After the Gig Newsletter - “We’re Going in a Different Direction”
Why Musicians Need to Build Something of Their Own
Morning Thoughts
What is it about being a dad and needing to have the best lawn on the block? I’ve been on the road most weekends, but the moment I get home—you KNOW I’m mowing that lawn. You KNOW I’m grabbing Turf Builder from Lowe’s, loading up on brown mulch, and giving those garden beds a full blown makeover.
I’M NEVER GONNA STOP!
Whoa. Got a little carried away there.
But seriously—if you're reading this, I'd love to know what you want from this newsletter. What do you like? What would you love to see more of? Hit reply or leave a comment—I want to hear from you.
Now… speaking of getting carried away—have you been following the drummer drama lately? Between Josh Freese and Zak Starkey, I’ve been thinking a lot about just how fragile a music career can be—and why musicians need to build something of their own.
We’ve been seeing a lot of shake ups in the music world lately. The personnel carousel is spinning fast—Josh Freese reportedly fired from the Foo Fighters, the ongoing saga with The Who’s drummer Zak Starkey... it’s a reminder of just how fragile this work can be.
I honestly didn’t think it was possible for someone like Josh to get let go. He’s not just qualified—he’s overqualified. And yet, with no warning, just a phone call: “We’re going in a different direction.”
That worst-case scenario? It’s always on the table. For anyone. Which is why it’s so important to have ownership over some part of your musical life.
As a drummer in a band, I know how rewarding it is to be part of something greater than yourself. When a group functions as more than the sum of its parts, it feels like a family—a brotherhood, a sisterhood, a shared pursuit. That’s something worth fighting for.
But let’s not ignore the flip side. Being a hired gun can be a fast track to arenas, stadiums, private jets, green M&Ms, and endless flex-worthy Instagram posts. And yet, it only takes one person to end it. The person who created the thing. The person who signs the checks. The one who can tell you, without warning: “We’re going in a different direction.”
It’s a tough truth: both paths take immense work and dedication. But only one of them puts you in charge of your destiny. When you create the thing—you write the songs, own the masters, get the sync deals, build the team—you reap the benefits. And you take the blame when things fall short. It's on you if the songs don’t get written, the sessions don’t happen, or the right people don’t get hired.
Now, not everyone’s wired for that. I’ve never been a bandleader myself. It’s an intense job—music is only a piece of it. You’re also booking, networking, budgeting, managing schedules... all while trying to stay creative. It’s a lot. It takes support. I sure didn’t understand that when I started at Berklee, and it didn’t click overnight. Those were hard lessons.
The most important thing? Know your role. If you’re hired for a specific job—do it well. Be a great teammate. Learn the musical language of the person in charge (trust me, they all speak it differently), and speak it fluently.
And if you’re in a band or collective, you’ve got to walk the tightrope of creative tension. There’s a line between pushing for the best outcome and becoming “difficult to work with.” Healthy conflict can lead to great art—but it’s not always easy.
I love Rick Rubin’s approach: when two collaborators strongly disagree on where a song should go, don’t dig in. Step back. Find a third option—or take a break. That kind of flexibility is essential if you want to stay in the game long term.
So what’s the point of all this?
A professional musician needs ownership. Whether it’s writing, producing, publishing, or building something else—you need to own part of your career. Being the best player in the world doesn’t guarantee security. You can be the nicest person in the room, a rock-solid player, the perfect fit on paper—and still get cut loose.
The only way to protect yourself is to build something of your own.
Keep showing up. And whatever happens, you’ll be just fine.
Those are my ramblings for today. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead!
Best,
Jesse
I was expecting your thoughts on the Freese situation. I like your take on things. Finding ownership in a potentially fickle business is solid advice.
Having just seen him lighting things up on stage the night prior to the announcement, it was a shock. And I’m not here to look too deep into the FF drama of recent months, but 🧐, different direction, my Aunt Fanny.
I do hope that Josh can impart his wisdom on John Hoffman, another freelance drummer, stepping in to big shoes in Primus.
Also! Don’t go too crazy on the lawn care. Save the bees, my friend!
When I saw the title of your newsletter, I hoped that it was not about Carbon Leaf. I love your music and would hate to see the band fall apart.
I do agree about the need for one to own their career. That ownership of one’s career is critical as it shows how serious you are about your career.