Big Fat Five: Jared Shavelson (Joyce Manor, Seal, Mariachi el Bronx, Ways Away, The Hope Conspiracy, Boysetsfire, Paint It Black, Chuck Ragan)

Drummers on Drumming

Today, we’ve got another segment of the podcast called Big Fat Five. This is where I invite my favorite drummers on the show to break down the five records that helped shape their approach to the instrument. This format also inspired my book, Drummers on Drumming, which is available now as a paperback or ebook on Amazon.

Today’s guest is Jared Shavelson. I met Jared through a mutual buddy and Big Fat Five alum, Mike Robinson. Jared is the real deal. He studied jazz in college but left early to kickstart his career—and it’s safe to say that decision paid off. Over the years, he’s played with Seal, The Bronx, Mariachi El Bronx, Joyce Manor, The Hope Conspiracy, Paint It Black, The Aquabats, and so many others.

I just saw him perform with Mariachi El Bronx on New Year’s Eve, opening for Morrissey at The Palladium. He was playing a cocktail kit, and the Afro-Cuban rhythms he was laying down were absolutely insane—I was completely blown away.

Now, we were supposed to record this a few days ago, but life in LA had other plans. Between the fires and travel chaos, it was hard to pin down a time. Jared ended up flying out of Los Angeles Thursday night, only to get stuck in Atlanta during a snowstorm when his flight was canceled. After being stranded at the airport for 18 hours, he decided to help pass the time by hopping on the mic with me. That’s why the audio in this episode might be a little rough—picture Jared huddled in the corner of a busy terminal while we recorded.

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Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

JARED'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Album - Led Zeppelin 1

Artist - Led Zeppelin

Release Year - 1969

Key Track(s) - Good times bad times / How Many More Times

Drummer - John Bonham

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Album - Time Out

Artist - Dave Brubeck

Release Year - 1959

Key Track(s) - Take Five / Kathy’s Waltz

Drummer - Joe Morello

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Album - Alice In Chains Unplugged

Artist - Alive in Chains

Release Year - 1996

Key Track(s) - Nutshell / No Excuses / Down in a Hole

Drummer - Sean Kinney

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Album - Out of Step

Artist - Minor threat

Release Year - 1984

Key Track(s) - Betray

Drummer - Jeff Nelson

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Album - The Egg

Artist - Shiner

Release Year - 2001

Key Track(s) - The Egg / Surgery / Andalusia

Drummer - Jason Gerken

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