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"...Thunderdrums' world-beat electronica is as intriguing live as it is on tape with loops upon loops and percussive twists and turns..." - Creative Loafing - Charlotte NC - 5.13.09
World-beat percussion fused to electronica in a unique fashion would be the best description for the solo act known as Thunderdrums. Frank Bloom has simply taken his broad vocabulary of drumset and percussion and given an “old trick” a new twist: Looping unlike most audiences have ever seen. The melding of organic instrumentation with electronic nuances has brought Frank to the crossroads of tribal, trance, house, drum-n-bass compositions that have audiences all over on their feet and wanting more when the show is done. Frank’s onstage setup is most aptly described as “big” with an array of handdrums, percussion instruments, drumset, looping and effects pedals, samplers, drum machines and sometimes a keyboard.
Whether he is crossing the country as an artist (Thunderdrums), drum tech (Mickey Hart's Global Drum Project) or as a sound engineer, Frank keeps the wheels spinning. Add to the mix, past performances with such recognizable musical artists and acts such as Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz (Widespread Panic), and Dr. Arvin Scott, Danielle Howle, Acoustic Syndicate, Barefoot Manner, Mike Orlando and Mason Bissett (Cast Iron Filter), Doug Jones (formerly of Cravin’ Melon), and The Carter Brothers. As a recurring member of the 2006 edition of the Everyone Orchestra, Frank shared stage space with such notables as Jimmy Herring (The Dead, Widespread Panic, ARU), Adrian Belew (King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Talking Heads), Darol Angor (Newgrass Revival), Jeff Sipe (ARU, Trey Anastasio Band, Phil Lesh and Friends), Jeff Coffin (Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Dave Matthews Band, Mutet), and Vinnie Amico (MOE.).
Frank’s list of current/past instructors and mentors paints a broad spectrum of styles and sounds as well. Masterclasses with John Molo (Bruce Hornsby, Phil Lesh and Friends, Fogerty), and Jim Donovan (Rusted Root) are augmented by studies with percussionist/drummer Dr. Arvin Scott (Mose Allison, Widespread Panic recurring guest percussionist), drummer Jeff Sipe (ARU, Trey Anastasio Band, Leftover Salmon), and handdrum master Giovanni Hidalgo (Tito Puente, Global Drum Project w/ Mickey Hart & Zakir Hussain).
Thunderdrums is a show not to be missed by fans of percussion, electronica, tribal dance music and everything in between. Genre-defying, universally entertaining and down right fun are descriptions that people come away with when trying to tell their friends about Thunderdrums.
Frank currently endorses Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, Everyone's Drumming handdrums, MOOG Electronics (EFX pedals) and receives a little help from Remo Inc.
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