Backstage Pass with... Jordan Elder
Jordan Elder: Playing Drums and Digging Music
By: Nicole Roberge
If one were to go to the bio page of the Graham Colton Band website and click on drummer Jordan Elder’s bio, they would simply find “I play drums…and I dig music.” While this is seemingly true, there is a lot more to this extremely talented young musician. At the ripe old age of 21, Elder has already proved himself as a talented drummer and his band has performed with such notable acts as John Mayer and the Counting Crows.
It is not often that I go to see a band and am immediately stuck by the prowess of the drummer, as I was in Elder’s case. But for someone so young, Jordan Elder certainly has the talent and musicianship to keep him in this business for a long time, and he can be highly revered as one of the best young drummers performing today.
Tuned In Music: When did you first start playing drums?
Jordan Elder: My dad was a drummer, but he liked to leave his kit stored away unless he was playing it. Ever time that he got it out he would let me bang around a bit, but my legs were not long enough to reach the foot pedals. So I couldn’t play the full kit. My time on the kit with my dad is one my best memories of playing drums. He usually kept the drums in my bedroom closet, so when the day came when I felt tall enough to get them out myself, I did. I guess at five or six I started playing them myself, but it was at two or three that I had an interest in them.
TI: Did you always want to be in a touring band, or did you have other plans when you were younger?
JE: I grew up playing in bands with my friends, and we always had dreams of being on the road, MTV, making records, and playing in front of tons of people. I never thought it would happen to me or to any of my friends. I’m not saying this in a negative way. But being in a rock and roll band is something everybody would want to do. Even people who don’t play music. I’ve met rock stars that don’t play a lick of music.
I feel very blessed to be doing what I do, I’m thankful. But it wouldn’t have killed me if I had to go to school and work a day job. I love playing music. If I were a doctor, I would still have music.
TI: How did you get started in the Graham Colton Band?
JE: I met a friend of Graham’s at a Waffle House. It was after one of his acoustic shows. He gave me Graham’s number and we were playing two weeks later.
TI:
What has been your best experience with the band?
JE: Recording a record with Graham and the rest of the guys was the coolest experience with the band. What made it so cool was doing the record with Brendan O’Brian. I grew up listening to records he made.
TI: What was it like for you signing to a major label?
JE: To me it just kind of happened so fast, it didn’t feel like a huge deal. We had been touring so much that it didn’t feel huge or small it just felt like we had worked for it and we deserved it.
TI: Would you like to play with other styles of music?
JE: I love almost every type of music. I do love to venture off into other styles when I’m home or at sound checks. I think Ryan (Tallent) and I are starting a polka speed punk band (joke). I do like polka music. I would like to learn more about electronic music because I love to listen to it. I would also love to play in other groups.
TI: Who is your favorite drummer?
JE: I really don’t
have a favorite group. I love all the old stuff. I do have a few favorite
drummers. Keith Moon, Ringo, Pete Yorn (he is a drummer), John Bonham And Dave
Grohl.
TI: Who have you most enjoyed touring with?
JE: I loved touring with Counting Crows.
TI: What is the hardest thing about being a drummer?
JE: Well that is easy—load in and load out!
For more information on Jordan Elder and the Graham Colton Band, visit www.grahamcoltonband.com
