Welcome to the show Wilmington, NC native Brian Russell Collins! Having been in Nashville for over a decade, Brian is a familiar, friendly face in our community who has endured more than most of us ever will in a lifetime. We dive into Brian’s journey of perseverance and heartbreak, including beating cancer multiple times and the recent loss of his mom and sister - experiences that have greatly impacted his outlook on music and life. He reminisces on meeting his musical heroes Huey Lewis and Garth Brooks, shares tales from tour opening for Jelly Roll, and stresses the importance of advocacy, charity, and being there for others. Join us for an inspiring and engaging conversation filled with resilience, community, and rock and roll. We hope you enjoy!

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
1:31 Welcome, Brian!
5:34 On Tour Opening for Jelly Roll
11:27 Take the Audition
20:05 Gear Talk and Drum Tuning
25:59 Drum Supply (Sponsor)
26:59 Watching Cody Ash
37:39 Meeting Huey Lewis: A Lifelong Inspiration
44:34 Charity Events and Community Impact
44:53 Drum Box (Sponsor)
45:36 Battling Cancer, Personal Loss, Hosting Charity Events
1:05:24 Supporting the Next Generation of Drummers
1:10:56 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor)
1:11:37 Impacting Others
1:19:40 Tour Bus Tales and Night Terrors
1:23:32 Groove MPL (Sponsor)
1:24:44 Chick-fil-A and Celebrity Encounters
1:35:26 Sonique Drums (Sponsor)
1:36:06 Closing Questions
1:42:17 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Groove MPL
https://www.groovempl.com

Sonique Drums
https://soniquedrums.com


Connect with Brian:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianrussellcollins
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brianrussellcollins

Music Featured in this Episode:
"The Heart of Rock & Roll - Huey Lewis and the News
"I Want a New Drug - Huey Lewis and the News

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Interview by: Dan Ainspan, Nathan Sletner
Recorded March 2025 in Nashville, TN

Support the show

Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2025 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

We’re excited to welcome Matt Nolan to the podcast! Since 2020, Matt has been the touring drummer for Lainey Wilson, in addition to working with artists including Maggie Rose, Them Vibes, Brandon Whyde, The Morrison Brothers Band, and Rude Music - a rock and roll group led by Matt and his brother Kevin. In this wide-ranging interview, Matt shares his unique musical journey from studying Jazz in New Orleans to moving to Nashville and eventually landing the gig with Lainey Wilson. Matt shares valuable insights on handling moments of pressure, playing bigger stages, supporting your bandmates, touring sober, and the importance of listening. We hope you enjoy!

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
2:26 Welcome, Matt!
8:52 Behind the Scenes: CMA Awards
27:56 Drumming Influences
35:23 Drum Box (Sponsor)
36:08 Early Musical Influences and Upbringing
39:01 Getting Booed at Your 1st Gig
55:08 Drum Supply (Sponsor)
56:11 Goals in High School
1:00:11 Johnny Vidacovich and New Orleans Jazz
1:10:32 Discovering Country Music
1:21:48 Dealing w/ Competition & High-Stakes
1:24:44 The Drummer's Role
1:26:59 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor)
1:27:37 Playback & Tracks
1:42:48 Groove MPL (Sponsor)
1:44:06 Recording Lainey's 3rd Studio Album
1:55:48 Touring Sober and Band Dynamics
2:00:37 Mental Health on the Road
2:04:39 The Importance of Listening
2:10:23 Pre-Show Rituals and Techniques
2:14:39 What Makes a Successful Show?
2:29:30 Music City Audiology (Sponsor)
2:30:13 Closing Questions
2:34:47 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Groove MPL
https://www.groovempl.com

Sonor Drums
https://www.sonor.com

Hercules Stands
https://herculesstands.com

Sonique Drums
https://soniquedrums.com

Music City Audiology
https://www.musiccityaudiology.com


Connect with Matt:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattnolandrums

Music Featured in this Episode:
"Whirlwind" (Live) - Lainey Wilson
"Burn" - Matt Nolan

------
Interview by: Dan Ainspan, Nathan Sletner
Recorded February 2025 in Nashville, TN

Support the show

Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2025 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Hailing from Charlotte, NC, Raven Pfeiffer moved to Nashville in 2021 where she currently performs, co-writes, and tours with several artists across different genres, most notably with American folk sibling trio, Girl Named Tom. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Raven studied under renowned performer, composer, and producer, Rick Dior (James Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles), and earned a B.A. in Music with a concentration in percussion and a B.A. in German Translation.

In this conversation, we discuss the importance of committing to gigs that push you to learn new skills, like mastering Ableton, and dive into an emotional discussion about physical health as Raven opens up about her intense health scare in 2017. From battling illness to thriving on stage, her story is a testament to resilience and dedication. We also explore her musical influences, from Jen Ledger of Skillet to jazz greats like Elvin Jones and Dave Weckl, and her experience in landing endorsements, including Doc Sweeney Drums and Paiste Cymbals. We hope you enjoy!

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
2:13 Welcome, Raven!
8:39 Forensic Anthropology, Early Years
15:24 College Years and Musical Growth
20:17 Drum Box (Sponsor)
21:00 Studying German Translation
26:42 Drum Supply (Sponsor)
27:42 Choosing Nashville Over Academia
42:49 Groove MPL (Sponsor)
44:00 Musical Inspirations and Influences
55:48 Raven's Favorite Crayon
1:00:47 Endorsements and Networking
1:08:29 Marketing & Social Media for Musicians
1:13:59 Sonique Drums (Sponsor)
1:14:38 Health Journey, Diet & Lifestyle Changes
1:30:22 Music City Audiology (Sponsor)
1:32:40 Learning Songs Quickly
1:38:34 Favorite Local Spots in Nashville
1:42:07 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Groove MPL
https://www.groovempl.com

Sonique Drums
https://soniquedrums.com

Music City Audiology
https://www.musiccityaudiology.com


Connect with Raven:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ravenpfeiffer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raven.pfeiffer.7
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ravenpfeiffer
Website: https://www.ravenpfeiffer.com

Music Featured in this Episode:
"What A View" - Girl Named Tom
"Get A Little Lost" - Girl Named Tom

------
Interview by: Dan Ainspan, Nathan Sletner
Recorded February 2025 in Nashville, TN

Support the show

Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2025 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC