JB: I've been doing the whole rock drumming thing for about 2 years on and off. I've been playing jazz for about 6 years steady. I've done the whole school band/jazz band/marching band/jazz choir/jazz combo/drumcore thing for about 4 years. I've been motivated since I was born and playing drums has always been what I've been doing.

SL: What one person would you say influenced you most in music?

JB: Carter Beauford of the Dave Matthews Band has actually been a major motivator and HEAVY influence on me. His style is amazing and his ideas and concepts behind the music are totally fascinating. He's definitely my favorite drummer.

SL: How did you meet up with Simplistic?

JB: It's kind of a weird story...I was supposed to go home after class...but instead, I decided to go into the studio over at AR and listen to some of ENT's mixes. I guess at that same time, Nick and Danny were right outside the studio posting a DRUMMER WANTED ad on the billboard. One of my music professors saw the boys put it up and told them that they should go into the studio and talk to me about it. They did come in and we met, I pretty much thought that I wasn't going to make it because it didn't look like I would fit in with them. So I kind of brushed them off by saying, "You know, whatever, give me a call and we'll just jam or something...no big deal." Three days later they show up to my house in the SimplistiVan, and my audition lasted approximentely 30 seconds of jamming with just Nick before they decided that I was the guy that they were looking for.

SL: What was your first impression of Simplistic's music?

JB: At first, I didn't know what to think, it wasn't too hard, or too soft, it was a nice mix. Simple lines was the first song they introduced me to. I thought it sounded awesome, and for a local band, the recording was spectacular.

SL: How did you feel after your first practice with the band?

JB: I was really tired and just mentally and physically wasted from working so hard. We had basically a two week deadline to learn three songs and perform at Scratch 8.

SL: How long did it take you to feel comfortable playing with Simplistic?

JB: It's taken awhile to feel out this new style of drumming, but all in all, it's taken probably about a month to get comfortable...now it pretty much comes natural. Which is awesome for not being in the band that long.

SL: What was going through your head during your first Simplistic show?

JB: The first thing that was going through my head was if the drums were going to sound good or not. I was thinking about some of the kicks in Far From Found, I was thinking about not rushing Simple Lines, and I was thinking about getting a new Dreamcast System and playing a ton of games for hours.

SL: At what age did you reach puberty?

JB: I'm not quite there yet.... but one day I'll have a big boy voice just like the rest of the band!

SL: Where do you see Simplistic in 5 years?

JB: Probably broken up! No, if we keep going the way we have been, I see good things in store for Simplistic and the music that they have to offer. I definitely see us signed doing some tour of some sort.

SL: Anything in general you would like to say...

JB: There really isn't anything to say other than to make sure that everybody does their part to support local musicianship and to encourage anybody to try playing an instrument whether it's drums, guitar, digeridoo, or flute. Thanks so much to the fans of SIMPLISTIC for their killer support and devotion to just another local band. Thanks again.