We live in an age where things are made and bought and thrown away, so much so, this is a part of our culture. And, to consider “quality” often means “expense” and maybe “scandal” in the sense the you are buying a name and not something that will last. In that same vein, something I see happening in the world of books and writing is streamlining or a filtering of information in a way that, now, our bodies have physically adapted to the attention span of miniature toy flea babies jacked up on seventy-two hour energy drinks.
Social media, in my opinion, is altering us physically to anticipate immediate gratification with the slightest effort. And, true, I fully support my right to slack, but I see this too as the loss of an art. And, not just art, but art-culture related to how many of us live. Our next featured artist, Stephen Bonilla of Bad Blood, gave me this idea in form, what I'm about to present, though I had been struggling with the concept for sometime.
Social media, in my opinion, is altering us physically to anticipate immediate gratification with the slightest effort. And, true, I fully support my right to slack, but I see this too as the loss of an art. And, not just art, but art-culture related to how many of us live. Our next featured artist, Stephen Bonilla of Bad Blood, gave me this idea in form, what I'm about to present, though I had been struggling with the concept for sometime.
When I sit down to do an interview I imagine what Dave-O Peridore, President and CEO of PCS takes into his heart when he sits down to create the art that is PCS. I imagine the power, the heart and soul, that goes into those sticks. I put myself into a state of mind that why I do this I want to capture more than the A-B, I want the middle dash. Dave-O sits at the lathe and takes each turn with a moment. The lathe goes on and goes off, but after a time, after the “dash”, he produces his life's blood.
The machine in China that buzzes sticks out a thousand a second is wasted time and the antithesis is this art, which I personally equate with life or living in terms of American culture. The greatest, most criminal act, in my opinion, any free-blooded American can commit is to settle for something because it is there, worse, because they can't afford better (or feel confident that better means better). The PCS way is to savor what is best and isolate it and exemplify it so that the next guy/gal can experience their life's potential. That dash, from the Dave to the “O”, everything that goes between is our lives. In those moments, the love and intensity that we put into things like our families and friends, that goes into this effort too. It should be noted and made a point that we at PCS are an awesome, true lot.
Because PCS are stronger and more durable they allow the drummer to constantly test themselves and push their limits. I've said it before and I'll say it again, because of what people are saying about PCS, their real life testimonials, PCS will change how drummers play, in effect, how music is played. I taught evolutionary biology at a major university for a semester and I can attest the the slightest little things that can twist evolution. This may seem strong or wild in terms of what it really means, but again, Stephen has said things that make me go, wow.
As a testament to my belief in what PCS represents I choose to write real “investigative” interviews that get to the heart of what it means to play PCS. I see so many times in so many magazines transcribed interviews. Dude starts a tape recorder, asks some questions, dude answers, article published into script verbatim. A-B. This is not writing and this is not what I do.
I go for the wordy middle dash because the people who play PCS are professionals, they have a particular personality and set of skills that a recorder cannot and does not catch ,and they very well deserve my attention. If a PCS artist is giving me their time, best recognize I make it matter.
Also, as a writer, I simply like to catch the human. It's my art. Like PCS, humans are making the sticks, humans are playing them, and you better believe I want you to know the person that are playing these sticks are who they are. I also do it with honesty and conviction so you will try them and become the best that you can be. Because, when that's happening, people are happy, and when people are happy...they def procreate, among other things, not to say you will get lucky because you share this article with your girl, but a guy can dream.
So, what you get from me is not an attention to recorded interview, but an attention to detail. I call you on the phone, ask you questions, but I let the interview go where it needs to so I can find out what it is about PCS and you. I hand write your answers and give myself a full twenty-four hours to consider all that you said. And, I do it because that's how people should act. Dave-O believes it and I believe it, quality and American made mean something. It's frankly how we were raised and it's what you get when you get PCS in any form.
And, that's the intro I use to honor Stephen Bonilla of Bad Blood, an awesome dude who I think more than represents what it means to be PCS. From here, I pretty much let his words exemplify this notion, but to keep it real, you get some of what I felt why talking to him. It's called an article, I'm a writer, so, yeah, I do this.
For the record, I personally destroy robots in my spare time.
The machine in China that buzzes sticks out a thousand a second is wasted time and the antithesis is this art, which I personally equate with life or living in terms of American culture. The greatest, most criminal act, in my opinion, any free-blooded American can commit is to settle for something because it is there, worse, because they can't afford better (or feel confident that better means better). The PCS way is to savor what is best and isolate it and exemplify it so that the next guy/gal can experience their life's potential. That dash, from the Dave to the “O”, everything that goes between is our lives. In those moments, the love and intensity that we put into things like our families and friends, that goes into this effort too. It should be noted and made a point that we at PCS are an awesome, true lot.
Because PCS are stronger and more durable they allow the drummer to constantly test themselves and push their limits. I've said it before and I'll say it again, because of what people are saying about PCS, their real life testimonials, PCS will change how drummers play, in effect, how music is played. I taught evolutionary biology at a major university for a semester and I can attest the the slightest little things that can twist evolution. This may seem strong or wild in terms of what it really means, but again, Stephen has said things that make me go, wow.
As a testament to my belief in what PCS represents I choose to write real “investigative” interviews that get to the heart of what it means to play PCS. I see so many times in so many magazines transcribed interviews. Dude starts a tape recorder, asks some questions, dude answers, article published into script verbatim. A-B. This is not writing and this is not what I do.
I go for the wordy middle dash because the people who play PCS are professionals, they have a particular personality and set of skills that a recorder cannot and does not catch ,and they very well deserve my attention. If a PCS artist is giving me their time, best recognize I make it matter.
Also, as a writer, I simply like to catch the human. It's my art. Like PCS, humans are making the sticks, humans are playing them, and you better believe I want you to know the person that are playing these sticks are who they are. I also do it with honesty and conviction so you will try them and become the best that you can be. Because, when that's happening, people are happy, and when people are happy...they def procreate, among other things, not to say you will get lucky because you share this article with your girl, but a guy can dream.
So, what you get from me is not an attention to recorded interview, but an attention to detail. I call you on the phone, ask you questions, but I let the interview go where it needs to so I can find out what it is about PCS and you. I hand write your answers and give myself a full twenty-four hours to consider all that you said. And, I do it because that's how people should act. Dave-O believes it and I believe it, quality and American made mean something. It's frankly how we were raised and it's what you get when you get PCS in any form.
And, that's the intro I use to honor Stephen Bonilla of Bad Blood, an awesome dude who I think more than represents what it means to be PCS. From here, I pretty much let his words exemplify this notion, but to keep it real, you get some of what I felt why talking to him. It's called an article, I'm a writer, so, yeah, I do this.
For the record, I personally destroy robots in my spare time.
PCS Drumstick Blogger: What is your background and experience outside of the band? I ask this to make a connection, so any schooling or related music experience is vital to your answer.
Bonilla of Bad Blood: I started playing a practice pad in 2003. You know, the chunk of wood with the rubber? I was real young and was playing it pretty hard, then, sort of learning what I was doing and I remember breaking sticks back then thinking how cheap they were made. (Note from the PCS Drumstick Blogger: I was born in 1975 and it's shocking to me to think Stephen thinks 2003 is when he was “very young”).
This practice pad quickly progressed to drums, here I'm totally self taught, but in terms of “schooling” like you suggested, I'm pretty much totally immersed in music.
PCS Drumstick Blogger: When you say immersed, what do you mean? Do you play other instruments? Can you read music? Again, what I'm probing for are intelligence. I want the future PCS customer to understand the level of expertise our professionals maintain.
Stephen Bonilla of Bad Blood: I've primarily been into rock and metal, but I play the saxophone. Started in the 6th grade and it has stayed with me up into college. I can read music, I've been in marching band, studied music theory for two years in college including classical theory. I understand music theory very well and, while, I mostly like and listen to rock and metal, I find this schooling in classical and music theory goes a long way towards the writing process with Bad Blood.
PCS Drumstick Blogger: You touched on something that I basically had planned to ask you, but you mentioned this notion of music theory and I think you used the word “audiophile”, what can you say about the connection between PCS and how the sticks hit the skins and cymbals as they relate to tone?
(I got all gooey at his verbose use of description, verbs and adjectives, it should be noted you might want to wash your hands after handling this article).
Stephen Bonilla of Bad Blood: I'm glad you asked that question and you touched on something that is difficult to explain, but so important to me. Imagine this. As you hit your stick over and over again little parts and pieces fly off and go away leaving you with less and less to hit with. When you're connecting, say, to say a cymbal, the more you have to hit it and the harder you hit it, the right way, the deep and darker your cymbals will sound. It's that extended, dreamy, late into the night waves crashing against the beach, celestial sound. Instead of feeling like the sound is moving from a flat surface is seems to be pulled from a swelling, rich, pool full of beauty. The skins hit deeper and the sound is just beefier. I don't know exactly how to describe it, but the hit resonates longer and you can just feel it. Going back to the concept about the tip bead, with PCS my tip bead never wears down and never breaks. Each strike is electric and crisp and accurate. I can feel the strikes to my core, if that makes sense?
PCS Drumstick Blogger: <swoon></swoon> Yep I get it buddy, please tell PCS Drumstick Blogger more of these wonderful things?
Stephen Bonilla of Bad Blood: I also really like the balance. Again, touching on this concept of how traditional sticks break down, if the sticks are whole they maintain balance. The perfect weight is always the perfect weight with PCS and I never have to adapt or comprise how I play.
PCS Drumstick Blogger: How often do you break a PCS and how much are you playing them?
Stephen Bonilla of Bad Blood: Two months of playing and I broke a single stick and Dave-O sent me a replacement right away. Overall I'm playing in two bands every week, touring, practice, studio recording, PCS Drumstick Blogger, I've played PCS every day for two hours a day for two months and only broke one stick. That other brand, I may get two shows, tops.
PCS Drumstick Blogger: I hear this a lot doing the PCS interviews and I ask assuming you already have an answer, has PCS literally changed how you play?
Stephen Bonilla of Bad Blood: Yes, absolutely. The sticks never break. I can beat them to death, I can hit rim shots all day long, the balance and weight allow me to really push and challenge myself. I'm playing harder and longer, PCS are simply amazing, game changing sticks and I will play them forever.
The amazing thing for me about doing these interviews are hearing the happiness and certainty in the artist voice. It's hard to translate that in writing. I feel it as a rush or an excitement over the phone that I “got a good interview”, but, coming from a music background, a huge fan of metal, and understanding all that goes along with the plight of a professional, touring metal musician, I get how the little things matter. I play guitar and I love to play with a copper pick. If I lose that pick I feel like I lost a pal and swear I play worse. And, as a drummer too I get what he's saying. When you hear that certain inflection or shimmer in your hit, it matters. And, because I get get it and they get it the best I can do is write this up and throw it on you like a vintage box of foil wrapped Ding-Dongs. Get some brothers and sisters, get some.
Thanks, Stephen, for taking the time to talk to me and for putting up my incessant vanity of needing to talk to drummers like yourself. Every time I do this I make a new friend and sort of fortify the brand that has quickly become PCS. PCS is not about just sticks, but everything that is good and great about the best of us. And, again, Stephen Bonilla is proof.
Do the man a solid and visit, like, and share his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/officialbadbloodband/
Do him a bigger solid and go seem them live and buy the album!
PCS Drumstick Blogger: Chris Wendt