Things are going well for Roger Chouinard.
As the drummer for the local metal quartet, All Sinners, the band’s self-titled debut EP is receiving praise form rock icons and radio hosts. In particular, the record has gotten a favorable response from one of Chouinard’s all-time favorite drummers, Fred Coury of Cinderella.
But it gets better. This Wareham native has recently received endorsements from his cymbal, drum, and stick companies, providing financial support that behooves any up-and-coming musician. And as the owner of Purchase Street Records on Pope’s Island in New Bedford, Chouinard’s passion for music is showing rewards.
Last February, All Sinners played to a capacity audience at The Vault in downtown New Bedford, opening for the Metallica tribute band, The Four Horsemen. The band is also receiving airplay on Providence’s WHJY-FM. On Saturday nights “The Metal Zone” has had All Sinners being played amongst metal giants such as Black Sabbath, Testament, Overkill, and Motorhead, some of the groups that the band members grew up idolizing.
The nation’s premier drum stick company, Vic Firth, recently provided Chouinard with customized sticks that have “All Sinners” printed on them. He is also endorsed by RCI Drums out of Connecticut, and Ameida Cymbals out of Turkey. Turkey is the world’s epicenter of cymbal manufacturers.
“I feel like these are accomplishments, it’s pretty cool,” Chouinard says.
According to Chouinard, every drummer is unique with their own style of play, in addition to the equipment they use to perform their craft. He says that when he listens to music he pays attention to the way a drummer plays and how his drums and cymbals sound.
“The drums and cymbals I use depend on the band and the style of music we’re playing. You have to play within the band, not playing above the band,” he says. “The drummer is only one component of a band’s chemistry. Different cymbals have different sounds. If I’m playing with my hardcore band, Draind, I’m going to want something loud because the guitar players are so loud. With All Sinners my cymbals are quicker – they dissipate real quick, they don’t sustain as much.”
Chouinard describes himself as “an 80’s kid.”
“I was influenced by drummers like Fred Coury and Alex Van Halen, Troy Luccketta of Tesla, and Vinny Appice when he was with Black Sabbath. They were people I idolized and people that I could imitate.”
Chouinard didn’t take to the drums until the age of 18, inspired by his uncle Bobby Chouinard, who played drums for Billy Squier. Today Roger owns 13 drum kits.
“I’d probably own more drums if I had more space in my house,” he says. “I have drums everywhere.”
Chouinard’s first kit was an orange-sparkle 4-piece Dixie brand from Japan. He threw it out when he acquired an upgrade of Tama drums.
And now he receives financial support from the companies whose instruments he plays. His endorsements allow him toreceive discounts of 20 to 30 percent on any drums, cymbals or sticks that he purchases.
“A cymbal could range in price from $50 to $700,” he says. “But a company will give you drums and cymbals for free if you’re playing to 30,000 people a night. They want their brand to be seen.”
Drummers can choose from a variety of different cymbals with a variety of different sounds, including rides, crashes, splashes, hi-hats, and China boys. They can range in size from six inches to 24 inches.
Chouinard talks about how he approaches the creative process with his drumming.
“I do a lot of listening at first and I take it slow,” he says. “After someone brings a song idea to rehearsal I’ll start by playing something simple and after I’ve heard it a hundred times I’ll start to put my own stamp on it. You have to play to the dynamics of a song. Some parts will be softer and some parts will be more powerful and aggressive. You have to respect the song.”
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