6 minute read

Sean O'Rourke

STILL DRUMMING

By Sarah Algoe

For local drummer, producer, and engineer Sean O’Rourke, playing music has never been a choice - It's in his blood.

Heinz Stadium PA

“It’s what I do best,” he explains. “My grandfather played. I still have his drums from when he played in Jersey City in the ‘30’s. He had his own band, Jimmy O’Rourke and the Coconut Grove Orchestra, and his own radio show. Family lore tells that he had an 18-year-old Frank Sinatra singing for him when he was first starting out. He put a pair of sticks in my hand when I was just a wee one, and I’ve been playing drums for as long as I can remember.”

From playing in marching band and drum corps in high school, to traveling with a rock band and a truck full of gear immediately after graduating, music has “always been a career” for O’Rourke. “Back in the ‘80’s you could make a living - there were clubs in the Atlanta scene where you’d be able to set up and play Tuesday through Saturday every night. Some weeks I’d play seven nights straight, and that went on for years.”

Loud Jams Nashville

He describes drumming as a physical release. “After shows, I’ve been told that I drum like my life depends on it. One time a guy came up and said, ‘Yeah, uh, me and my friend have decided that if you weren’t playing drums you’d probably be in jail,’” He laughs.

After moving to Key West from 1989 to 1993, he returned to Atlanta to find the scene completely changed. “It was all one-nighters. I found myself freelancing, and I’d be playing with different musicians every week and different clubs every night. I just wound up freelancing for years. Since it was now a land of one-nighters, there were a lot of throw-together bands, and I would be the first call for a bunch of musicians. I was able to show up to a gig not knowing the material, knowing the thousands of songs I know, be able to listen and anticipate what was gonna happen, and make it believable.”

On The Tonight Show with Sugarland

In 1996, the tours began. “I went out on the road with a band called the Aquarium Rescue Unit, which is a pretty famous jam band. Jam bands were really hittin’ it back then. The Grateful Dead started it - Phish, John Popper, Jazz is Dead, Widespread Panic. The Aquarium Rescue Unit was one of the first to do that kind of thing. I did a record with them that got me a four star review in Modern Drummer.”

Following a long career of touring with artists including Derek Trucks (The Allman Brothers), Sugarland, and Mother’s Finest, in addition to appearances on Martha Stewart, The Tonight Show, and Good Morning America, O’Rourke has settled in and made his home in Columbus.

Fighting Irish

Currently the manager of The Loft studio, O’Rourke spends his time “painting an aural picture” for local musicians. “I really enjoy recording and mixing and producing,” he explains. “I always paid attention to signal flow and how things were set up. I’m a mechanic at heart - I build cars. In recording studios, I’ve always asked questions of the engineer so that when recording and mix time came, I was there for the mix of almost every record that I was involved with.”

Bridgestone Arena Nashville with Sugarland

“I can be more than just the drummer,” he continues. “I can add production value to the overall record, which extends my abilities. I really like that, and it just so happens that a lot of my clients are guitar players. I just came out with a new record with a guy named Doug Webb that I’m SUPER proud of. It’s called The Journey of Mr. Melodious. It’s an AWESOME record.”

Daughter Saige, Sean & Wife Patti

O’Rourke has managed to build a beautiful family, despite his busy career. He and his wife Patti have created a wonderful life together in Columbus, and their daughter, Saige, is “kicking butt” in college at UT Knoxville - “She’s our miracle baby, and our pride and joy.”

From a teenage club musician in the ‘80’s ripping face seven nights a week, to a renowned professional producer, mixing engineer, drummer, and family man, O’Rourke’s musical career has aged like fine wine. “When I was 19 and playing in a club in Atlanta with my first rock band, I was playing my butt off - Rush and Genesis - playing as many notes as we could. I was into all the uber-chops drummers, and I was such a cocky teenager. I walked off the stage all puffy-chested, like ‘Man we just KILLED it!’ A guy comes up to me and says, ‘Man you sound great! Just one thing - just because a guitar player takes a solo, doesn’t mean you have to.’”

While On Tour With Mother’s Finest

He’s still got that energy today, “Here I am in my 50’s, and I’m still telling that story. Now I can still play all that stuff, but I don’t, because I don’t have to. I am totally happy just playing a bass drum and a snare - I have nothing left to prove. Been there, done that.”

O’Rourke plays with many local artists and bands, and you can catch him live at the 2023 Spring & Summer Concert Series Kickoff Weekend on May 5th with Mother’s Finest and Neal Lucas. To learn more about his impressive discography and recent projects, you can head on over to seanorourke.com.

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