Keep up with Nick here:
Nick Yacyshyn is a drummer, guitarist and songwriter. He currently plays drums in Baptists, Cooked And Eaten, and Rotting Hills among others. He plays guitar in Erosion. This information was last updated 3/5/2014.
Nick Yacyshyn Interview:
SDM: How old were you when you started playing?
Nick: I started when I was ten.
SDM: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Nick: I played drums and guitar in our high school jazz band and percussion in our concert band and orchestra. Admittedly, I wasn't the most focused band student but we actually got to play some really cool pieces. Our teachers were great and had good taste!
SDM: Who are your top 5 influences?
Nick: Phil Rudd, John Bonham, Ben Koller, Dave Grohl, Tommy Lee
SDM: Assuming that influences doesn't mean favorites, who are your favorites?
Nick: Corky Laing, Bobby Caldwell, Dave Lombardo, Bill Ward, Ian Paice, Mike Maxymuik, Chris Maggio, Vinnie Paul, Chuck Biscuits, Mike Bordin
SDM: Let us know 5 CD's that are in your current rotation
Nick:
David Bowie – The Man Who Sold The World
Black Oak Arkansas – Self Titled
Emmylou Harris – Luxury Liner
Duane And Greg Allman – Self Titled
Aerosmith – Rocks
SDM: What do you do to warm up before a show?
Nick: At risk of sounding like a total dolt… Not too much! I stretch, loosen up my fingers and my wrists, move my arms around. Get the blood flowing, ya know?
SDM: Do you read music? Regardless of answering yes or no, please tell us how it might have effected your playing?
Nick: Yes, or at least I did a lot in high school. I don't think I'd remember off-hand how to write out key signatures or a piece of music for example, but as far as drum notations go I think I could hack my way through it. Sight reading was a huge part of our jazz/concert bands' learning process so I was around that sort of thing almost every day. Knowing some theory helps me communicate ideas, and I think doing interval studies early on helped me develop my pitch, which makes everything easier. Drumming-wise, I can't think of a time when I've read any music since high school.
SDM: Can you tell us about the gear you use?
Nick: I play a set of 70's clear Ludwig Vistalites with a 24×14 kick, 15×12 rack, 18×16 floor tom, and a 14×5 Acrolite snare. For cymbals I use a Zildjian 24" A Medium ride and a 21" Sweet ride and my hats are 15" Sabian AAX Mastersounds. My kick pedal is a DW 5000 and my hardware is random and questionable.
SDM: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…
Nick: Everybody learns differently so don't give up on something if it doesn't come naturally right away. You might find a cool way to do something just because you tried it differently than everyone else.
SDM: Who gave the best live performance you've ever seen?
Nick: Every time I see Converge, Ben Koller puts on a clinic! He's one of those guys that you can't help but laugh when you watch because you can't believe what you're seeing or hearing. Insanely powerful and fast as hell!
SDM: If you had to stop drumming, what would you want to do with your life?
Nick: I guess I'd be screwed.
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*Photo credits in order from top to bottom: Milton Stille, Bubba Hamilton, Milton Stille
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