Hallahan Takes The Relix Ink Blot test at Bonnaroo 2008
Patrick Hallahan and Jim James made a promise to remember: never play in a band together. The two budding musicians felt that dynamic would ruin their friendship.
So James formed My Morning Jacket and Hallahan enrolled at University of Louisville.
However, after the departure of MMJ’s drummer for the second time in four years, James broke the pact and reached out to his childhood friend. Hallahan and James met during the summer heading into fourth grade.
“It took me a couple days to answer,” said Hallahan of his decision to join the band. “I didn’t know what to think.”
Hallahan has been MMJ’s drummer for a decade and his friendship with James could not be any stronger.
My Morning Jacket, which formed in 1998, has slowly ascended to become one of the most popular touring bands with its guitar driven rock ‘n’ roll sound with touches of country, blues and R&B. Bassist Tom Blankenship, keyboardist Bo Koster, and guitarist Carl Broemel round out the rest of the group.
Jambands.com spoke with Hallahan by phone to discuss his drumming style, musical influences, friendship with Jim, as well as MMJ’s plans for 2013.
I’ve seen the band perform live several times, can you tell me about those moments when Jim stands up on the drum kit and faces you while you’re drumming?
Honestly, sometimes I don’t even know he’s there. I’m usually in space a quarter way through the set and I usually don’t come back from space till we’re done. If I feel him up there, it’s just like when Tom gets closer to my stand or if I look over and make eye contact with Bo. It’s just nice to have a union with such close friends and bandmates.
Tell me about your friendship with Jim.
He’s one of my confidantes and closest friends. We’ve been through a lot of life together, so I think we can complete each other’s sentences. I think it’s important in a band scenario to have those kind of relationships because you can put the other person in context if there’s ever any dispute. It helps to have that deep relationship with somebody and that’s happened with the other guys over time as well. Even initially in the band, it was nice to have a pre-existing relationship with the guys and Jim when I joined the band. It alleviates that getting to know somebody process. You just get straight to the arts. Things came together so quickly more than any other band that I’ve ever been in and the relationships have been a catalyst for that.
You and Jim made a pact to never be in a band together because you didn’t want to destroy your friendship. How would you say that being in the band has actually impacted on your friendship?
I think it’s just added another element. I think at times it makes us distance ourselves from one another because we’re around each other all the time. I couldn’t get any closer to him than I already am. I think it’s just added another layer to it. It’s not just a friendship – it’s a lifelong quest, a constant artistic endeavor, a business venture and all points in between.
And you guys have the same look with the long hair and beard. You could be Jim’s stunt double.
He has the hair and the beard like me. You think he invented hair and beard? He’s my stunt double. (laughing)
Before you joined the band in 2002, what were your impressions?
They were like my best friends. I was living with Jim and the drummer at the time J Glenn. I was going to school (University of Louisville) and they were starting the band. I would loan them drum gear for recording stuff. It was just my friend’s band and listening to my friends play.
What were you studying at Louisville?
I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I had what most people would consider “a figure out what he wants to do degree.” I went for a psychology degree with a minor in photography. But I had just been accepted to Middle Tennessee State University for recording and engineering, I was going to study that right before Jim called me and asked me to be in the band. Of course, Jim ignored our pact. (laughing)
When Jim called you, were you excited, shocked?
It took me a couple days to answer. I didn’t know what to think.
You’ve been in the band for a decade. Looking back I’m sure you feel like you made the right decision.
Because it was such a big decision to make at the time, I often think about what my life would be like if I had said, “No,” because it was right there – it was a 50-50 shot. But I have absolutely no complaints. I am so happy with saying “yes,” because it’s been such an amazing journey. It’s a blessing to just sit in a room with those guys and make records and share small spaces on the road and just peel apart the earth one layer at a time.
Some critics have compared you to John Bonham of Led Zeppelin what do you think of that comparison?
I would consider that a compliment and if I hear something like that I’m immediately humbled. He had a major pull on my developmental phase as a drummer.
What other drummers influenced your playing style?
Ringo Starr, believe it or not. I don’t think drummers give him enough credit. He definitely showed people how to play drums in a band and be cool. Also Joseph Lastie Jr. of Preservation Hall Jazz Band. He’s been somebody that has changed my thought process on approaching drumming.
How has he changed your thought process?
He can do more with two pieces than I’ve seen drummers do with 40 billion. And just the overall New Orleans feel — getting to know that and learning accents to rhythm is so interesting and an enriching experience. Now I’m able to hold up Tom a little bit better on an incline because I’m doing a New Orleans stomp. He’s just very inspiring.
Can you talk about the influence of your grandmother Joni Brohm?
She was in a lounge act growing up – like a jazz quartet and she would watch me quite a bit for my mom and my dad. She bought me my first toy drum kit. She had a little playroom in the basement where she would practice with her band, had a stereo and 45s. Our playtime was with music and not with toys. She enriched us with her musical background early on.
Drumming is so physical and the way you drum is so powerful, what do you so your arms can endure such a pounding every night?
I just enjoy it so much. I don’t even know I’m there half the time. It’s more of a meditative thing than me being “Oh my God, I’m playing this song so fast.” I guess I’ll be able to answer that question a little bit better when my arms start killing me. There’s 30 minutes of stretching before shows and usually 15 after. I’ve been soaking my arms with an ice bath after every show just to do some preliminary fighting against carpal tunnel and I try to get a massage every once in a while just to stay loose.
In an interview you once said, when you play the drums, you don’t see rhythm structures, you play to guitar melodies in your head, can you explain?
I was a guitarist before I was a drummer, so whenever I hear a song and really moved by something, I play air guitar. The melody is what I hear up in front, but I said that a long time ago and since then I’ve been studying rhythm patterns. Now, I’m married to both. I love accenting guitar solos, building up with them instead of laying back and playing the same drum beat. I feel it’s more exciting when everybody is following each other and that’s what I’ve come to realize more.
Why do you think the fan base continues to grows?
I wish I had an answer for that because I’m so thankful for it. I just feel that we’re kind of a grass roots band to begin with. We’ve been blessed with a slow incline so far and our fan base has kind of mimicked our career. I guess that they just see five guys that love what they do, love each other and are excited to be doing this for a living. I hope the love that we feel up on stage is felt out in the crowd.
And finally, what can fans look forward to in 2013?
We’re booking studio time right now. We’ll be cooking up a new album over the summer and fall.
Any idea of what direction you guys might go with this album?
I think we’re just going to get together and do what we do. My guess is that we’ll record it live again, change up the venue and location and go have some fun for a few months.
