About Tony

 

Hi, I'm Tony 'Madfingers' McBride

I'm a drummer  who has played many diverse types of music. ..using many different types of percussion.

And I'm a creator of drum and percussion loop libraries.

 I've performed in  multitude of styles ranging from metal to Jazz, from Rag-time to Pipe Band. Drumkit, pipe band side drum, or snare drum, and washboard rig are my go to instruments.  

 I've studied drums for many years,  receiving pipe band and drum kit instruction from educator John Fishero of PIT, and Schotts and Dykehead alumni circa Alec Duthart,   J Reid Maxwell, lead side for SFU Pipes and Drums. I'm currently studying under Grade 1 side drummer and adjudicator David Fells of the City of New Westminster Pipes and Drums.

Here is Dave leading the drum salute we placed in at the Campbell River Highland Gathering Aug 2023

From Left to right is Martin: tenor, Brendan, Liam, David Fells, Chris and then myself: side drum, with Daniel on Bass drum on my right.

   I believe that getting around someone who you find to be incredibly passionate about something you love, is the best way to learn! It always rubs off onto you!

Back throughout my high school years in the early 80's  I was active with my kit drumming, playing Stage Band under the guidance of Dave Proznick. Probably the best way to begin learning swing jazz for your average 13 year old is to go through a really good Stage band program. Dave was one of the best teachers in the Lower Mainland, who would win an amazing amount of festivals.  Dave would drill Ensemble Ensemble Ensemble into all his students, ,....producing the overall sound, ....paying attention to the mix as you play.

More recently I've performed Blues with Papa King and the Boogiemen here in the North West.

I've performed in many very good original music projects as well over the years from punk to metal to progressive, even jazz of course. But I think the most fun I've had recently in a small group would have to be the Genuine Jug Band, with  whom I performed for twelve years 

Ragtime Jazz of the late 1800's to late 1920's era was performed with tenor guitars, banjos, gut bucket bass , and a good washboard player, if I do say so myself. There often were some wonderful woodwind accompaniments as well.

Then I came across this a few years ago......frankly, I'm sorta flattered, but there are and have been a lot of talented and dedicated musicians , washboard players, who are or were each amazing in their own unique way over the years.

 The top five washboard players! ( in case you wanted to know...)

 

 

 Very regrettably, In late 2019, the band's leader Professor Douglas Fraser regrettably passed on. Obviously, without Douglas, Terry and |I have decided to move on to other things.

Recording and producing loops and sounds have been an enjoyment of mine for a long time. In the past I have produced custom packs, one of which I sold privately almost twenty years ago to a sound designer at DreamWorks in California.

 I recently have been supplying organic percussive loops to a bass music producer friend of mine exclusively, Occizor.

here are samples of Madfingers recorded beats featuring washboard and drums mixed together, offering a unique sound pretty much exclusive to my organic take on fresh new organic percussive rhythms.

https://soundcloud.com/tony-mad-fingers-mcbride

I want to bring a unique fresh new approach to beats. I know AI is just around the corner , but in an attempt to combat the upcoming onslaught of humans verses AI, I would like to offer a more rhythmic organic take on beats. I recorded everything personally on these files. what I believe I offer is a new sound, a unique sound, a sound that no AI music application can yet render on their own. Hopefully offering producers a way, being however significant, to be a step ahead of the new Competition.

I am open to collaborating with other producers to help give their music something no other producer at this time possesses, a MADFINGERS beat. A mixture of drumkit and washboard rig.

I like to refer it to, progressive washboard.

I can be reached through madfingersmcbride@outlook.com

Thankyou, 

Tony Madfingers McBride September 2024