Tag Archive for: mark powers

My buddy and former All Access Live guest Mark Powers joins me to co-host a special drummers’ roundtable chat with the dynamic Daxx Nielsen of Cheap Trick! We talk about the inspiring moment Daxx got the phone call to join the band, just days before leaving on tour with another group, where he finds balance as a father and husband with a band that tours 180 days a year, the importance of establishing and maintaining relationships and Daxx’s forthcoming tour dates playing drums for The Eagles’ Don Felder.

Growing up in a house full of musical instruments, Daxx gravitated towards the drums at a very early age. After high school Daxx traveled the US extensively with his original band, Harmony Riley. Over a period of 5 years Harmony Riley recorded 2 full length albums and 3 EP’s and performed almost 1,000 shows around the US and Canada. Upon the band’s dissolution Daxx packed up and moved to Los Angeles where he quickly got into the studio and touring world. His first break was drumming for surf guitar pioneer Dick Dale.

While on breaks from touring he did dozens of recording sessions, performed anywhere and everywhere with numerous local artists, and formed A Fine Frenzy with singer/songwriter Alison Sudol. This led to years of touring and recording with Brandi Carlisle, Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons, The Smashing Pumpkins, and numerous others. Since March of 2010, Daxx has been the touring drummer for the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTED band CHEAP TRICK, performing over 1,000 shows with them and recording the critically acclaimed Bang Zoom Crazy Hello.

Daxx co-wrote and drummed on the score for Oscar Award Winning documentary UNDEFEATED.

Some of the other projects Daxx has been involved with over the last few years are; drumming two nights for Eddie Vedder, drumming for The Fab Faux, as well as recording with numerous projects.

Check out Daxx’s Instagram for updates here.

IGNITER PODCAST:
Hosts (and bandmates and jacks/hacks of many trades) Robert Wynia and Mark Powers have joined forces to bring you IGNITER, a brand new podcast aimed toward sparking your creativity. With suggestions, tactics, special guests, listener feedback, and sheer and utter randomness, Mark and Rob will send you on your day with new tools to increase your creative flow and effectiveness.

ROB WYNIA:
Robert Wynia is a native son of the Western US. Born in Oregon, he has been performing and writing all his life. He has been voted Best Male Performer, Best New Artist, and Performer of the Year in Eugene and Portland, been inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame, and has received two preliminary Grammy nominations for his work with his band “Floater.” He has appeared in numerous radio, television and web-based shows and has traveled extensively on tour.

MARK POWERS:
A percussion artist/educator and world traveler, Mark Powers has studied, performed and taught throughout North America, as well as in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the South Pacific. He has contributed drum set and/or percussion tracks to a number of incredible recording projects, including releases by M. Ward, She & Him, Mbrascatu, Haley Johnsen, Falls, Amanda Richards, King Black Acid, Robert Wynia & The Sound, Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons, Portland Cello Project, Floater, and many others.
Mark has also made music on stage with a diverse list of artists, ranging from Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen, Devon Evans (of Bob Marley and the Wailers), Clyde Stubblefield, Rolling Stones saxophonist Tim Ries, and America’s Polka King- the late Frankie Yankovic, to disco sensations The Afrodisiacs and ’80s nerd-rockers The Spazmatics.
Fun fact: He is also former co-holder of the Guinness World Record for Longest Drum Roll by a Group (shared with Namiah Tribolini, Peter Buxman and Pat Flanigan)!

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