Well Collective
- Los Angeles, CA
- Christian Band
- 3 Verified Bookings
Dusty B. said “I’ve had the privilege of working with Well Collective and experiencing their leadership first hand. From start to finish, I’ve been impressed by their…”
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I am the drummer for The Infamous Swanks from Sacramento, California. We have toured the west coast several times, we have material available on iTunes and spotify, and we have won the Sammies award for Best Rockabilly Band in Sacramento three years in a row.
I am looking to further my path as a musician and I am available for studio time and live shows in the area. I have 10 years experience in live performing and much studio experience as well.
My genre influences include hard rock/metal, 70s/80s arena rock, swing rock/rockabilly and prog rock/metal. However I am open to play any genre except jazz/lounge.
I have great showmanship onstage, I'm a fast learner, and I love to play.
Be the first to review Paul Johnson
Price Range: $200 and up. Studio time is $50 an hour.
Languages: English
You can expect more than a few beneficial things by hiring me as your event or studio drummer.
-Punctuality.
I am always on time, and provide warning in case of an emergency or delay. I also waste no time in setting up and disassembling my equipment.
-I provide my own equipment.
My drumset includes many different drums and setup styles, so I am prepared for any kind of show. However, I do not own my own sound equipment such as drum mics or vocal mics.
I also tune my own drums, provide my own parts and maintain my own equipment. This allows me to be able to 'roadie' for other drummers if speedy help is needed during setup or disassembly.
-Astounding showmanship onstage.
My influences are rooted in hair metal and arena rock, so you can definitely expect a presence onstage from me.
-Definitive timekeeping.
I utilize much more than a tempo when I play. The 'feel' of each song dictates the tempo and how it's perceived by the musicians as well as the crowd, depending on the material.
-Solid drumming.
When it comes down to being under the microscope in the studio or in a competition, I give it more than my all, while still maintaining solid, precise and accurate drumming. If something will be recorded to exist forever, it needs to sound perfect.
-Extensive knowledge of cover songs.
Rock songs from the 50s throughout the 80s/90s are very familiar to me, as well as mid-2000s hardcore material. My most familiar bands include KISS, Dream Theater, Avenged Sevenfold and Van Halen, Motley Crüe, Poison and AC/DC. Provide a cover song list for specific songs ahead of time. I’m also a fast learner when it comes to learning material I’m unfamiliar with.
-Vast improvisation ability.
Through the use of dynamics, feel, showmanship, odd-time signatures, proper use of fills and visual signals, I can add flare and fun to any song, original or cover. I am also able to creatively solo for any amount of time. Of course, depending on the genre, my material varies.
-Easy to contact.
Aside from my job, I am always near my phone for texts, calls and emails.
-Versatility.
I can play in more genres than rock. I can also lay down tracks in the studio for things like hip hop, dance/techno, pop, and swing/swing rock, among others. Sometimes, electronic beats just doesn't do music justice. Having a physical drummer in your digital genre studio sessions provides a sense of character, feel and attitude that is rarely found.
-Endurance and stamina.
Depending on the live act, I can play consistently from one hour to several hours. I can also play multiple live shows and/or studio sessions in one day.
-Quick learning of the material.
I am able to pick up on unfamiliar music quickly. This is because I pay attention to the skeletal features of the content, focusing only on timing, feel, and how the drumming fits in the song. I then apply my own unique style and flare to the material, creating an entirely new finished product.
I can also learn whole genres quickly. Rockabilly, for example, consists of 2 or 3 skeletal patterns, ranging in timing and feel, along with demand for fills. By knowing only these things about the genre, it's fairly easy to apply to any song in the genre.
-Each gig I give the highest quality work I can offer.
Every time I set foot in any studio, I treat the experience as if I was in S.I.R. In New York. And every live show I play, I'm at Madison Square Garden. As long as I can still have fun!
-By the end of the gig, you'll want me back next time.
Each gig I play, I truly give it my all and do my very best. I also want everyone else involved, especially the audience, to enjoy themselves and have fun. It's important to me that I provide a positive experience to each person and each audience member involved. I have a strong sense of professionalism and social conduct.
Bottom line: You can expect WAY more than just a drummer at your gig.
I have been a drummer my entire life. First picked up a pair of sticks at 2, began developing basic rhythms and beats on my own at 4, first started developing technique at 6. First drumset at ten years old, and from there I launched off.
Immediately I began playing along with anything and everything I loved. Even top hits of the 90s as well as anything playing on the radio.
With a heavy influence from bands such as KISS, Led Zeppelin and Van Halen, my skills exponentially increased, resulting from playing every single day from when I was 10, throughout high school. By the time I was 12 years old, I knew Peter Criss' 100,000 years drum solo from KISS Alive! by heart.
At 14, I began to increase my physical demand in my sessions, and I began to play along with music from Avenged Sevenfold, System of a Down, Slipknot and Bullet for my Valentine. During that period, I also joined the John F Kennedy High School Marching Band, playing first bass as well as snare, competing in field shows as well as street marches and winter drumline competitions. This increase in endurance, stamina, precision and discipline caused me to turn to influences of DragonForce, Rush, Iron Maiden and Dream Theater by the time I was 17.
I was also in a hardcore band during my high school years where I got my first experiences as a live drummer backing a band. I had also experienced my first studio sessions, recording a 7 song EP with my band at Alien Productions.
After high school, I joined a thrash metal band from Sacramento called Slip Into Coma, where my presence lasted a couple years. I played my first bar and club shows with this group, recorded a 3 song demo at Alien Productions yet again, and developed influences from Machine Head, Exodus, Lizzy Borden and Metallica.
After that, I was contacted by a family friend inquiring about a drummer needed for a rockabilly band. Without knowing the material, and treating the initial practice as a jam session, I landed the drumming spot for The Infamous Swanks. With the guitarist's influences rooted in punk rock and rockabilly, the (now previous) bassist's influence in hard rock and psychobilly, and my unique and colorful drumming background, we performed beyond expectations at each show. After recording a small low quality demo of about 2 or 3 songs, we acquired a new upright bassist, with ska, punk and 60s/70s roots, and our sound evolved again. After playing numerous shows, we recorded a full-length album called Wake Up and Rock! through True Line Entertainment, before launching our 2nd west coast tour.
With this current lineup, we have had our full length released on iTunes and Spotify, been on tour with Ghostown Hangmen and the Chop Tops, been featured on FCC free radio in the Bay Area, played opening shows for Alien Ant Farm and Reverend Horton Heat, recorded our best quality work at the Pus Cavern, and won the Sammies Award for Best Rockabilly Band in Sacramento three years in a row.
Currently, I am no longer a member of that group. My main focus in life has been establishing a solid full time job with great benefits and concreting a future for myself and my new family. Combined with the new realities of covid, I’ve only had time lately to practice at home and keep up my skills. I do still plan to also play as a hired gun for any gigs, studio or live, in need of a drummer in the Sacramento area, including Citrus Heights, Roseville, Elk Grove and Woodland.
I will do my very best to be as responsive as possible about any inquiries!
My number one joy is playing music. I am willing to do anything to further my path as a drummer, a live performer and a musician.
I look forward to fulfilling your needs for a drummer!
I provide my own drumset, sticks, hardware and cymbals. I do not own any sound or lighting equipment.
My drumset can range in size, from a 3 piece all the way to a 12 piece if needed. Usually I specialize in double bass for each gig. I use TWO SEPARATE kick drums. I do have a double pedal if space does not permit two kicks.
Usually, I do not provide my equipment to other bands or drummers unless I have had previous positive experiences with them.
My fee begins at $200 for a live gig. I have extensive live experience, I always show up on time if not early, and my equipment must be maintained. My gas must also be covered. If a lower fee is offered, I will consider depending on the situation. Lower fees are also accepted for benefit shows, or gigs/sessions close to the West Sacramento area.
I charge $50 per hour for studio sessions. This DOES include setup and tear down time, along with time spent recording tracks, and involvement with input in mixing as well. I am very fast with my equipment.
For cover songs/cover band gigs: please provide list of material 1 to 2 weeks in advance. I work full time and I have a limited area and limited time to practice, so I do most of my material studying by ear. Genres I am extremely familiar with need less prep time on my end. Complex material, such as prog rock, demand more prep time.
Currently I am able to travel within 50-60 miles of Sacramento, provided my fees will be guaranteed. Drumming is my life, but it still needs to be worth the time I put into the gig or studio session.
If you need me for a touring gig or a series of shows, details will be worked out. I am more readily available for single shows and studio sessions in the Sacramento area.
If practice time is preferred before the show or studio session, I do not charge any fees for that time. Any kind of preparation is vital to performing at a maximum level.
Inform me of any kind of physical appearance preferences for the live gig.
I am open to the idea of being a 'house' drummer for a venue, where I can play a venue once to twice a week. The rates also begin at $200 for house gigs.
I am also available to become a 'house' studio drummer. My studio rates are the same if you own or run a studio and would like to hire a weekly/semiweekly session drummer.
KISS
Led Zeppelin
Van Halen
Motley Crüe
Dream Theater
Slipknot
Avenged Sevenfold
Bullet for my Valentine
Atreyu
Blink-182
DragonForce
Poison
AC/DC
Tom Petty
The Beatles
Def Leppard
I own my own drums, hardware, pedals and cymbals. Anything else, such as microphones, lighting or monitors, should be provided by either the event booker/band or the venue/studio. I’m hoping to own my own equipment in these areas in the future!
Dusty B. said “I’ve had the privilege of working with Well Collective and experiencing their leadership first hand. From start to finish, I’ve been impressed by their…”
Gabby V. said “My daughter attended a pool party on July 15, 2023 and she received an airbrush hat that she wears all the time. She wears it to work at our family law…”
Regina O. said “Everything from beginning to end was amazing. I received a quick response to my event inquiry, walked through the details by email, phone and Zoom shortly…”
Molly K. said “I've booked Mathias for a variety of events, and he is a consummate professional and excellent musician. His resume is insane; he's played with…”