The Trap Set with Joe Wong
386 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 months ago - ★★★★★ - 645 ratingsEach Episode, Joe Wong speaks to a different musician about life.
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Episodes
BNS: Sheila E. Bonus Mini-Episode
September 09, 2015 06:20 - 2 minutes - 2.85 MBIn this bonus mini-episode, Sheila E. discusses her grandmother's obsession with sex. Check out Sheila's full-length episode at thetrapset.net (Past Episodes) or on iTunes.
033: Venzella Joy (Beyoncé)
September 02, 2015 04:57 - 32 minutes - 44.2 MBIt's not enough to merely be a great drummer if you want to play with the biggest pop star in the world. In addition to her unstoppable groove and technical prowess, Venzella Joy possesses an extraordinary combination of wisdom, humility, and confidence that enabled her to secure the drum throne in Beyoncé's band. But as Venzella continues to develop as a songwriter and producer, it's clear that playing with the Queen is merely the beginning of her creative journey. She drops jewels of knowl...
032: Fred Armisen (8G Band, Trenchmouth, SNL, Portlandia)
August 26, 2015 06:08 - 33 minutes - 45.3 MBYou know Fred Armisen from his work on Portlandia and SNL, but before he was a comedy star, Fred was a working drummer. He charts the journey from his early fascination with music, to his time touring and recording with arty Chicago band Trenchmouth, to Blue Man Group, SNL, The 8G Band and beyond. Fred also discusses the nature of his creative drive and his relationship with success.
031: Ron Lynch (The Tulsa Skull Swingers, Tomorrow!)
August 19, 2015 07:02 - 28 minutes - 38.9 MBRon Lynch grew up with aspirations to become a professional drummer. His aptitude for music earned him a scholarship to college, but his path soon led him to pursue comedy and acting. Ron developed his comedy chops as part of the Boston comedy scene of the 80s, that also produced Bobcat Goldthwait, Marc Maron, Louis CK, and Steven Wright. Over the course of his career, Ron has also appeared on acclaimed shows like: Dr. Katz, Home Movies, Bob's Burgers, and Adventure Time. He is also the host...
030: Todd Barry (The Chant, Crowd Work, The Wrestler, Louie)
August 12, 2015 06:57 - 29 minutes - 40.5 MBTodd Barry is one of the greatest comics working today; but before he dedicated himself to the art of stand-up, Todd played in popular Florida band The Chant. Nowadays, when Todd isn't busy filming comedy specials or acting in acclaimed films and TV shows, he finds time to sit in with bands like Superchunk and Yo La Tengo. He and Joe explore the relationship between music and comedy.
BNS: Jon Wurster BONUS Mini-Episode
August 12, 2015 06:46 - 9 minutes - 12.5 MBIn this bonus mini-episode, Jon Wurster discusses the influence of legendary producer and drummer Steve Jordan. Also included is an--until now--unreleased song by Jon's early band, The Carneys, with Steve Jordan producing. You can hear a full-length interview with Jon at thetrapset.net or on iTunes.
029: Jon Wurster (Superchunk, Bob Mould, Scharpling & Wurster)
August 05, 2015 02:57 - 35 minutes - 48.8 MBJon Wurster first made his name as the drummer for Superchunk, and over the past twenty years, he's become of rock's most in-demand and versatile drummers. He's played with everyone from Bob Mould to Katy Perry, but his creative output isn't limited to music. Jon is one half of the acclaimed and bizarrely hilarious comedy duo Scharpling & Wurster. He talks to Joe about setting ambitious goals at a young age, the power of projecting your intentions into the universe, sobriety, and the relatio...
028: Bernard Purdie, Part Two (Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, Steely Dan, etc.)
July 29, 2015 07:15 - 28 minutes - 39.4 MBIn Part Two of his Trap Set Interview, Bernard Purdie tells Joe about how his legacy has been broadened by sampling, his solo career, and the sessions and artists that who took the music over the top. Also, he briefly addresses his controversial claim of playing on some Beatles recordings.
027: Bernard Purdie, Part One (Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, Steely Dan, etc.)
July 22, 2015 06:03 - 30 minutes - 42.2 MBIn part one of a two part interview, Joe speaks to a true original, the legendary Bernard Purdie. They discuss Purdie's early fascination with drumming, the tragic loss of his parents, overcoming alcoholism at a very early age, and his arrival in New York. Part two airs next Wednesday.
026: Steven Schick (UCSD, Bang on a Can All-Stars, red fish blue fish)
July 15, 2015 05:22 - 30 minutes - 41.7 MBSteven Schick first heard music as a child on a farm in Iowa. Over the course of his 40 year career, he has become a renowned performer, educator, conductor, and author. He talks to Joe about cultivating financial stability as an artist, learning to be in the moment, and the symbiosis between teaching and performance.
025: Sheila E. (Solo Artist, Prince, E. Family)
July 08, 2015 03:28 - 35 minutes - 48.4 MBSheila E. talks to Joe about her legendary musical family, joining a gang, working with Prince, overcoming abuse, and helping youth through her Elevate Hope foundation.
024: Sam Fogarino (Interpol, Magnetic Morning)
July 01, 2015 05:32 - 33 minutes - 46 MBSam Fogarino was a productive, adult member of society before he gained notoriety as the drummer of Interpol. He talks to Joe about his creative role in the band, parenthood, the nature of ambition in the Indie scene, and drinking Vodka from the bottle with Josh Homme.
023: Danny Frankel (Lou Reed, Fiona Apple, KD Lang)
June 24, 2015 05:49 - 31 minutes - 43 MBDanny Frankel began his career as the drummer for DC band Urban Verbs. After the group dissolved in 1981, Danny moved to Los Angeles and became an in-demand session drummer. He tells Joe tales of his adventures with Lou Reed, Fiona Apple, and KD Lang. And he discuses how his mentor, jazz great Paul Motian, changed his life.
022: Billy Cobham (Solo Artist, Mahavishnu Orchestra)
June 17, 2015 13:54 - 31 minutes - 43.2 MBLegendary drummer Billy Cobham tells Joe about immigrating to the US from Panama, performing with his father's band in New York City, co-founding the extraordinarily influential Mahavishnu Orchestra, making the jump to a successful career as a leader, and constant creative evolution.
021: Steven Adler (Guns N' Roses)
June 10, 2015 06:08 - 32 minutes - 44 MBAs the original drummer for Guns N' Roses, Steven Adler was the swaggering pulse of the 80's Los Angeles hard rock scene. But as the band exploded, so did Adler's addiction to drugs and booze and he was ejected from the band. Steven discusses his difficult past, his lifelong relationship with Slash, and feeling better than ever thanks to his newfound sobriety. Also, Laser Drum Art.
020: Maya Tuttle (The Colourist)
June 08, 2015 13:41 - 27 minutes - 38.1 MBJoe talks to The Maya Tuttle about growing up in the Bay Area, the nature of biracial Eurasian marriages in the US, drawing inspiration from Karen Carpenter, singing and drumming with popular band The Colourist, and the challenges presented by working as a professional musician.
019: Milford Graves (Albert Ayler, NY Art Quartet, Pharaoh Sanders, Anthony Braxton)
June 03, 2015 05:31 - 30 minutes - 42 MBJoe talks to Milford Graves about exploring uncharted musical territory as an avant-garde pioneer; building a second career in medicine; supporting a family; and cultivating a multi-disciplinary artistic approach.
018: Kliph Scurlock (Flaming Lips, Gruff Rhys, Psychic Heat)
May 27, 2015 08:26 - 34 minutes - 47.2 MBKliph Scurlock was born to a musician mother and policeman father in Kansas. He tells Joe how he began his career with The Flaming Lips as a roadie and eventually realized his dream of becoming the band's drummer for over a decade. He also discusses his controversial departure from the Lips and his continued musical development with Gruff Rhys, Psychic Heat, and Split Level Stiffs.
017: Victor Delorenzo (Violent Femmes, Nineteen Thirteen)
May 20, 2015 11:00 - 32 minutes - 44.3 MBJoe talks to Victor Delorenzo about seeing Sun Ra perform at the Racine Zoo, entering the arts as an actor, co-founding the successful and incredibly influential Violent Femmes, and remaining creative and prolific as a member of several groups including Lorenzo Menzerschmidt and Nineteen Thirteen.
016: Stella Mozgawa (Warpaint)
May 13, 2015 07:10 - 31 minutes - 43.9 MBJoe talks to Stella Mozgawa about her Polish heritage, her musican parents, how a benign lie became the truth, how she evolved beyond her competitive nature, and her creative collaboration in Warpaint.
015: John Herndon (Tortoise, 5ive Style, Isotope 217)
May 06, 2015 06:51 - 29 minutes - 39.9 MBJoe talks to John Herndon about growing up on a commune; leading a musical movement with Tortoise, 5ive Style, and Isotope 217; his side career as a tattoo artist; and raising his kids in LA.
014: Dave Lombardo (Slayer, Fantomas, Philm)
April 29, 2015 07:37 - 32 minutes - 45 MBJoe talks to Dave Lombardo about co-founding the groundbreaking metal band Slayer, his experience as the son of a Cuban butcher living the American Dream, his Latin Jazz influences, and expanding his horizons with Fantomas, John Zorn, and Philm.
013: Hamid Drake (Don Cherry, Fred Anderson, Mandingo Griot Society)
April 22, 2015 07:55 - 32 minutes - 44.6 MBJoe talks to master improviser, Hamid Drake, about playing with Don Cherry, Fred Anderson, and Mandingo Griot Society; his evolving concept of meditation; being a "bridge"; and the inseparable nature of music and life.
012: Lori Barbero (Babes In Toyland)
April 15, 2015 04:52 - 30 minutes - 41.5 MBJoe talks to Lori Barbero about living on a houseboat, her time with the highly influential Babes In Toyland, and going with the flow.
011: Bermuda Schwartz (Weird Al)
April 08, 2015 07:15 - 29 minutes - 41 MBJoe talks to Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz about Dr. Demento, his 35 year collaboration with Weird Al, and the meticulous effort that goes into re-creating the sound of the constantly shifting pop landscape.
010: Dale Crover (Melvins, Altamont, Nirvana)
April 01, 2015 06:16 - 30 minutes - 41.7 MBJoe talks to Dale Crover about innate confidence when approaching the drums, his three decade--and counting--run as drummer for The Melvins, playing with Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, baseball, marriage, and parenthood.
009: John "Drumbo" French (Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band)
March 25, 2015 06:26 - 30 minutes - 41.6 MBJoe talks to John "Drumbo" French about blazing a singular path with Captain Beefheart, slipping his under tyrannical rule, arranging the seminal album, "Trout Mask Replica" and learning many years later that his work truly meant something to people all over the world.
008: Jeff "Tain" Watts (Wynton/Branford Marsalis, Alice Coltrane, Solo)
March 18, 2015 06:00 - 31 minutes - 43.1 MBJoe talks to Jeff "Tain" Watts about growing up in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, getting suspended from school for fighting, ascending to the top of the 80s jazz world with the Marsalis brothers, and playing in a band with Gus from Breaking Bad.
007: Patty Schemel (Hole)
March 11, 2015 04:00 - 33 minutes - 45.8 MBJoe talks to Patty Schemel about drumming for Hole, addiction, recovery, and motherhood.
006: Butch Norton (Lucinda Williams, Eels, Tracy Chapman)
March 04, 2015 08:00 - 30 minutes - 41.9 MBJoe talks to Butch Norton about his philandering father, his positive but limited experience with Scientology, and his career as drummer for Eels, Tracy Chapman, Rufus Wainwright, and Lucinda Williams.
005: Mike Clark (Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, Brand X, Betty Davis)
February 25, 2015 06:08 - 30 minutes - 41.3 MBJoe talks to legendary drummer Mike Clark about his time with Herbie Hancock, Buddhism, and how he came to invent his own unique style of drumming.
004: Sandra Vu (Dum Dum Girls, Sisu)
February 18, 2015 08:00 - 29 minutes - 40.5 MBJoe talks to Sandra Vu about growing up as a first generation Asian kid in the Southern California hardcore scene, working as a drummer-for-hire in Dum Dum Girls, creating music for Sisu, and dating a fellow drummer.
003: Kid Millions (Oneida, Man Forever, Spiritualized)
February 11, 2015 08:24 - 29 minutes - 40.1 MBJoe talks to Brooklyn drummer Kid Millions about prep. school, Oneida, Metal Machine Music, tuning drums with Brian Chase, and his solo percussion project, Man Forever.
002: Ndugu Chancler (Michael Jackson, Miles Davis, George Duke)
February 04, 2015 07:00 - 30 minutes - 41.9 MBJoe talks to Leon "Ndugu" Chancler about his upbringing in Louisiana and Los Angeles, his time with Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, George Duke, and the recording sessions for what was to become the best-selling album of all time, Michael Jackson's "Thriller".
001: Brendan Canty (Fugazi)
January 28, 2015 06:52 - 30 minutes - 41.5 MBJoe talks to Brendan Canty, drummer of the legendary band Fugazi, about growing up in an environment of “benign neglect”, writing music in bands and as a film composer, and fatherhood.
Brendan Canty Preview
January 15, 2015 23:27 - 1 minute - 2.6 MBHere's a preview of Joe's interview with Brendan Canty, drummer of the legendary punk band Fugazi. Brendan talks about the only time his dad saw the band perform live. Full episode will be available on Wednesday, January 28, 2015.