On Tour with Shaboozey’s Drummer Darren Poindexter

Darren Poindexter BM ’17 grew up immersed in music in the small town of Louisa, Virginia. A self-taught drummer who received his first drum set at age 12, he remembers watching music award shows and imagining himself performing the latest hits. Now, years later, Poindexter’s dreams and hard work are paying off. Based in Los Angeles, the drummer who spent his Boston years leading wedding bands and playing with local acts is now on tour around the US through December of 2024 with country-rap star Shaboozey. 

We recently caught up with Poindexter to talk about his experiences on tour with Shaboozey, his Berklee education, and more.

You’re currently on tour with Shaboozey. How did that opportunity come about?

This year has been really interesting for me. Before Shaboozey I worked with Forrest Frank of the band Surfaces, which introduced me to Spacebar Society, an agency that books bands and handles rehearsals and playback for different artists. The work I did with Forrest paved the way to the Shaboozey call. It’s been a really busy and fun ride. So many different cities and crowds, great scenery and food, and it’s a good group of guys to be around.

Are you the sole drummer on tour with him? What have you learned about playing at that level? 

I am the sole drummer, and I’m getting to put to use what I’ve practiced over the years. The drummers I studied always play to the best of their understanding and abilities regardless of environment. I aim to always swing for the fences.

Once you made the decision to be a professional drummer, did that decision bring you to Berklee? 

My decision to be a professional drummer came with how much I love the instrument. It was less of a decision and felt more like, “I have to finesse this into what I do.” Coming from a small town, you don’t always know what’s beyond or how to get there. Many people’s passions fall by the wayside because they don’t always feel like it’s a tangible way to make a living. I discovered Berklee in my junior year of high school and that passion felt a little more real. Majoring in professional music allowed me to experience much that the school has to offer.

How did your education and experience at Berklee prepare you to be a professional drummer?

I learned a lot in my time at Berklee, most of which was in practice rooms and from my peers. I think being self-taught helped me because I always look at things with a critical eye/ear. If I heard a rehearsal or someone practicing or went to a show, I’d enjoy it but take notes of all the musical interactions happening. I’d take them back to the practice room and mold myself in preparation to be in those situations. Seeing such diverse and high-caliber performances is much different in person than on TV. I paid attention to everything from how people competed in solos to how hard a drummer was meant to hit or how nuanced one could be.

Tell me about your experiences leading wedding bands and playing with local acts in and around Boston. 

I have many fantastic memories of playing weddings. There’s something great that happens when you have known repertoire and musicians that don’t know each other—it’s truly one of the best ways to get to know someone. You can experience how they hear the world in a way because every player comprehends the music differently and then infuses the music with their own influences. I spent the second half of my Berklee years playing weddings and still do them when I’m not on the road. Many of these weddings lead to performance and recording opportunities locally.

Looking down the road, are there any other musicians you’d like to perform with? 

There are so many. I would love to work with Raphael Saadiq in some capacity. Bruno Mars—whether as a solo artist or with his other projects—and Snarky Puppy would be amazing. I also did a short run with an artist named Afgan, and I’d love to do more with him as well if he finds himself back in the US. 

What do you hope for in your career, and what’s next for you?

My goal with music is and always has been to play music I love with people I care about and make a living. I love where I’m at right now, and I’m super excited for what’s ahead. I hope to keep it exciting, fresh, and explorative.