This time last year, we had just started work on a batch of new Clap Your Hands Say Yeah recordings in Dr. Dog's drafty but well-equipped recording/rehearsal/storage facility in Delaware County (the birthplace of Wawa), just south of Philadelphia (the birthplace of liberty, arguably).
Beginning Friday, ten of those recordings will be commercially available on the fifth Clap Your Hands Say Yeah album, ‘The Tourist’ – my first with the band after several seasons of touring. I may be biased, but I think ‘The Tourist’ is a high quality endeavor. Alec (Ounsworth) brought with him some great songs and arrangements (and re-arrangements and re-re-arrangements); Matt Wong (with an assist from Tom Hughes) played his usual bedrock bass; Nick Krill got all Nick Krill on guitar and keys AND engineered his ass off; and Dave Fridmann did a typically mind-blowing turn at the mixing desk just like he’s done on some of your favorite records.
I provided the drums and percussion. If you’re scoring at home, I mostly used a 26” Slingerland Rolling Bomber kick, an old Slingerland 12” rack and 16” floor tom of Nick’s, my 6.5” x 14” Black Beauty and 5” x 14” chrome Supraphonic Ludwig snares, an old 8” Ludwig concert tom belonging to Dr. Dog’s Eric Slick, an assortment of Zildjian cymbals, and some hand percussion. And, yes, I am totally – and proudly – ripping off Pete Thomas, Stewart Copeland and Dennis Davis in certain spots.
The "A rig" for much of 'The Tourist' sessions: Rolling Bomber kick, Black Beauty snare, Slingerland toms, Zildjian cymbals
The set-up used on the song "Fireproof": Slick's old Ludwig concert tom, the Rolling Bomber kick, and a metal maraca purchased (with a gift card) at Ten Thousand Villages in my neighborhood.
We’ll be performing a good many of these songs on upcoming tours of North America and Europe. As we’ve done previously, I’ll be sharing the drumming duties on tour with my good friend Rob Walbourne. Rob will be behind the kit for the first U.S. leg, which kicks off March 2 in Philly. I’ll join up for the 2nd leg which starts April 18 in Phoenix, and then I’ll be on board for the European shows in September. Tour dates at cyhsy.com/news/tour-dates/. If you’re on the fence about buying tickets, I’ll just let you know that the drum rig will include a China boy cymbal and a Rototom. Possibly two Rototoms. That should definitely sway you one way or the other.
Be good to each other and hope to see you out there…
P.B., 2/21/17