Brain "Shredding Repis On The Gnar Gnar Rad" (Video) (Warner Bros. VH0484) Some instructional videos take an overly-didactic, dry approach to teaching instrument technique. Bryan "Brain" Mantia could have gone this route, but instead we find the ex-Primus/current-Guns N‚ Roses basher sunbathing on a rooftop, eating and ice cream sandwich, espousing the virtues of the gogo beat. The rest of the video follows the same vein. Bizarre camera angles, skits with his family, and live Primus footage (soloing with sourdough-baguette drumsticks, no less) covers funk playing, stick technique, and some basic soloing concepts over samba ostinatos. The guy can play. He knows he can play. But he wants the viewer to have fun watching, learning, and playing, and there‚s nothing wrong with that. Big highlight (and lesson) is when Brain describes playing with bassist Norwood Fisher from Fishbone. Brain thought he was being ultra-cool, laying down a really complicated linear-funk groove, but Norwood made him strip the pattern down and make it really groove. A great lesson for any instrumentalist, not just drums: if it ain't groovin‚ with the band, no matter how hip you think you are, it ain't groovin'. A quality product with some great information, and with lots of attitude~particularly fun for beginning and intermediate players. But don't take my word for it. As Police-drummer/composer Stewart Copeland says, "For Rad, Brain is the Gnar Gnar." Review by Don Zulaica For more information: www.warnerbrospublications.com Warner Music Group 15800 N.W. 48th Ave. Miami, FL 33014 1-800-327-7643

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