Review: Fred Armisen presents: Complicated Drumming Technique: Jens Hannemann

Fred Armisen presents: Complicated Drumming Technique: Jens Hannemann
Drag City

Street: 10.23

This instructional DVD showcases the drumming prowess of Jens Hannemann, a Fred Armisen parody of a euro-trash Neil Peart-wannabe (complete with Eddie Vedder hair, a sleeveless sci-fi t-shirt and a soul patch.) Live clips of Hannemann’s mock jazz band are interspersed with song breakdowns and drumming tips. At one point Armisen demonstrates how to count off a 61/4 time signature, and another clip ends in a fantastic tirade of cursing after a drum tech almost loses his hand trying to change a snare. What makes the faux-technical DVD work is how it remains ridiculous, but somehow still true to the genre of instructional video. It can be a little painful to watch in parts, and a bit too long in others, but Armisen’s talent as a drummer holds it together in spots where a simple parody would fall flat. In all, this Drag City release is a great joke and the perfect DVD for a drummer with a sense of humor. -James Bennett