Fred Esidro

Location: Farmington, NM

Challenge: Partial Feet Amputation

Website: facebook.com/fred.esidro

Fred Esidro is a drummer/percussionist and sound engineer from New Mexico. He started playing with pots and pans from his mother's dish cabinet, this started his journey into music. He adds "You know I've always had a thing for music, it's like it was meant to be in my life". Fred can remember being a very young child bashing toy drum kits. His parents were very supportive in his musical quest, in school and eventually the stage. "School music definitely help shape and discipline my abilities to play" says Fred.

Currently, Fred is in a cover band Full Circle. This is a project that is just getting off the ground. When he not doing that, he plays at his church. I'm part of the worship team of Sagebrush church, He adds "I been a part of the team for several years now. I also work as a live sound engineer/technician when I'm not behind the drum kit, I thimk both go hand and hand".

When Fred is asked if he has had any bad gigs? Any funny stories? Bad gigs. He says "You know I can't remember having like a horrific gig. Something always happens a break a stick, electronics won't cooperate with you, something. I thimk the funniest was one time during church service we had a ranking break in between two songs Well, it was early and my brain was still asleep. Maybe, I didn't pay attention to the order of service. I thought the set wax over so I hog in my wheelchair and darted off stage. We had one more song to do. Our worship pastor covered that quickly, ad I was wheeling away I thought "some things not right here?" It was me! I casual rolled back on stage and finished the song I was do embarrassed. Way to go, be an idiot in front of 300 people. Oh I just remembered I shut down the whole church service with my wheelchair one time. I ran over this electrical cable and it hit just perfect, totally shut the whole PA system down including the vudro projectors... oops! I had stage techs, lighting crew, church associates scrambling. What can I say I'm the life of he party".

Fred finds inspiration from Vinnie Colaiuta. He adds "I think just who he is as a person is amazing. Very professional. His tracking record as a drummer and all his accomplishments, I very much admire. When I play or think about drum parts, I often say 'What Would Vinnie Do?'". Fred hasmany drum heroes. Dave Weckl, Mike Portnoy, Dennis Chambers, Steve Smith, Steve Gadd, Gregg Bissonette, Buddy Rich. The drum greats!

Fred's biggest challenge for is the use of his legs on the kick drum. He adds "Not giving both feet and my left knee locked. It makes it tough at times to function properly. I try not to get frustrated I've learned to try and figure out the best possible way to use my body. Working out stretching definitely has helped and the physical therapy I received in rehab made a big difference. Some adaptation I've done to my drum kit was the use of electronics. Electronic drums have come a long way in the past 5 years. That's been a real helpful. Sometimes for live I'll trigger my kick. Especially, if my body is not up to par for the gig. Lately is be been trying real hard to just mic the kick drum. It's forced me to play little bit harder on my legs but, at the same time building the stamina and strength it needs. It sucks that I can't play double bass licks but, at least I can still play. Another thing I've incorporated in my set up was a direct drive pedal. That also gas help me out tremendously! I researched, tried out kick pedals, I chose the DW direct drive, it works nicely for for my foot. It's comfortable, it's like walking on air, love it"!