054 – Willie McNeil: From Punk to Reggae, from Salsa to Burlesque…Putting on a Show for 35 Years

Willie McNeil came to LA barely out of high school in the early 1980s. He got busy quickly and hasn’t stopped since, playing with bands across the musical spectrum, sometimes as a sideman but more often as a leader. These days, he’s most widely known as the drummer and frontman for Big Willie’s Burlesque, a troupe of musicians and dancers that appears weekly at LA’s hottest clubs including No Vacancy and The Edison. In this podcast, Willie talks about:

How working in a clothing store kickstarted his music career in LA

His experience coming to LA in the 80s vs. a young drummer’s experience today

His gig in the house band at The Forty Deuce, where the LA Burlesque scene was born

Tricks of the Burlesque drumming trade, and incorporating different styles into the Burlesque genre

Some common mistakes American musicians make when playing Afro-Cuban styles

His “whatever works” approach to gear

The advantages of smaller cities over LA and New York, particularly in terms of live music scenes

This episode of Working Drummer Podcast is sponsored by OnlineDrummer.com