How Aaron Raney Balances Drumming, Playback and Tour Managing for CAIN | Episode 048

Alright, so we're here backstage or side stage I guess I should say. I kinked them bound in Dairy Lake, New York with Aaron Rainey. We filmed the drum gear rundown already, but I also realized we had coffee in September at Kremah and I'll cut right here to show that short time together. But we never really actually got to record like a conversation and you know, hear from you. So, Aaron Rainey, welcome to an official interview. So as you're here, like you know, let me just show this for a second, this is the big leagues I'll call it, playing festivals and stuff like that. Obviously, life doesn't start by being on a big stage. So how did your beginning start? And like did you ever see yourself doing stuff like this? Maybe the dreams were there and maybe not. So gosh, it's early as I can remember and what's up Worship Drumber fam. I'm so pumped to be doing this with you guys and thanks for having me on the channel and on the gram. So yeah, so as early as I can remember, I was sitting on my dad's knee in our small Pentecostal church in rural Texas. He would guide my hands while he played for the service and so that's where it all started. He played an electric rolling kit back in the day. But that was the beginning. That was the love. I just wanted to do whatever he was doing. So, but yeah, he would literally put me on his lap and just tell my hands where to go. And so it grew from there. Once I got into school, I did percussion and studied, you know, for our local bands and middle school and marching band and did all region in all state and some of these competitions that are, I think, our nationwide, but Texas is really serious about these things. And so started building up the musicality side and the educational side of percussion, just drums and so I learned, xylophone and merumba and tempani and all the things that started playing in the band. And then around age 13, 14 right in there, there was a Baptist church in town. So keep in mind, it was part of the Pentecostal church. It was a Baptist church in town. And this guy named Michael Rire and shout out Michael Rire if you ever see this. He gave me my first opportunity to play drums. It was a music camp, a summer camp. And so I was the drummer for that. And what that led into was me playing drums at age 13, 14 for this Baptist church. And it was a full choir. There was like an orchestra. And here I am. I was probably so bad. Oh my gosh. But man, they loved me well and I learned a lot. And about three years went by and I ended up playing at the Pentecostal church, which you gospel musicians out there. You understand how big of a promotion that is. So that's how the drumming, especially in church, started. That was the first chance I got to play in a band and to play with other musicians and to learn the language and to get outside of the sheet music and to actually figure out how to play songs and lead from the drums. So fast forward, ended up going to college on a music scholarship at Baylor and played in a church at Baylor Highland Baptist was the name of that church. Had a great time there. Ended up doing my master's degree in commercial music with a drum set focus at Belmont and Nashville. And the dream when I was at Baylor was to be a marching band, like a marching drumline instructor. I didn't really know this world existed and I didn't really care. I knew that country concerts and pop concerts. But I didn't know much about like traveling touring CCM music. I didn't pay attention. And so there was this girl at Baylor and had Holly Tucker who was on the voice and she was one of the finalists. And I started playing shows with her throughout Texas and it kind of started these wheels turning of, this is fun. Is this a career path? Could I do this? And so several people in my life, my brother and law spencer, a good friend Chris Womack and Waco started pointing me toward Nashville and Belmont and saying hey, you know, there's actually a really good program in Belmont. You should check it out. Well, took the audition. Absolutely. I had no business getting into that program and got into the program and studied two years under Todd London and Chester Thompson and Draco Watson and a good friend of mine who you guys all know and love Garrett Tyler was in that program with me. He and I did the two years together and that guy shout out Garrett, I love you man. He's a walking master class. I mean, he just, he oozes knowledge and you can just become a better person and a better player just by watching him and being around him. So two years with him and two years in that program were irreplaceable. But man, the work didn't stop there. I mean, you graduate and you're not handed a gig. You're not handed a job. And so I waited tables in Nashville. I waited tables at a fancy steakhouse and I just wanted to like, whatever I do, whatever I don't know, it's just shout out to my parents. Whatever I do, I want to be the best at. And so I really dug into the service side of the industry and wanted to be the best waiter and the most wine knowledge and you know, all of these different things and just do really great. And I think the reason I bring that up is I think that led into the tour management side of my brain. I have this service aspect of what I just want to take care of everybody. And so the canes and the crew, like when we're out here, are you guys good? So that kind of, all that to say, no matter what you end up doing along this crazy journey, it has an impact on where you end up in somewhere or another. And that's God, honestly. It's God directing your footsteps and kind of taking you where he wants you to go and setting you up for what's next in your life. But eventually it took an audition in Nashville and landed a gig with a country artist and Chris Bandy for a couple of years. I think I was with him for about three years. We did a lot of country gigs, country festivals, country clubs and late nights, early mornings, that whole thing. It was a blast. I learned a lot there as well and Chris was amazing to work with. And then 2020, just like the rest of the world shut everybody down. And so we got called home from Boston and I sat on the couch for eight months and Logan Kane. Things I'd done with him and filled him with him in the past. But Logan called and said, hey man, we've got a live stream event we're doing for K-Love at the Rhyman. Wow. And this is the middle of 2020. I had nothing else going on. And so you're like, I'm busy. I'm literally like, you could have told me I was taking the trash out at the Rhyman and I would have been there, you know, but to play drums at the Rhyman with good people, like, count me in. So we had an amazing time. That was a lot of fun. Honestly, it was the first time we got played as a band. And so about a week later, their manager called and said, it's cool that you play drums. It's great, but we're really in need of a tour manager. And that was with the moment where I said, you know what, I have no experience in that. But if you're willing to kind of let me fail and earn my wings, like, I'm in. Wow. Cool, you're in, let's go. And so it was just myself and the Canes for most of 2021, traveling the country in rental cars and hotels and gosh, yeah, tough travel. Oh my gosh. Yeah, really earning your teeth and earning your, earn your stripes there. So that's the bond that we built over that time and added a guitarist during that time and eventually added a front of house guy and so that that consistency started to grow. And now we're here today. We have 13 in our crew. Wow. We've got a Penske truck that drove from Nashville to bring us all of our backline gear. I mean, this is cool. We never want to stop growing and stop building and stop learning, but we're grateful for where we are. And I'm really proud of the team that the Canes have built and cultivated and gosh, man, the sky's the limit with these guys. It's been a lot of fun and I continue to learn every day, both the drumming side and and tour management side and I just never say no. You know what? Ask me what I can do or, you know, hey, can you do that and we'll figure it out. Like, let's figure it out together. It's kind of in the moral of the story. So that's really cool. So there's a lot that you said, a lot of good stuff that I'm going to try to circle. I gave you my life's story in about two minutes there. But to try to like circle back a bit, like touring, tour management and being a drummer and I think, I think, I think that's really cool. You said earlier that your MDing as well. Correct. Because I know a lot of drummers who MD, and that's a lot. So how do you balance, like where's the sanity for Aaron in all of that? I want to fast me all the time. Yeah, and like how do you prioritize, like, oh, there's this need happening, but we're maybe about to start sound check. Yeah. And especially at an event like this where you're flying in and figuring stuff out. The most critical part of our crew for me is the backline tech. And whoever that is in that season serves me so well by getting my drum set up and making sure. And I just tell them, if you can get them, I've got it all taped. If you can get them close, I don't expect them to tune. I'm kind of hands on with that anyway. I want to make sure that they sound how I want to be sound. But to get those things out and to set them up and just take care of all the time consuming stuff like today. I didn't touch the stage until about 1115 and we got here at 930. I'm running around making sure green room is all good and we've got tickets to the park for the crew. They want to go ride rides and transportation setup for the for the cane. So I'm busy back here, but I don't have to think about setup. And so by the time that it's time for setup, I walk up and everything is there and I can kind of fine tune things. So that takes a lot of the stress off me there so that I can focus where I'm going back here. And then there are times like today for yourself. You were at the front gate, for example. Tickets weren't nowhere to be found and I'm sound checking and texting the festival director at the same time just going, "Hey, there's my guy, you've got to help him out." And so sometimes those worlds collide and in that moment I have to decide is this something that's going to be detrimental to the show or to the day? Or can I put that on a hold to finish sound check because that's really important too? Yeah. And ultimately the canes have been really great about understanding where that line is and we have very upfront communication. And so if something does come up, I just get on my MD and my economic guys, I've got to step away and take care of this. And they know that I don't abuse that. So if I do step away, they know it's got to be something worth stepping away for. And ultimately, I take it as it comes. I never try to get ahead of myself. And so, yeah, one moment at a time and prioritize as I go. In different moments, different things get the priority. This is what it comes down to. When it comes to the MD side of stuff, was that part of the whole, like, "Hey, if you're going to drum for us, we need you to also do this." It kind of happened organically. And through my knowledge of Ableton. And so I've been running tracks and building our tracks from day one. And naturally because of that, I know the arrangements and I know the progressions and I know the stuff. The most because I'm in it all the time. So when it comes time for rehearsals, I'm coaching the guys on what the arrangement is. And some of these songs I arranged are intro tracks, are any more intro, the rise up intro. There's a modulation in front of Jesus that we just co-arranged altogether. But I'm the one physically with my hands on the rig building that stuff out. And so it's easiest to say, "Hey, this is what we did and I already know. I already know where the stops are and I already know where the breaks are." So it happened naturally in that role. It also helps that tracks are near me so that if something's happening, I can see it coming on the tracks and I can give everybody a. I know exactly what songs next and here we go. But not only that, hey, remember that there's those hits in course three, here we go. Logan remembered to come in on the verse right here. That kind of stuff is all good because it's at my fingertips. And if anybody misses anything, Logan, somebody misses the verse or talks too long or misses their cue or whatever, boom, I've got a cue to send us back a progression and we'll catch it the next time. I can talk us through that. So I think it happened very organically, but mainly just because I'm in the driver's seat of all the tracks and I'm arranging all of these things, it just made it easiest for me to kind of communicate that. I don't think there was ever a meeting that we sat down and said, "Aren you are now, the music director." It just kind of happened from day one where, hey guys, here's the arrangement that we made. Nice. And go from there. You have a sweet playback rig. Yes. Did someone help you build it? Oh my gosh, yes. So Jacob Trunzo, our production manager, builds these things all over. So hey, sameless plug. If you're looking for a solid playback rig, he builds for the best of the best. He just finished one for Steven Sanchez. So he's doing them for everybody. But yeah, it's a couple of play audios. There's a meo in there for our MIDI integration. That way if I want to do for our headline tour, I had triggers around the kit to either do samples or to trigger our tracks. Nice. It was very helpful, a lot of hands off, triggering, getting in and out of loops. And then beyond that, everything is just hard right in. You get the USB/charger department where the computers are all synced up there. Yeah, he's a mad scientist when it comes to that stuff. But it's super clean and the outputs on the back are very clean. It's a great rig. But seriously, if you're looking for a high quality playback rig, Jacob Tronzo, and I don't know, you can DM me on Instagram or something, I'll get you in touch. But we'll figure it out. Does he have a website? We'll link it to go below the video. I don't think he has a website. He's at Jacob Tronzo at Instagram. Okay, so we'll link to that. If you look for him and you can find him, you can find me and I'll get you to the right place. Let's do it. And that's a 10% referral code Jacob. Let's go. So just a couple more questions. One being as a drummer who is playing at a professional level. By the way, is this your main job? This is my main job. Like you're not still working at the steak restaurant. I'm not working at the steak restaurant. I have a side hustle as everybody in Nashville has a side hustle. My side hustle is I make dance music for competitive dance teams. Anywhere from six years old to I did the University of Michigan last year. Just did a mix for the Tennessee Titans. So it's a very wide spectrum. That's cool. So I go home and in between advancing emails, I'm knocking out these dance mixes and mashups. And that's a lot of fun. Yeah. It gives me my creative side. And supplement of income is always great. But yes, outside of that, this is a very pretty much a full time thing. So now at this level of drumming and knowing church world as well. What are some observations maybe you've made or things you see in the next generation that you would love to speak into? It doesn't have to be negative. It could be something good that you see or maybe something where you just want to bring some wisdom to the younger generation. I think one thing that I find myself even falling into and so I know it's got to be a challenge as this social media monster continues to grow. And I think people across the board will speak into this. But the comparison game never gets old. So it's very easy for me even to get on and to watch a video of a fellow drummer or. I mean, can be anybody these days and say, I want to do that. Or like, I wish I sounded like that or I want that chop or I want that gig. Yeah. Whatever it is. And I think with that, it's an easy place to speak from because I am. I have what I wanted. You know, this was a dream for me for so many years and still is every day to get to do this. And so for somebody that isn't in that space yet and still kind of working their way up, it's much harder to ignore those things. But for me, I'm able to turn it off and just say, okay, I'm grateful for what I have. What I am as a drummer and what I am as a musician is good enough. And I don't have to strive. And that doesn't mean I stop learning or stop practicing or stop trying to expand my vocabulary. But I don't have to be what Garrett Tyler is. And Garrett Tyler doesn't have to be what I am. We're able to exist and the drummers and the industry we're able to exist in our own worlds because that's what this particular gig requires. And that's what the music calls for. So I think that among everything that you see in here, just know that you don't have to be what you see. There's a lot of perfection online and that's probably the sixth take that you see of that person. So be confident in what you've got and bring what you have to be able to. Never stop learning, never stop growing, never stop practicing. You can never be great enough. You know what I mean? There's always room to be better. That Tim Buell has a great podcast. You're a good drummer now be better or something like that, something on those lines. I'm sure I've put you that. But yeah, you're good, but you can get better. Yeah. And that's important for me. to remember because it would be very easy for me to get stagnant out here with all that I have going on and never want to improve or never practice or whatever and just because you got the gig doesn't mean you're keeping the gig man. There's a line longer than this theme park of people that would be willing to take this from me and so just be grateful for where you're at what you're having and the grind that it takes to get there because that's part of the journey. Beautiful man. We do a segment to wrap things up. It's called 321. Okay. So I didn't give you a heads up. So there's no sixth take. Oh darn. So basically three drummers. Okay. Two records or albums. Okay. And one scripture verse. Oh dude. Okay. So three drummers that have influenced you and I'll remind you if you need some keys but let's start the three drummers. All right. Three drummers. All right. Carter broford. Yeah. Comes to mind. He was one of the first guys that I man I started watching. I learned to play open handed because of Carter. Yes. You know man I'm not I'm not too proud to say it like what's up my family. How are y'all doing? Listen Garrett Tyler I'll never stop looking up to you. Never stop appreciating what you bring to the table and he is his genuine off stage behind the scenes as he is in person. He was a groom's man in my wedding. Nice. Means the world to me. I love him and Hannah very much but dude can play the drums and you guys know that. So he's I just I love I love watching him play. Love learning from him and I'm and love picking his brand about stuff and then let's see we said Carter. Steve Guads got to be in that list. This is tough because it's only three. Yeah. I had about 15 that I was circling around like who would I put in there. Steve Guads in that list for sure just his style and the linear patterns that he he does so well. Yeah he's he's a he's a mammoth on the comic. So those three. Nice. So that's two records. Yeah two records. Two records. I'm in love with John Mayer's music. Probably where the light ends. It would be the favorite there. And man this is tough because I didn't have time to think about it but I think there's a lot of guys so many dude. There's so many. I've got a record of the 2020 experience at home and love that. So that's an honorable mention. I think the record that I could put on and listen from start to finish and appreciate all of the music and all the songs is um maroon five. Maroon five songs about Jane. Yes. I believe is the record. Yeah. That that produced so many classics. Yeah. Sunday morning and yeah. I mean all the ones. All the ones that I can't think of because I'm I'm flanking but yeah. What a record. Yeah. That's iconic. And then my verse has been man for quite a while. Jeremiah 29/11. World that the Lord is a warrior and he'll he'll go to battle for you and he'll fight your battles for you. So in those moments where you feel like you know you're overwhelmed by what's going on or you don't feel like you can fight this you know issue on your own. The Lord's therefore um capture cares about him you know his his uh his shoulders are broad man he can he can handle it. And so yeah I just don't have to take stuff to him that's what that that's what that verse reminds me of when I get overwhelmed or um you know feel like I'm even in like my personal relationships I feel like I'm in strife for an argument or in a disagreement. I know that I don't have to strive to do anything in that moment that the Lord will go before me and um you know I pray before those conversations that my my words would be clear and the um meditations of my heart would be acceptable you know so um yeah Jeremiah 20/11. Amazing yeah. And then just a few things as we wrap up tonight we're we have a gopher on your kit yeah which thank you by the way just for being super open and giving us access. Yeah. What are some cool moments that we should anticipate tonight from a drummer's perspective? So we hit it pretty hard from the top I mean the first three songs off the top or slam. The play song after the commission called "Made for Heaven" and "Made for Heaven" is a rock and song and it's a lot of fun to play and there's a moment before the last chorus or they do an acapella moment and then I do a big drum fill into that with the hits. So that that'll be pretty cool. I always look forward to that. And then um I can't remember if it's right after that but there's another song called "Trouble" and it might be right after that um that we matched up with the Beatles come together. Uh and so big like swinging four four a lot of triple fills and we do an organ solo and a guitar solo in that song and so by the end of that pass um it is rock. Let's go so um I might break a couple some more sticks tonight but here come struggle. One two three four We're here for it. I always try to not overplay in that moment but man it's it's easy too. Turn turn the triplets to the six-topplets in the 30-second something go around but um we'll see we'll see where the Lord leads tonight. The Pentecostal voice. That's right. Let's go. So that'll be fun but I hope you enjoy that and then oh my gosh the set is a whole I'm really proud of it because I helped design it and build it but uh it's hard it's been it's been fun. This is a 50-minute set tonight. Nice so we uh we pulled out some of the moments that we have in our 90-minute but I feel like we left a lot of the good meat in there so it'll be fun. Awesome and then uh for anyone who wants to follow you yeah you did mention Instagram so yeah where else uh man Instagram's kind of been my I haven't you know taken the dive into TikTok and I don't I don't really know if I will right I got Instagram's enough for me but Instagram's where I'm most active at Rainy Drums R-A-N-E-Y Rainy Drums um yeah and I try to be real responsive there so I love you are by the way I appreciate it. I love questions I love um it's one thing for me I didn't have when I was growing up is somebody that I could look up to and ask and reach out to and so I try to be that as much as I can I try to be a resource um even when I feel like I'm not worthy enough to do that um I am out here I'm doing it I can probably shut some light on you know some stuff that you guys might be dealing with I have questions about and I'm happy to try to shut that with you so um awesome yeah appreciate you guys sweet well Aaron thanks so much for taking time to hang I know it's we've been in the sun for like 20-25 minutes 28 minutes so now we got our vitamin D that's right I'm sure you're gonna get some rest before tonight but we're looking forward to it thanks for the time absolutely thank