This is a subscriber-only article
The sound of the drum is often lost to the other instruments in a band but its importance should never be underestimated. Drums bring the beat and rhythm, but when the drummers are the whole band, you can’t but gain a new appreciation for them.
The Hit Machine Drummers started off in September 2013, the same month troupe leader, Kevin Curran’s daughter was born. But for the Canadian-born, Drumcondra-based Irish dancer, this wasn’t his first drum show.
“I had a show before. I just knew I needed to revolutionise the whole thing, to re-invent it. That’s been a theme of ours; to keep coming up with new ideas, new costumes and to go bigger.
“I have been dancing in shows since the late 90s. I’ve done plenty of other jobs as well but show business has always been my draw.”
We do an awful lot of shows as just The Hit Machine but we also have a brass band called Brass Monkeys and we’re doing a new show called Static LED
For Kevin and the rest of the troupe, music is a full-time gig. Kevin is a dancer and musician as well as running the Hit Machine Drummers.
“We do an awful lot of shows as just The Hit Machine but we also have a brass band called Brass Monkeys and we’re doing a new show called Static LED with LED suits and loads of lovely light trickery.”
Style
The band would have a tribal feel to the music they play. They call their music style “Celtic drumming”, but borrow elements from other drumming styles too.
“We’d be big fans of samba drumming from Brazil and Taiko drumming from Japan. West African percussion as well is absolutely phenomenal. That [West African percussion] has influenced more music then you would realise, because it’s really the root of music.”
When we’re bringing in new pieces it would be important to get everyone together and get the piece locked down and drilled until it’s second nature
The Hit Machine Drummers play all their own music, typically written by Kevin himself.
“When we have big events coming up, we all get together and might work on some new stuff or something specific to that event. When we’re bringing in new pieces it would be important to get everyone together and get the piece locked down and drilled until it’s second nature.”
It’s a powerful Celtic image
You will usually only see men dressed in kilts in great numbers when the Scottish are in town for the rugby, a stag party or if you get the opportunity to experience the Hit Machine Drummers live.
“We love the kilts, they look great and they feel good. It’s a powerful Celtic image.
“We actually started off with cloth vests but we upgraded them to leather. We wear them and the kilt pretty much all the time apart from at the Ireland matches, where we wear the green jersey. We don’t dare pick sides in Croke Park.”
Members
In the band, there are approximately 20 members. Kevin shares that the band have an open-door policy for those who have other projects going on.
“They’ll go off and tour with a band or if they have a project they’re working on and when they’re unavailable, we’ve other guys that we would use.
“Everyone has their strengths that they bring to it. I drum and dance in it, there’s a couple of the guys who can do the same. There’s some who are just fantastic at leading and doing crowd interactions and we’ve other guys who are just amazing at throwing a head around and getting the drum in the air.”
We’ve had some amazing drummers that have gone on to do amazing things
The Hit Machine Drummers have had a number of members throughout the years who have gone on to support acts that you may very well be familiar with.
“We’ve had some amazing drummers that have gone on to do amazing things, like Micheál Quinn is now Dermot Kennedy’s drummer, there’s Tom Coll, he’s the drummer for Fontaines DC and also Diarmuid Brennan, he’s the drummer with The Murder Capital.”
Venues
The Hit Machine Drummers have played in front of huge crowds at GAA and rugby matches, but what is the most amazing venue to play in? Without pausing to thinking about it, Kevin reveals his answer: “Croke Park by far, it’s the best one. It was absolutely phenomenal being out on the pitch for the GAA finals. It’s just an amazing experience. It’s electric, you have almost 90,000 people around you screaming. There’s no atmosphere like it in the world, that’s definitely the best.”
Weddings are lovely because everyone is there with their friends and family
The drummers also play weddings if you’re looking for something a bit different to the typical cover band.
“Weddings are lovely because everyone is there with their friends and family. It’s a nice relaxed atmosphere, everyone’s up for a party. It’s really wonderful and we to be a part of that magic.”
SHARING OPTIONS: