Mercedes is such an underrated drummer - very dynamic and expressive. I like what she says about being a "rock drummer stuck in a metal band", because I think that's what gives Kittie their identity. Her playing gives real lift to the arrangements.
She is in 6th gear on that kit and she has strong arms that wack the skins hard ,I really like how she uses her cymbals .She seems like a cool cat.Rock on.
I liked her aproach to drums. Really solid drumming. No super technical, fast or fancy stuff. Just powerful grooves that perfectly fit the song and the so called "hooks" carefully placed in the right place in the songs. Also she seems to be super cool and kind person. Very "down to earth" person.
am I the only person that clapped and cheered with full enthusiasm at the end of this video as though I was at a gig, despite sitting alone on my couch in my flat... Awesome video, awesome person, makes me glad to be alive when I am :,) thanks for the amazing content @ drumeo, wowee!
Ohhhh, out of nowhere this appear in the feed. I saw them live in México back in the day, I was like 15 or so. They signed my "Until the end" CD. I always loved Morgan's vocals, her type of grunts fits with so many metal styles and the drums parts that were not usual as other bands. And I had a crush on Mercedes back then hehehe. Nice to see her here.
Mercedes is a beast on drums. She's a musician who has a great feel for music. I've seen them several times. Ozzfest 99 i think was the first and several times after that. Watching her play is magical!! Keep up the great work Mercedes!!
kittie's "what i always wanted" was the first double kick groove i ever learned. while i disagree on some of her view points on songwriting, i still respect her skill and playing alot. i feel like Mercedes got skewered a bit in this interview and it was cut short in a few places. Dave seems really intimidated and uncomfortable and in a few places even heated and disagreeable in others. I think a revisit and maybe a different topic is in order IMO. maybe on how her approach to drumming and musicality has changed in the 20 years that kittie has been around and producing music? Her approach to being a 'rock drummer stuck in a metal band' and what that means to kittie's sound? a few anecdotes on her impeccable timing and how rumor has it she doesn't need a click track, even in studio? seems to me since she's not Anika or Meytal she's been a bit slighted here.
She is such a great drummer, always loved her playing, feel, & her tuning. Everything about her is attractive; looks, voice, a "beautiful" woman no doubt!
Love her drumming. The fills and chinas on "what I always wanted" are sooo good!
3 года назад+9
Kittie is a very special band to me. Their What I've Always Wanted is the song that brought me to metal. I had no Idea Mercedes is such a heavy hitter when drumming. I like her style and her views on songwriting too. Sometimes keeping it simple is the way to go even for a progressive metal artist. Besides that it's me who listens to her music today, not the other way around, so her method definitely works :)
Kittie' 1st Gig in America was @ the I-Rock Night Club in Detroit. My Band BURNER opened for them. They were so young that Their Mothers were with them driving a Motorhome. IT WAS KICK ASS🎯🤘🔥
Never been a huge Kittie fan but she has a killer drum tone (that explosive snare !!!), parts that fit the music perfectly (which is kind of the point of this class), and she seem to be a very cool person in general. She makes want to revisit the band albums and watch their documentary !
I still remember when I met Mercedes in person back in 2004 in Chico, CA. I took pictures with her and she was sooo awesome to talk to. I love you... still!! definitely my fave drummer... still.
It´s great to see Mercedes again, she's one of the finest (and maybe the most powerful) drummers out there. Definitely she's in my top five with Senri Kawaguchi, Anika Nilles, Terri Carrington and Hannah Ford, without wanting to belittle the many excellent drummers in the business.
Wow. So much practical direction on composition and playing an ensemble role as a drummer. And I feel like this is equally a lesson in having fun and holding confidence, as modeled by Mercedes. Kudos.
I heard the song she was playing to, then heard the singer, and was like "kittie?" Then I saw the title. It's been a minute since heard a kittie song. They are something indeed. Im happy to see Mercedes on drumeo!
Thank you so such for this amazing video !! Mercedes is such an amazing drummer.....WOW.... She has a very raw and unique voice as well as amazing technique !! 🤘🏻
Met Mercedes some years ago and she was super cool to hang with. She is so focused and solid when she plays too. Also very pretty. I’m not a fan of her band Kittie as much as I used to be back then though. Curious about the other projects she’s worked on.
Kittie will always hold a special place in my heart and history. They played pretty early in the day at Ozzfest, and I’m about 99% sure they were the first band I ever moshed to. That was over 20 years ago. You never forget your first. I got a bloody nose, lol. Metal.
LOVE Mercedes! One thing I've realized listening and watching Kittie songs is that... She doesn't fill alot. Very minimal in rolls. Straight to the point with the beats in all the songs. Not a bad thing, just an observation.
AKA boring. Too minimal. Gets lost in the rest of the songs because not much is going on. There's a fine line between being too flashy and playing for what a song needs. Seems to me that more often than not she's typically on the meager side of just keeping the beat.
I’m the best drummer in the world until I saw Mercedes I’m stray1 and watched brackish from the first time I saw kittie I realised I was and still nothing best female band ever and no others will ever come close you’re music has helped me in ways you could understand
Mercedes is an underrated drummer. She has her own style of playing. She is very creative and aggressive. At the same time she manages to be captivating. She's wonderful. One of the Best Drummers in the world.
I love the drumsticks Ahead, great duration, good feel, less tiredness in the arms, and NO !! no friends do not break the cymbals, 4 years using them and a more than amazing experience.
As a professional drummer myself, I would dsiagree with her on point #1. The drummer does not control that. The band controls that. It is a group decision or a decision of whoever is writing the song (should the band designate that responsibility to just one person). The drummer CAN be that person, but to just assume its the drummer who makes such a decision just isn't true. that said... Mercedes is awesome. Nothing but respect to her abilities and her accomplishments. Shes great.
I'm a big fan of kittie. Love watching Mercedes play. One of my favorite drummers. She plays 2 of my favorite songs on this lesson. You're hot and a beast on that kit. Love it. Thanks for all the gut crunching metal you give us.
Just to add on to Mercedes explanation of a drum hook, I would say a way creative way to create a drum hook is by adding in space(s) to a rhythmic idea. That was a cool lesson. Nice!
I’m so glad he talked about copying song structure. I’m also glad that Mercedes didn’t bullshit and she said it’s okay to copy song structure because they completely “riffed” off of Zao The Rising End, it’s almost static verbatim. That said. I love Old Zao and reaching back and bringing back certain aesthetics is A Okay with me!
mercedes is a hell of a drummer remember seening her 2000 when kittie open up for relative ash good time she blow my mind with her drumming i am also a drummer it takes alot to be a great drummer
15 years ago I discovered kittie and of course fell in love with Mercedes and her drums so I took lessons and realized I sucked so just let go that dream and enjoy their music 😂
On the topic of Ahead sticks, ive had the Joey Jordison sigs since they were released. The one pair has lasted over 15 years minus the sleeves. They feel amazing and let you play effortlessly with little to no shock or vibrations. However, this is a big one, because the sleeve is not wood or hard, you do lose the volume and attack on ride bells, which is sorta a bummer. They are also uncomfortable for jazz because the metal ring is placed where your knuckle would rest and really rubs into your skin lol But if you play heavy music or speed music they are fantastic. Another down side is they are super expensive, so unlike wood sticks where you can get 4-5 pairs, its hard to fill your kit with back up stick as a ahead player who isnt endorsed. I mean they are $30 a pair lol. 6 pairs for your kit as back ups would cost you $180... OUCH.
Just use correct technique and go back to wood sticks. Maybe you hit too hard and hickory might be better for you, being more dense. Or maybe you should use heavier sticks. And so on. Yes, drum sticks are disposable, but they're not that disposable.
So, I'm not a drummer - I'm a multi instrumentalist, and trained composer(trying to learn to write better drum/percussion parts, hence being here). I want to add something to her comment about fast drums vs slower paced structure... I actually quite like the juxtaposition between fast drums, in an otherwise slow part. Used in moderation, I find it can give a great texture, and flavour. I find it extremely effective in outros, or reintroduction of earlier riffs. In outros, it works especially well if you speed up the drums progressively, and maybe even over a slow fade out. So you could, say, have the kicks speeding up into faster divisions of the beat, or where overall you end up going into full blasts with snare and kicks, while cymbals and/or toms keep the original "slower" accents, or runs. And I'm still only 15 mins in, so forgive me if she addresses something along these lines later. Anyways, just my two cents. PS: I love how down to earth, and unpretentious she is - while remaining so extremely professional. Thoroughly enjoyed this video, and her plain speak makes it so easy to follow as a non drummer.
I was so happy when Kittie came out man! It was about time some women came out and kicked metal ass the way they did. Great band and a great live show!
I want to play the drums to "Sleep Walking" so bad. I feel like it's in 6/8 time with a 1 and 2 and 3 and feel to it. That song seems so fun to play! I need a drum set!
Mercedes is such an underrated drummer - very dynamic and expressive. I like what she says about being a "rock drummer stuck in a metal band", because I think that's what gives Kittie their identity. Her playing gives real lift to the arrangements.
Rock drumming in metal is the antidote to constant kick blasting amd quantized inhumanity.
Seriously underrated drummer.
Agreed
underated by the pilsbury Dough man yes.
I never realized how good she was untill I saw them live for the first time, she's very very good!
No, people who listen to good music know her , so what?
FOR.. Shhh
I love her drumming but her voooice *-* love hearing her talk.
She's a great singer too
She sings like her sister but at a lower register.....both Lander sisters can sing like angels and scream like demons!
She is in 6th gear on that kit and she has strong arms that wack the skins hard ,I really like how she uses her cymbals .She seems like a cool cat.Rock on.
Go listen to The White Swan if you like her voice.
She’s also cute as hell and hits hard which is all very good.
Well, I remember those times when Kittie's song "Brackish" blows my brain out. That was awesome!
She’s an underrated and incredible drummer, so is Kittie.
Mercedes is good people. Kittie are good people. London, Ontario's gift to the world - Kittie.
I liked her aproach to drums. Really solid drumming. No super technical, fast or fancy stuff. Just powerful grooves that perfectly fit the song and the so called "hooks" carefully placed in the right place in the songs. Also she seems to be super cool and kind person. Very "down to earth" person.
The Lander sisters have always been my heroes when it comes to metal, they're badass!
Man I have had stars in my eyes for her and her sister since 97 when I first saw them! I knew they would make it big!
am I the only person that clapped and cheered with full enthusiasm at the end of this video as though I was at a gig, despite sitting alone on my couch in my flat... Awesome video, awesome person, makes me glad to be alive when I am :,) thanks for the amazing content @ drumeo, wowee!
Ohhhh, out of nowhere this appear in the feed. I saw them live in México back in the day, I was like 15 or so. They signed my "Until the end" CD. I always loved Morgan's vocals, her type of grunts fits with so many metal styles and the drums parts that were not usual as other bands. And I had a crush on Mercedes back then hehehe. Nice to see her here.
Mercedes is a beast on drums. She's a musician who has a great feel for music. I've seen them several times. Ozzfest 99 i think was the first and several times after that. Watching her play is magical!! Keep up the great work Mercedes!!
kittie's "what i always wanted" was the first double kick groove i ever learned. while i disagree on some of her view points on songwriting, i still respect her skill and playing alot. i feel like Mercedes got skewered a bit in this interview and it was cut short in a few places. Dave seems really intimidated and uncomfortable and in a few places even heated and disagreeable in others. I think a revisit and maybe a different topic is in order IMO. maybe on how her approach to drumming and musicality has changed in the 20 years that kittie has been around and producing music? Her approach to being a 'rock drummer stuck in a metal band' and what that means to kittie's sound? a few anecdotes on her impeccable timing and how rumor has it she doesn't need a click track, even in studio? seems to me since she's not Anika or Meytal she's been a bit slighted here.
Hell yeah
Kinda agree with you... Interestingly enough, there's a lot of myths around Mercedes' craft which is great...
yeah i feel that the topic of song writing was rather odd and felt like it should have been something else
My favorite drummer for sure. My favorite guest drummer I have watched on the channel. Watched her since they first started! Amazing video!!
She is absolutely amazing!! Been a fan of hers and her sisters since 2000! Thanks for having her on ♥️
I love Mercedes. She's awesome. Thank you Drumeo for this!
She is such a great drummer, always loved her playing, feel, & her tuning. Everything about her is attractive; looks, voice, a "beautiful" woman no doubt!
Love her drumming. The fills and chinas on "what I always wanted" are sooo good!
Kittie is a very special band to me. Their What I've Always Wanted is the song that brought me to metal. I had no Idea Mercedes is such a heavy hitter when drumming. I like her style and her views on songwriting too. Sometimes keeping it simple is the way to go even for a progressive metal artist. Besides that it's me who listens to her music today, not the other way around, so her method definitely works :)
She's a Valkyrie on the drums. Samantha Moloney is underrated as well.
Dude, when she started talking about melody with drums?!?!?! I've been Kittie fan for 20 years now. This is AMAZING!!!
Lol. a Valkyrie?
do you even know what a Valkyrie is and did?
She's Beauty and the beast wrapped in one!!! Beautiful and a beast on the drums!!!
She’s so cool. The power behind her drumming is such a treat to watch.
Kittie' 1st Gig in America was @ the I-Rock Night Club in Detroit.
My Band BURNER opened for them.
They were so young that Their Mothers were with them driving a Motorhome.
IT WAS KICK ASS🎯🤘🔥
I WAS FUCKING THERE!!!!!!! I took the tunnel bus from Windsor at random! Thanks for that memory!!!!!!!
Never been a huge Kittie fan but she has a killer drum tone (that explosive snare !!!), parts that fit the music perfectly (which is kind of the point of this class), and she seem to be a very cool person in general.
She makes want to revisit the band albums and watch their documentary !
Go past their new metal debut (if that's not your style) and you'll see they became a really good metal band in the 2000's when they matured
I still remember when I met Mercedes in person back in 2004 in Chico, CA. I took pictures with her and she was sooo awesome to talk to. I love you... still!! definitely my fave drummer... still.
Such an inspiration. A kind and beautiful soul too. Incredible to meet in person. Very humble.
I have known Mercedes since she was a kid. She is one of the kindest sweetest people there is.
It´s great to see Mercedes again, she's one of the finest (and maybe the most powerful) drummers out there.
Definitely she's in my top five with Senri Kawaguchi, Anika Nilles, Terri Carrington and Hannah Ford, without wanting to belittle the many excellent drummers in the business.
COTTERO No Martina Axen?
This makes me even more passionate about Kittie, If I ever got lucky enough to meet Mercedes that would be a day to never forget, fantastic video
Damn you can just tell from watching how hard she hits, awesome
Mercedes Lander is awesome! I've had a musical crush on her for years. Plus, she's pretty.
I really liked fallon till i found out she quit just cuz she was being a bitch 😒 how u gonna leave a badass band for no reason at all
Wow. So much practical direction on composition and playing an ensemble role as a drummer. And I feel like this is equally a lesson in having fun and holding confidence, as modeled by Mercedes. Kudos.
Thank you for this. Never managed to catch Kittie on tour, and I've been crushing on Mercedes' drumming for years, so this is friggin' awesome.
I have this same setup and the same ride cymbal.. I don't play double bass though.. What a powerhouse! Very impressive.
I heard the song she was playing to, then heard the singer, and was like "kittie?" Then I saw the title. It's been a minute since heard a kittie song. They are something indeed. Im happy to see Mercedes on drumeo!
Amazing! What a presence, great hard beat. And useful tips so well explain!
A new Kittie fan is born!!
Thanks!
Thank you so such for this amazing video !! Mercedes is such an amazing drummer.....WOW.... She has a very raw and unique voice as well as amazing technique !!
🤘🏻
These are lessons you can only get from an experienced metalhead 🤘🏼 So much fun to watch 😁
Met Mercedes some years ago and she was super cool to hang with. She is so focused and solid when she plays too. Also very pretty. I’m not a fan of her band Kittie as much as I used to be back then though. Curious about the other projects she’s worked on.
Still in love with her...20 years later.
i've always wanted to see a video like this of Mercedes! She's grown so much as a drummer! great job!
Kittie will always hold a special place in my heart and history. They played pretty early in the day at Ozzfest, and I’m about 99% sure they were the first band I ever moshed to. That was over 20 years ago. You never forget your first. I got a bloody nose, lol. Metal.
LOVE Mercedes! One thing I've realized listening and watching Kittie songs is that... She doesn't fill alot. Very minimal in rolls. Straight to the point with the beats in all the songs. Not a bad thing, just an observation.
I was thinking the same, she never lacks, but never over-does-it... that's exactly what ya want in a drummer.
AKA boring. Too minimal. Gets lost in the rest of the songs because not much is going on. There's a fine line between being too flashy and playing for what a song needs. Seems to me that more often than not she's typically on the meager side of just keeping the beat.
That was some nice drumming. Nice clean ideas. The sign of a good drummer is someone that makes you believe that you can go and play just as well.
love her playing...one of my fav female drummers...in my top 10 drummers of all time...
I’m the best drummer in the world until I saw Mercedes I’m stray1 and watched brackish from the first time I saw kittie I realised I was and still nothing best female band ever and no others will ever come close you’re music has helped me in ways you could understand
Mercedes is an underrated drummer. She has her own style of playing. She is very creative and aggressive. At the same time she manages to be captivating. She's wonderful.
One of the Best Drummers in the world.
Siempre me ha gustado como toca, y esa voz uuuuuffff fenomenal ❤❤
I was going to go on a RUclips lesson drumming spree. Now I'm sitting here letting this soak in. Really cool lesson. Thx!
Great video Mercedes! Mouth guitar=totally! I've created whole parts buy just singing the band the parts. I love doing that!
I saw Kittie for the first time in March '00 in Frankfurt/Germany supporting "One Minute Silence" and "Slipknot". Damn that's a long time ago...
I love the drumsticks Ahead, great duration, good feel, less tiredness in the arms, and NO !! no friends do not break the cymbals, 4 years using them and a more than amazing experience.
As a professional drummer myself, I would dsiagree with her on point #1. The drummer does not control that. The band controls that. It is a group decision or a decision of whoever is writing the song (should the band designate that responsibility to just one person). The drummer CAN be that person, but to just assume its the drummer who makes such a decision just isn't true.
that said... Mercedes is awesome. Nothing but respect to her abilities and her accomplishments. Shes great.
I'm a big fan of kittie. Love watching Mercedes play. One of my favorite drummers. She plays 2 of my favorite songs on this lesson. You're hot and a beast on that kit. Love it. Thanks for all the gut crunching metal you give us.
Thank you for this!! I love her and her drumming .. long time fan
Mercedes is a really fine and powerful musician....wow! I PLAY BAREFOOT too; always have.
Best, Jimi
I feel for the snare stand. It's copping a proper hiding!
Just to add on to Mercedes explanation of a drum hook, I would say a way creative way to create a drum hook is by adding in space(s) to a rhythmic idea. That was a cool lesson. Nice!
BIG FAN OF KITTIE AND MERCEDES!!!! Wooooow what a doll!!!! Thank you!
Love Mercedes and love Kittie since year 2000 ❤🤘🥁
She's turning into one of my favourite drummers.
Mercedes, you rock, thank you for doing this video.
omg Mercedes!! Its great to see her in Drumeo!!! Loved it
Always digging these videos!! Sarah Thawer would be another amazing drummer to watch on Drumeo if y'all don't already have her on the schedule.
i´ve been her fan since i was sooo young. God bless her.
ORACLE! She showed some serious drum sound on that one!
I’m so glad he talked about copying song structure. I’m also glad that Mercedes didn’t bullshit and she said it’s okay to copy song structure because they completely “riffed” off of Zao The Rising End, it’s almost static verbatim.
That said. I love Old Zao and reaching back and bringing back certain aesthetics is A Okay with me!
I'm going to picture myself Mercedes playing with every metal song I'll listen to from now
Drumeo are the BESTTTTT
My personal favorite drummer
0:43 - Cut Throat
33:40 - Sleepwalking
41:39 - Empires 2
She is such an underrated drummer, just awesome and also just beautiful
I like that she's humble.
mercedes is a hell of a drummer remember seening her 2000 when kittie open up for relative ash good time she blow my mind with her drumming i am also a drummer it takes alot to be a great drummer
I'm a wizard at mouthing guitar as well!! I may not play guitar but I definitely hear riffs for sure.
Mercedes....The love of my life!
15 years ago I discovered kittie and of course fell in love with Mercedes and her drums so I took lessons and realized I sucked so just let go that dream and enjoy their music 😂
Ofcourse you sucked that's what the lessons were for🤦🏻♂️
On the topic of Ahead sticks, ive had the Joey Jordison sigs since they were released. The one pair has lasted over 15 years minus the sleeves. They feel amazing and let you play effortlessly with little to no shock or vibrations. However, this is a big one, because the sleeve is not wood or hard, you do lose the volume and attack on ride bells, which is sorta a bummer. They are also uncomfortable for jazz because the metal ring is placed where your knuckle would rest and really rubs into your skin lol But if you play heavy music or speed music they are fantastic. Another down side is they are super expensive, so unlike wood sticks where you can get 4-5 pairs, its hard to fill your kit with back up stick as a ahead player who isnt endorsed. I mean they are $30 a pair lol. 6 pairs for your kit as back ups would cost you $180... OUCH.
Just use correct technique and go back to wood sticks. Maybe you hit too hard and hickory might be better for you, being more dense. Or maybe you should use heavier sticks. And so on. Yes, drum sticks are disposable, but they're not that disposable.
What a wonderful Canadian moment 40:21
I bought their first record when i was a teen. Im in my 40s now and still get down with kittie
LOVE her voorhees tattoo,,,and her drumming talent as well
Nowadays girls without tatts are more rare, check this.
Great lesson. Great drummer. Great sound!
What a legend. She plays like no one else.
I've been waiting for this
The trance she is in when drumming 🤩👌😍
This is the most soothing video ever.
Kittie band deserves more media!
So, I'm not a drummer - I'm a multi instrumentalist, and trained composer(trying to learn to write better drum/percussion parts, hence being here). I want to add something to her comment about fast drums vs slower paced structure...
I actually quite like the juxtaposition between fast drums, in an otherwise slow part. Used in moderation, I find it can give a great texture, and flavour. I find it extremely effective in outros, or reintroduction of earlier riffs. In outros, it works especially well if you speed up the drums progressively, and maybe even over a slow fade out. So you could, say, have the kicks speeding up into faster divisions of the beat, or where overall you end up going into full blasts with snare and kicks, while cymbals and/or toms keep the original "slower" accents, or runs.
And I'm still only 15 mins in, so forgive me if she addresses something along these lines later.
Anyways, just my two cents.
PS: I love how down to earth, and unpretentious she is - while remaining so extremely professional. Thoroughly enjoyed this video, and her plain speak makes it so easy to follow as a non drummer.
O..k... Sure.
🤘 Uuuuuh Mercedes Lander in the house! Yea baby enseñanos como se hace!🤘
What an energy!!! Black Mamba Approved!
I was so happy when Kittie came out man! It was about time some women came out and kicked metal ass the way they did. Great band and a great live show!
This band is so Underatted she's a great drummer love her hard hitting style she's a beast
She's a machine. Much respect 🤘🤘🤘
My favorite drummer!
We have now reached the point where is not about female and male drummers it’s just drummers period ,there is no difference
She is incredible. Really. I think she is one of the best drummers all over the world.
Love that she always dons the white tip black sticks
Mercedes é um absurdo na bateria, ta pra nascer uma Baterista tão foda quanto ela maximo respeito
First Kittie record was tasty mostly because of her drumming and her sister giving raw experimental vox. I still listen to those songs.
I want to play the drums to "Sleep Walking" so bad. I feel like it's in 6/8 time with a 1 and 2 and 3 and feel to it. That song seems so fun to play! I need a drum set!