronted by Fatty Cakes, who plays an electric ukulele, the group commands your attention through-out their whole set. The vocals can be catchy and harmonious, but there is always the presence of punk rock attitude.
Charismatic front man Conan Nuetron put together a talented cast of musicians that brought some very heavy rock to Los Angeles. He writes songs that are catchy yet complex, and pure rock n roll. His live show is filled with enthusiasm and intensity.
You all need to experience the immense wall of sound that is Duderella. You would never guess that this band is a 2 piece. They embellish on the stoner rock sound by spicing it up with their own unique flare and lots of sass. Wild drumming and thunderous bass explode from the stage when Duderella starts to play.
All Souls combine memorizing guitar riffs, haunting vocals, and roaring drums to create a dark sound and omnipotent presence that lingers with you long after they exit the stage. The 4 veterans of rock that make up All Souls have been progressing quickly, opening up for bands such as Tool, The Jesus Lizard, and Melvins.
I can’t wait to see what bands 2020 brings my way!
I have been busy with music, which is great! Working hard on my passion and reaching my dream of being a full time musician. I am super grateful for all the support I get from friends and family! Thanks to everyone who buys or shares my music, and to all my drum students!
The New Dangerously Sleazy EP was released 8/23/19. Grab a copy on Bandcamp or find us on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, ect…
We had a great time doing some shows to support the release! Our good friend Louie filled in for a show while Altair was busy seeing The Cure. He did a killer job and it was fun to jam with him again. Thanks Louie!
My first recording with The Dale Crover Band was released last month too! It is part of a split 7 inch with Conan Neutron and The Secret Friends for his Protons and Electrons compilation. I am still overly stoked and in slight disbelief that I get to play drums for one of the best drummers!!
I have been getting some hardworking new drum students (and my veteran students are killing it as well.) My time slots are filling up quick, but I still have a few open! Do you want lessons, or know someone who would like to learn? Please send them my way! I am trying to fill 9:30-10:30 PM on Tuesdays, 3-4 PM on Fridays, and 5-6 PM on Fridays. I give lessons in person in East LA, or on SKYPE!
ModPods are almost done with the recording process for our next full length. The songs are spectacular and I am stoked on how this recording is coming along. We have been playing a handful of them live, and you can catch us on Saturday 9/14/19 at The Highland Park Bowl in Los Angeles. We are also playing the Joan of Rock festival in Brisbee AZ on 10/19/19.
In other life news, I am searching for a mini van, hoping that a fine working and affordable Toyota Sienna appears in my life soon. I also want a new snare drum! I am getting ready to adopt a baby hamster and as always, giving Elvis the senior pup lots of love!
Dangerously Sleazy has announced our EP release and Tour!!
There is nothing I love more than playing the drums hard, fast, punk rock, in your face style! Dangerously Sleazy is where my drumming passion and power come out full force. So, I am extra super stoked that our new EP is ready to be released August 23rd, AND we are doing some shows to support it. If you haven’t taken the time to check out D. Sleazy, hit up our website and check us out now.
Our album “Sleep Apnea” will be available for download on bandcamp all over the globe starting 8/23/19, for those of you who can’t make it out to a show.
I was recently a guest on The Jyneration Nation Radio show! Jyn is a killer drummer herself, so it was cool to get to talk about our passion together.
Last week Sleazy played The Redwood, and our friend Deb Frazin took some high quality footage of our song “Green Powered Energy.” She also snapped some cool photos.
Stay tuned for more Sleazy news, we have some interviews in the works to support our new release.
…AND don’t forget to hit me up if you need drum lessons!!!
I have a question for my drummer friends!! I am looking to get a new snare drum. The one I have now is the basic wood snare that came with my Yamaha Stage Custom kit. I am thinking I would like something metal? I play a lot of punk music, so something that has a lot of power and cut through. What are some of your favorites for playing this style?
My price range would be around 250. Send me some suggestions!
It was a huge honor and I am grateful to be part of the list of amazing drummers he has had as guests on the show! Listen to the interview if you haven’t already, and check out some of the other interviews he has done with other great drummers! His episodes are always interesting and insightful.
We discussed a lot about my childhood, and my childhood trauma. Up until a few years ago, I rarely acknowledged what I went through or how much it affected me. I locked a lot of feelings and memories away. I started therapy a little over a year ago and it has helped tremendously. I feel less guilty, I have processed a lot of grief that was kind of just stagnant inside me, that I pushed away as I tried to be tough and pretend it didn’t bother me as much as it did.
Drumming really is what helped me overcome the pains of my childhood and awkward teenage years, my issues with my step mother, and my lack of self esteem. It gave me goals to focus on and work towards. It was an outlet for anger, pain, sadness and depression. It has been a driving force behind my path of healing from mental issues. I didn’t really expect to talk about this so much, but I am glad I was able to express some of what I went though and show how drumming has been such a positive in my life.
I recently returned from an amazing tour adventure. Playing drums for The Dale Crover Band!! This is still kind of mind blowing for me. He has been a favorite drummer and influence of mine for years. I am very honored and grateful to be a part of this band.
Photo by Aaron Rubin
We did 12 shows in 15 days, opening for punk legends Redd Kross. Steve McDonald of Redd Kross also plays bass in the Dale Crover Band, as well as Toshi Kasai on keyboards and guitar. Dale plays guitar, and at some points in the set he plays a Tama stand up cocktail kit. I get to double drum with him which is CRAZY AWESOME!!!
The songs are great, and everyone traveling in the tour was a pleasure to be around. The most comfortable and drama free tour I have ever been a part of. I felt pampered sleeping in my own bed every night and getting to shower every day.
With Redd Kross in Seattle
There is a link to a full Dale Crover Band set below….
We started in San Diego at The Casbah, a venue I have never been to but have heard so much about. It was a really fun night.
The next day, after a treacherous drive through dense fog in the the mountains, we rocked in Phoenix. I got to hang with my Sioux City homie Kim. She actually was the promoter who booked my first band’s first show ever! In the morning, Toshi hit his head on a tree and unintentionally decorated his jacket.
Next was Vegas, where we played the outdoor stage at the Beauty Bar. It was cold out, but I still wandered off to get myself some ice cream.
Sound check in Vegas
Ventura was a really great show too! My ModPods bandmates came out to that one. It was in a biker bar. Then we had a drive day and arrived at a lovely Air B+B that we stayed at for 3 days. A huge house, surround by nature. It was very cozy.
With ModPods in Ventura
The next day we played in Santa Cruz. This show ruled because Roy McDonald, a former Redd Kross drummer, showed up and him and Dale did Redd Kross double drums on a couple of songs!
Dinner in San Jose. Photo from Jason Sharpio
Next was San Jose. Buzz of the Melvins showed up, which was a pleasant surprise for sure! We all went out to dinner, and I believe the Basil Chicken I had that night was my favorite meal of the tour (BTW, this tour was filled with long drives where we only had time for gas station snacks, and due to post sound check time constraints, lots and lots of pizza.)
Holy Diver
The next day we were in Sacramento at Holy Diver. Earlier this year, ModPods played that venue opening for Melvins. So it was the one venue that I had been to before. In the summer, the back room was super hot. This time, it was a bit chilly.
We then had a two day drive up to Bellingham WA, where we stayed the night before heading into Canada to play Vancouver. Luckily we had a super easy time crossing the boarder, both ways. It is usually more of a hassle getting back into the US, but that went unusually smooth this night.
Then it was Portland!! This show was super fun, and a lot of people are big Dale Crover fans there!! The venue, Mississippi Studios, was really nice and comfortable, had great food, and the sound woman did a killer job! The whole Portland set is up on youtube for you to check out. https://youtu.be/JSvND-XmiQ4
We had a parking “situation” at 2am
At the hotel after Portland, we had a funny parking mishap, where the van/trailer got stuck around a car. We didn’t hit the car, but somehow the corner of the car was right between the van and trailer. A tow truck came and actually pulled the van and trailer sideways to get us free.
Redd Kross rocking a sold out show in Seattle
Seattle was next, and the show was sold out! I was very stoked to play here because I got to hang out with my best friend, and amazing drummer, Joe Ross! After our set, it was so crowded we couldn’t even get to each other through the crowd until the show was over. Luckily, we were staying right in his neighborhood, so he got to ride back with us and I got some quality hang time with one of my longtime hometown friends.
DCB in Seattle, photo by Andy P Photo
After another driving day we played in SF. It was my first time playing Slim’s and that venue is great. It is ran by the same people who run The Great American Music Hall, so we were treated very well. Lots of back stage room, snacks, and a great dinner.
Last show of tour. Photo by Toshi
The last show was in Tustin. Saw a lot of friends since it was so close to LA. My newest drum shredding student Heidi was there, and I also saw Tony and Meg from All Souls. Arrived back home at like 2am to my lovely boyfriend and dog Elvis.
With my drum student Heidi in Tustin
It was such a good time, I just wish it could have been longer. It was filled with lots of great memories and new friendships! Looking forward to doing it again. For now though, it’s back to the day job….until next time!!!! I can’t wait to make music my full time career.
I have some exciting news!! I will be doing a fun West Coast Tour this December, drumming for The Dale Crover Band!!
We will be on the road December 5th through the 20th. Opening for the legendary Redd Kross!! Check the dates, and get tickets at http://Www.reddkross.com/shows/
Check the dates!!
Also! Before we hit the Road, Dangerously Sleazy will be doing a special show in Los Angeles on Friday November 30th, aka MY BIRTHDAY!!! So be sure to come out to The Airliner!!
Well….trying to update this website/blog I started forever ago. I thought it would be nice to have a place with links to all of my many projects and creative endeavors. Also…maybe share my real thoughts that I usually think no one wants to hear. Who knows, maybe someone does want to know the random things that go on in my head. Warning- It can be a scary place, lol. DEPRESSION!!! But I am not depressed all the time, or I do a pretty good job of managing it. I have to do a lot of self care. Get good sleep, exercise, yoga, meditation, positive affirmations, good diet, writing, DRUMMING, ect. I do pretty good job taking care of myself and am very independent.
I currently have 3 bands I am active with; Dangerously Sleazy, ModPods, The Dale Crover Band. That last one there kinda blows my mind. I somehow lucked out/ worked hard enough to be playing drums in one of my favorite drummer’s bands.
ModPods recently went on tour opening for Melvins!! That…was…amazing! I never would of guessed I would get to meet, let alone tour with one of my favorite bands. Yes, we sound nothing like them, but it worked out well. It was very fun, and as far as my touring experiences have gone, very comfortable. I didn’t get a cold or illness, I slept in a bed every night, I ate healthy food, I only had 2 nights where I got less than 6 hours sleep. We got to drive through the Canadian Rockies which was a mind blowing, beautiful, peaceful, zen experience. I am glad I got to share it with 2 of my best friends in Los Angeles, Daniel and Myriad. Slowly working on my solo project. My perfectionism and self doubt are making that take a long time…
Also, Manny’s dog Elvis has come to live with us, so it is super nice to have a cute furry little senior pup to hang out with. It is my first time living with a dog, and I am learning a lot. Not used to something being so dependent on me for survival. He is adorable though and I am getting used to picking up dog poop, which until now was one main reason I was apprehensive about getting a dog.
I am also an aunt!! I have this adorable little nephew named Liam. He is about to turn 6, and lives with my sister and her husband in Virginia. Manny and I have gone to visit them, and it was a really fun trip. Brother-in-law works at the Pentagon, so we got to wander around that famous place late at night, as well as check out Washington DC. That trip was one week before Trump took office. They were already lining the streets with an over abundance of porta-potties. I swear, after seeing the pics of his “huge” inauguration, I think the ratio was 2 porta-potties for every 1 person who actually went to that shit show.
is one I saw at NAMM and really liked.
Mindee Jorgensen 