My Percussion Setup for Bill Miller

I’ve received a lot of questions about my setup for the televised performance on PBS with Native American artist Bill Miller, so I dug up some photos taken from the stage during soundcheck:

Ken Lingad’s percussion setup for Bill Miller at The Caverns for The Caverns Sessions Festival

From left to Right:

1. Authentic Pueblo Indian ceremonial drum

2. Tambourine mounted to DW foot pedal

3. Stage Front: authentic traditional powwow drum from the Black Eagle Singers (Jemez Pueblo)

4. Main Gon Bops Cajon - Alex Acuna model

5. 2nd Gon Bops Cajon - also Alex Acuna model, which doubles as a flat surface for easy access to my Schlagwerk Studio Shakers set or other items

6. Latin Percussion Tambourine and custom Reunion Blues stick bag

7. I use different drum mats, depending on the scale of my setup. The one pictured is my small drum mat by Protection Racket. I never — ever — leave it to the backline buyer to supply it because drum equipment creeping out of my foot range sucks.

Not pictured: Yamaha Peter Erskine Signature 10’ x 4” Snare Drum - I typically place this in front of me, or to the immediate left of my Hi Hat stand on my drum kit setup.

Although Bill Miller’s stage plot calls for two monitors in front of me, I typically use at least one floor monitor on my left side, which I prefer over my in-ears.

The only mic I specifically demand on my rider is the Shure Beta-52 for my large powwow drum (same for my bass drum when using a full kit) and one for the port of my main cajon — sometimes I add a Shure SM57 to the front of the cajon to capture more nuances in my playing.

Another side note that answers questions about the other sounds (cymbal splashes, sound effects, etc.) the audience hears: I vocally generate different percussive sounds through my vocal mic (a mix of my own educational techniques and Konnakol — the rhythmic spoken-word style of South Indian music), in addition to my harmony vocals.

Audience-facing view - note the “Flying Free” eagle and Zia Pueblo symbolism painted on the powwow drum skin

A fan shot this video of us performing GHOST DANCE by Bill Miller at the world-famous Caverns venue

I hope this helps. If you want to see my full drum kit rider click HERE.

For a select list of my go-to drum gear, click HERE.

Broadcast TV Premiere of Bill Miller and Ken Lingad at The Caverns Sessions Festival

The long-anticipated TV broadcast of The Caverns Sessions Festival featuring the Bill Miller Band premiered on PBS station affiliates around the world in honor of Native American Indian Heritage Month in the USA. Check local listings for repeat air dates or stream it on the PBS website or app.

Our headline show at the annual festival sold-out and I am also proud to be among the previous acts that have done the same there: Jason Isbell And the 400 Unit, Brandi Carlile, Old Crow Medicine Show, Gov't Mule, St. Paul and The Broken Bones, Steve Earle, Ozomatli, and others!

While the TV program only shows 24 minutes of footage, I will post other videos from the performance on my official Instagram account @IamKenLingad at a later date. -KL

Bill Miller Band: L-R - Doug Bossi, Andrew Steeno, Ken Lingad, Bill Miller Photo: Michael Weintraub

Bill Miller Band SELLS OUT The Caverns Sessions Festival

Was so honored to share the stage with my client, Bill Miller, for his SOLD OUT appearance at The Caverns Sessions 2023 Festival! Bill asked me to handle the percussionist duties, while my brother from the ‘Burque days, Doug Bossi, was tapped to shred his electric 6-string, and the HUGE audience loved everything about it!

I was humbled, blessed, and honored to be entrusted with the sacred traditional powwow drum of the GRAMMY award-winning Black Eagle Singers from the Indian Pueblo of Jemez to bring my BOOM to the beats — for our Native American Dance Troupe and the sold-out crowd in the majestic venue.

Our performance will be broadcast internationally on The Caverns Sessions on PBS in Fall 2023.

Photos: Michael Weintraub

Bill Miller and Ken Lingad Featured Performance at 29th Folk Alliance International Conference

Over the course of the last few years, many of the artists I manage enlist me to accompany them on-stage, in addition to the business executive duties I perform. It was certainly more of my pleasure than usual, having performed an intimate set with 3-time GRAMMY-winner Bill Miller for the 29th Folk Alliance International Conference in Kansas City, Missouri last weekend!

It all started when Aengus Finnan, Executive Director of Folk Alliance International (FAI) called me in early October, 2016, to discuss their sponsoring a special performance and panel to feature Bill Miller. This was not a typical request for FAI to make because they offered to partner with 1680Entertainment to sponsor his entire participation (FAI Official Showcase Artists always pay their own expenses: travel, lodging, membership dues, etc.) in the conference events as a "headline" artist.

Bill and I hit the road in my War Pony last Thursday morning, departing from Nashville with a Yeti mug full of hot coffee and an iPod programmed to shuffle. We hit the ground running as soon as we entered the lobby of the Westin, and continued to field press interviews, photo ops, and the like, until late into the evening.

Friday morning started with a pop-up recording session sponsored by Sweetwater Sound. Bill and I recorded a few tracks live, with no dubbing, with some of the tracks featuring his legendary Native Flute playing. I can't wait to release them later...

We had what I have been saying was "THE BEST LUNCH EVER" at Anton's Taproom and Restaurant, so next time you are in Kansas City, Missouri, visit them here. You can see what we enjoyed on 1680PR's Instagram - you won't believe that meat!

Bill and I performed an extended set on Friday evening for a standing-room-only crowd. It was the first larger-scale appearance the legendary talent has fielded since his brush with death last year, and he was DEFINITELY in rare form. One fan later said he "still has goosebumps" because of the all-encompassing beauty that Bill's music evokes...

Our featured appearance on the "Indigenous Gathering" Official Panel was an absolute joy to experience, and concluded our FAI Events schedule. So many brilliant sparks of dialog were jumpstarted - I do hope we will continue them for future generations!

STAY TUNED FOR VIDEO AND PICTURES IN A FUTURE UPDATE...

The Roosevelts to be Featured on Hit TV Series NASHVILLE - Again

My personal management clients, The Roosevelts, will be prominently featured on the hit TV series, NASHVILLE – again.

While avoiding any spoilers for fans of the show, I can say that The Roosevelts will be featured in connection with the series lead character, Rayna Jaymes, in a featured spot. This marks the second time in one year the TV series’ brass tapped the band’s well of talent, and we are all quite proud that both ABC Television and CMT (the new home for the series) have taken serious notice of The Roosevelts’ unique musical voice.

You can see The Roosevelts on the season premiere of NASHVILLE on January 5th, 2017, on CMT.

Recognition and demand of The Roosevelts’ sound across the US was significantly boosted during 2016 with placements in two pop culture broadcast juggernauts. Featured on the band’s first full-length album, The Greatest Thing You’ll Ever Learn, tracks “This Is Life” (featured on ABC TV’s hit series NASHVILLE) and “Ashes” (recently featured on Netflix hit series The Ranch) are among the most popular singles found via the Shazam music locator mobile app, and streaming services such as Pandora.

Indie-Rock Act The Roosevelts at Austin City Limits Festival

Touring in support of their recent full-length album drop, The Greatest Thing You’ll Ever Learn, Ken Lingad's personal management clients, The Roosevelts, performed an incendiary set on stage of the prestigious Austin City Limits Festival last weekend!

A “live” band if there ever was one, this year found The Roosevelts completing a run of at-capacity tour dates and one-nighters with Robert Earl Keen, Green River Ordinance, and Grace Potter; a featured spot at the BMI Songwriters Festival in Key West; and hard-earned feature spots at world-famous, tastemaker festivals Austin City Limits Festival, and South by Southwest (SXSW).

The Roosevelts’ show experience always provides a rousing, dance-worthy compilation of songs, but also features poignant tunes that scale the depth of their personality and communicate their story with remarkable power. Having a charismatic ability to connect with fans, and a delightful set of songs, concert-goers can’t help but smile – making The Roosevelts a band that music fans of any genre can’t afford to miss.

ABOUT THE NEW ALBUM

Currently touring in support of their first full-length release, The Greatest Thing You’ll Ever Learn, The Roosevelts have surpassed the popular cult-following status they achieved with their freshman effort, earning a distinctive spot on the stage of the Austin City Limits Festival 2016 along with heavyweight acts such as Radiohead, Mumford & Sons, Kendrick Lamar, Cage The Elephant, Young The Giant, Band of Horses, and Willie Nelson.

Released earlier this year and already featured in Hollywood’s top TV shows, such as NASHVILLE and Netflix’s The Ranch, The Greatest Thing You’ll Ever Learn peaked at #5 on the iTunes charts.

See The Roosevelts Latest Video Single

See the latest video single release, Belly of the Beast, by my personal management clients, The Roosevelts! Make sure to turn this up LOUD!

Signed Hardback Editions of Bestselling Book Contemporary Native American Artists Available Now

Get your signed copy of the landmark book about Ken Lingad's Artist Management success, Contemporary Native American Artists (Gibbs Smith Publishing), in the Books and Records Store today!

Now in its 3rd printing, the bestselling book takes readers into Ken Lingad's world of high-end fine art dealing, while profiling a select roster of the most famous Native American fine artists under his specific direction and guidance: Jody Naranjo, Kevin Red Star, Malcolm Furlow, Rhett Lynch, Fritz Casuse, Upton Ethelbah, Jr., Jhane Myers, and more.