@sweetwater Gives Us a Backstage Pass to Between the Buried and Me

Tommy’s Tightrope Walk: Mastering the Korg Nautilus

Tommy Rogers doesn’t just play keyboards; he commands them like a sleek director of chaos. He’s rocking the Korg Nautilus, a beast of a keyboard that he describes as the best he’s ever had on stage. With its touchscreen and programming prowess, Tommy navigates through his set with the ease of a pub brawler who knows exactly where he’s swinging. The Korg does the heavy lifting, allowing Tommy to focus on creating transitions you could only dream of. Sweetwater caught up with him using it to sample sounds right out of their studio tracks, proving once again that this keyboard is a proper geezer in the live setting.

"This Korg Nautilus is the best keyboard I've ever had on stage."

Paul Waggoner’s Guitar Odyssey

"We play for two and a half hours on this set, two albums, "Como Ecliptic" and "Alaska.""

Paul Waggoner takes us on a tour of his guitar domain, a place where the Kemper Profiler reigns supreme. This isn’t just any metalhead’s playground, but an intricate realm of sonic patches crafted for their live gigs. Waggoner brings his Ibanez signature model to the table, a gut-punching instrument that oozes classic punk defiance. Together with his dedicated wah and volume pedals, Paul delivers a direct feed to the front of house, bypassing bulky cabs for a stripped-down, visceral experience to rival any legendary gig. Portable, yet power-packed, this setup ensures he’s always stage-ready.

Dan Briggs: Lord of the Basses and Synths

Dan Briggs is both the bassist and the keyboardist, a dual-talented maestro who effortlessly juggles the Moog Sub Fatty and Korg Keystage. His rig is a testament to versatility and ingenuity. Briggs uses Reason for his keyboard sounds, stacking and blending tones in a way that even the most seasoned gearhead would find enviable. Oh, and that Dan Briggs Spectre bass? It’s been his companion since the dawn of his musical journey. He’s crafted a Frankenstein monster of a strap to go with it—because why not mangle something glorious together, eh?

Blake Richardson’s Thunderous Drum Domain

Meet Blake Richardson, the rhythmic backbone of the band, commanding a custom Tama Starclassic Maple drum kit. This setup isn’t just heavy; it’s a sonic tremor designed to shake venues to their core. Richardson’s versatile cymbal collection offers audacious tones that complement his dynamic drumming style. The addition of drum triggers and SE microphones ensures that the heavy sound doesn’t just hit hard; it resonates with precision. For a band thriving on intricate metalcore madness, Blake’s drum kit is the perfect ensemble for bringing down the house.

Tristan Auman: Guitar Sorcery Unleashed

Tristan Auman, the tour guitarist, adds his own flair with an array of Ibanez guitars. He further blurs the line between craftsmanship and chaos with his Sonic Ecstasy pickups from DiMarzio. His quad cortex handles almost all sonic duties, and he commands his effects with a Morley Bad Horsey II wah and a mini Dunlop volume for intricate fade-outs. Sans any cab mics, his setup sings its song directly through a wireless unit. It’s a testament to modern wizardry in live performances, where functionality doesn’t trump flair, but rather merges with it perfectly.