Brant Jackson

Drummer playing professionally since 1988, founder of Audio Circus and co-founder of the Twin Cities All-Stars jam with John Sonnek.

Brant Jackson has played drums for a living since 1988, starting right out of high school, and hasn't gone more than three or four weeks without a gig since age 18. The first job was in a Hawaiian show band at a Polynesian restaurant, where the band's leader, a drummer from Tonga, swapped Brant's big sticks for small ones and taught Brant to relax. Brant later played in First Impression, which opened for Slave Raider at the Mankato ballroom, and spent nine or ten years in The Unoriginal Bastards, a covers band formed after years of playing originals. With John Sonnek, Brant formed White Squirrel, a heavy covers band that ran about ten or eleven years. Brant then started Audio Circus about 14 or 15 years ago, first playing pop songs in a metal style, and the band plays everything live with no backing tracks. Brant builds custom acrylic drum kits from ordered shells, cutting the edges and drilling the hardware, and owns three of them. With John Sonnek, Brant co-founded the Twin Cities All-Stars jam, built around signing up songs in advance and mixing musicians who have never played together.

On the Minnesota Music Note

The Minnesota Music Note - Ep 70 - A Lifetime Behind the Drums with Brant Jackson

3w ago

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Fun facts from the interview

Has played drums professionally since 1988.
First paid gig was in a Hawaiian show band at a Polynesian restaurant, with fire dancers and three shows a night.
The band's leader, a drummer from Tonga, taught Brant to use lighter sticks and relax.
First Impression opened for Slave Raider at the Mankato ballroom.
Played nine or ten years in The Unoriginal Bastards, and much of that band went on to form Good for Gary.
Formed White Squirrel with John Sonnek; the name was a joke on White Zombie, White Lion and Whitesnake.
Founded Audio Circus about 14 or 15 years ago and plays a bright green acrylic kit that glows under black light.
Audio Circus plays everything live with no backing tracks.
Builds custom acrylic drum kits and owns three; one is the kit at the All-Stars jam.
First kit was a blue sparkle Gretsch in seventh grade; Brant later wrapped two kits in tiger-stripe fabric to make a double bass set.
First concert was KISS in second grade, and Brant still has a worn-out copy of Destroyer on the wall.
Saw Pantera at First Avenue on free tickets won from Z-Rock, before the band was well known.
Co-founded the Twin Cities All-Stars jam with John Sonnek; the 100th jam was in Stillwater.
Spends Tuesday nights learning the songs signed up for that week's jam.
Recommended guest: Paul Barber, who opened the original Ziggy's in Stillwater.

Rock Drums Metal

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