When he's not drumming with the jam-rockers of the Disco Biscuits, Georgia's Allen Aucoin morphs into DrFameus, a cross between a DJ and a one-man band. Though the Biscuits pepper their songs with flecks of electronica, DrFameus dives deep into the genre, pairing killer breakbeats with live drum solos. DrFameus visits the Inferno Friday, Feb. 17. I spoke with him about his first solo show in Madison and his upcoming trip to the studio.
How would you describe the sound of a DrFameus show?
It's a DJ-esque vibe with lots of live drums. I have a MIDI controller that I use to work my way through different loops and different styles of electronic music, from dubstep and trance to drum-n-bass and breakbeats. I try to keep it as electronic as I possibly can.
How do you tailor the music to the crowd?
I have a couple of set lists and ideas about how the night could go. For example, I can try out a block of dubstep or drum-n-bass loops and see how the room responds. If they're really into a particular sound, like if they're dancing a lot, I'll groove on it a bit longer. So there are a few paths I can take, kind of like a Choose Your Own Adventure book.
Because you're a drummer and a DJ, beats are a big part of your craft. Why's it important to have a good sense of rhythm?
If you're playing with a band, you need to respond to what the guitarist and the bass player are doing and keep the groove going. In a lot of Latin music, there's a clave that runs through the songs. It's like the metronome, or the pulse of the music. It makes all of the other instruments come together and sound seamless. Whether you're drumming or DJing or playing a clave, that's what you want to do.
What's next for you?
I've been working on some tracks with Drizno, a buddy from Georgia who's a DJ and producer. We're going to hit the road later this year, and I'm hoping to have a new EP ready to go in the spring.
