Full name: Sarah Everton
Age: 27
Hometown: Richmond, VA
Where do you live now: Philadelphia, PA
Bands you are drumming in currently: Reading Rainbow
What you do for a living: ex-art student currently unemployed!
Tom Tom Magazine: Reason that you started playing drums?
Sarah Everton : My husband, Rob, and I always wanted to have a band that was just us. So when the drummer of our old band couldn’t make some shows we had scheduled, it was the perfect opportunity to start it up. In our other band I played spastic keyboard parts on a circuit bent Casio keyboard and screamed/sang. For our new project I wanted to have real parts and actually learn an instrument and not just make noise. I felt comfortable enough to learn on just two drums and play while standing up and singing. We played our first show as Reading Rainbow two weeks after we wrote eight songs and recorded a demo and I could just barely manage to play my parts.
Tom Tom Magazine: What is your favorite drum set-up? Why?
Sarah Everton : I learned how to play with just a floor tom and snare, and I still play that set up live with a tiny cymbal. I started to learn on a full kit over a year ago, and a lot of our current songs have been recorded that way. I still like to keep it simple and classic and just have the floor tom, snare, kick, rack tom, high hat and crash.
<a href=”http://readingrainbow.bandcamp.com/album/hozac-hookup-klub-7″ _mce_href=”http://readingrainbow.bandcamp.com/album/hozac-hookup-klub-7″>HoZac Hookup Klub 7" by Reading Rainbow</a>
TTM: Do you play any other instruments?
If so … how does that effect your drumming?
SE : I just started learning guitar. I have to say that guitar is my favorite instrument and I am taking to it a bit more naturally than drums. I’m excited by the prospect of writing songs with guitar and that puts the role of a steady beat into a different perspective. I would never stop playing drums in RR though, maybe just do guitar on a few songs in the future.
<a href=”http://readingrainbow.bandcamp.com/album/euphoria-7″ _mce_href=”http://readingrainbow.bandcamp.com/album/euphoria-7″>Euphoria 7" by Reading Rainbow</a>
TTM: What do you consider to be the most challenging thing about the drums?
SE : The mind games! Oh my god, just not zoning out too much, but then also not focusing too much on what you’re doing either. I have the hang of it way better than I used to, but I think most drummers have to constantly battle with that.
TTM: Most notable show you ever played?
SE : It’s hard to say since we have plenty of memorable ones. Once we played this totally sketchy dive bar run by the mafia (not kidding) here in Philly. While we played, the regulars were crowd surfing and a guy reached forward and poured beer on my tom (in a friendly way), and there was almost a fight during our last song until it ended with two full grown men hugging each other. THE POWER OF MUSIC!
TTM: Have you experienced any setbacks as a female drummer?
SE : Really the only thing that comes to mind is the resentment I feel at trying to “prove myself”. Like wishing I could sit down in front of a room full of macho band dudes and play blast beats just to be like “YEAH THAT’S RIGHT!” It makes me mad that I feel that way sometimes because I shouldn’t have to. Even if I was the female Jimmy Chamberlain or the lady version of the dude from Rush, I would still play the style I play for our band because simple drumming is what’s required of our style of music.
I guess one other thing I could mention would be when people find out I play a full kit too. Certain men in particular act really surprised by that. Like too surprised. It’s kind of obnoxious.
<a href=”http://readingrainbow.bandcamp.com/album/prism-eyes” _mce_href=”http://readingrainbow.bandcamp.com/album/prism-eyes”>Prism Eyes by Reading Rainbow</a>
TTM: Who are your favorite drummers?
SE : Moe Tucker (duh), Steve Shelley, Daniel Cundiff, Dave Grohl, Georgia Hubley
TTM: If you could change one thing about the drums what would it be?
SE : That there could be an easier way to sing while playing a full kit without using a Janet Jackson head-set mic.
TTM: Where do you shop for your drum gear?
SE : Ebay
TTM: What are some of your other hobbies / interests?
SE : Drawing, collaging, making installations, miscellaneous art making. I do all of our album art and merch designs. Also thrift store shopping, and learning to play guitar.
TTM: Who are some of your favorite lady drummers right now?
SE : Sandy Beaches from Dum Dum Girls and Lillian Maring from Grass Widow both totally blow my mind! They are so incredible! Also my friend Dominique Montgomery who plays in the band The Two Funerals is kind of amazing.
TTM: Who are some of your favorite bands right now?
SE : Current: Dum Dum Girls, Grass Widow, Lower Dens, Eternal Summers, Crocodiles
Classic: Yo La Tengo, The Wipers, X, Mission of Burma
Interview by Nicole Turley