Scott Begin – An Xperience Interview

Scott Begin – An Xperience Interview – by OP Callaghan.

This month’s Capital Region Time Keepers is going to the beach!

On a recent family vacation to the great state of Rhode Island, I was fortunate enough to catch a performance by Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime. My lovely wife had seen them as a teenager, and my sister-in-law has a friend who was kind enough to bring us out for one of the most fun nights of music that I’ve had in a while. I was lucky enough to meet the drummer for Badfish, Scott Begin, so this month we’re going to feature an out-of-towner!

Badfish, formed in 2001 at the University of Rhode Island by a few computer science majors, quickly became a popular tribute act playing the music of Sublime. The show was a non-stop party, and it was clear that the guys in the band love their work. Scott’s drumming is an eclectic mix of funk, ska, jazz, and jam band that not only drives an impressive performance, but literally sets the stage for a celebration. Scott and the rest of Badfish are a talented bunch who open their arms for the audience and make each and every one of us a part of the show. So, let’s welcome Scott Begin of Badfish!

RRX: Hi Scott! Thanks for taking time out to do this. How did you get started as a drummer?

SB: I was in about fifth grade—around 10 or 11 years old—when I first got serious about drumming. My father was a drummer, so there was always a kit in our basement. I’d watch him play along to Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, Hendrix, Black Sabbath—classic records. Eventually, I decided to follow in his footsteps. I cranked up the music, put on headphones, and started playing along to the rock, hard rock, heavy metal, and hair metal I was into at the time. Before long, I wanted to join bands of my own—meeting other musicians in high school and setting up jam sessions, just to play music together.

RRX: Did you take lessons?

SB: I took lessons early on, probably in junior high, from Tom Desaulniers, a great drummer who gave me a solid foundation. He introduced me to legends like John Bonham, as well as jazz drummers, and taught me the fundamentals that shaped the player I am today.

RRX: Nice introduction! Who else are you influenced by? Any favorite players?

SB: Early on: John Bonham, Bill Ward, Mitch Mitchell. Later, drummers like Jeff Porcaro, Stewart Copeland, Chad Smith, Billy Cobham, Steve Gadd, and many others. My influences range from rock to jazz to fusion. I’ve never been obsessed with technical drumming, though I appreciate it and have a few tricks. I’ve always considered myself more of a groove drummer, which has helped me adapt to different genres—everything from metal and hardcore to hip hop, and now the rock-reggae style of Badfish. In high school and college, I studied percussion more seriously, playing in ensembles and taking lessons in sticking, polyrhythms, and other technical aspects. But most of my growth came from playing countless gigs and learning on the job.

RRX: Do you come from a musical family?

SB: I come from a musical family. My dad played as a hobby, my mother and grandfather loved singing, and both of my younger brothers have played instruments over the years. Music was always part of our lives.

RRX: Do you play any other instruments?

SB: Yes—guitar and keyboard, mostly self-taught. I’m not a lead player, but I can work out chords and play along. These skills have helped me when writing music. In the future, I’d like to improve at both instruments now that I’ll have more time.

RRX: Tell me about your first drum set.

SB: My first kit was my father’s—supposedly a Rogers set, though I later realized it might have been a knockoff. My first “real” kit was a Tama Rockstar four-piece with a striking orange, coral-like wrap. It stood out compared to the typical black or white kits of the late ’80s and early ’90s. I played it at countless gigs, from early high school bands to more serious projects.

RRX: I have a set of those early Tamas, but not orange! What are you playing now?

SB: Today I have a DW Collector’s Series kit I’ve owned for 25 years—mostly for recording—and an SJC custom kit I designed for live shows. It’s an aqua blue mother-of-pearl wrap with gold hoops, and it gets a lot of compliments. I have it set up with a timbale next to the hi-hat and two floor toms, which works well for Sublime’s music.

RRX: I really like that setup, with the timbale up front. As a drummer, it’s the first thing I noticed. Tell me about your first band/gig.

SB: My first band was called Mind Scream. Our first “real” gig was at a rented social club in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. We co-headlined with a heavy metal band, put up flyers around school, and actually drew a decent crowd. It was a great early lesson in promotion—seeing that if you put in the work, people will show up. I don’t remember how we sounded, but it was definitely a trial-by-fire experience.

RRX: Tell me about your time with Badfish.

SB: I met our original bass player, Joel Hanks, at URI. We started jamming, and the idea for a Sublime tribute band came up. Joel knew a singer, Dave Ladin, who joined us, and we booked what we thought might be a one-off show at the Ocean Mist in Matunuck, Rhode Island. We plastered flyers everywhere, built up buzz, and the turnout blew us away.

We started playing more shows while still in school, expanding to Providence, Boston, and eventually New York. After graduation, we saw the growing demand for Sublime’s music—especially since Bradley Nowell had passed in 1996, giving the band a cult-like status. At the time, we were the only group out there playing it live. Tribute bands weren’t as common or respected then, but we took it seriously and built a reputation.

Over the years, we’ve toured nationwide, playing 100–130 shows a year, including festivals and major venues. For a tribute band, I think we’ve done pretty well.

RRX: Tell me about a great gig experience. What made that particular show special?

SB: One highlight was an outdoor show in Buffalo about 10 years ago—around 30,000 people. Even though it was a free town event (so we can’t take all the credit!), the energy was incredible. We’ve also shared the stage with bands like Steel Pulse, the Wailers, and Goldfinger, which is always special.

RRX: Future plans?

SB: I’ll be stepping off the road with Badfish at the end of September, but will still handle band and business management. I’d also like to explore opportunities in tech, spend more time with my family, and work on music in a more intentional way—studying drums, improving at guitar and keyboard, and taking on local or creative projects I couldn’t fit into a heavy touring schedule.

Touring has been a huge part of my life, and while I’ll miss it, I’m excited for a new chapter and grateful for the lifelong friends and “family” I’ve made along the way.

RRX: Thanks for talking with me today! It’s been a blast, and I really enjoyed the show. For those of you who haven’t seen Badfish, do yourself a favor and check out their live set, or check out www.badfish.com.

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