You’re in the room with The Coffis Brothers this week as Jamie and Kellen sit down with Dave to unpack the art of keeping a band tight—musically, emotionally, and logistically. From maintaining long-term chemistry with the same players to writing songs that leave space for bandmates to shape the vibe, you’ll hear how collaboration fuels creativity. Drummers, take note: the groove is the feel, and every quirky idea deserves a spin. The secret? Try everything, trust each other, and Always Be Performing.
Whether you’re wrangling song credits or managing egos, this episode dives into what makes a band work. You’ll get insights on touring tech tips (hello, splitter snake), surviving soundchecks with new FOH engineers, and the power of being kind to everyone—from the club staff to the crowd. The three guys share thoughts on navigating click tracks, choosing covers as an originals band, and how AI might fit into it all (or…not?). It’s a masterclass in band dynamics—fun, honest, and full of stories that’ll stick with you, just like those hooks The Coffis Brothers write!
00:00:00
Gig Gab 495 – Monday,
August 18th, 2025
August 18th:
National Ice Cream Pie Day
Guest co-hosts: Jamie & Kellen Coffis,
The Coffis Brothers!
Originally on
Gig Gab 46!
00:03:23 Maintaining the same band for as long as you can
The comfort level of having the same people in the band
00:05:52 Writing songs and bringing them into the band
You write a song and bring the skeleton to the band
You’re writing for a band
The band very much informs my sensibilities in how I write, even when they’re not in the room
00:10:14 Navigating the drum parts as a songwriter
The drums are the thing that can define the feel of the song
00:13:08 As a drummer, do you experiment with simplicity … or complexity?
The drummer winds up trying everyone else’s crazy ideas…and sometimes they work
00:18:40 In the songwriting process, you’ve gotta try every idea and do it with conviction!
Getting confirmation bias out of it
“Everyone needs to be empowered to get to the place where they’re playing with that shared joy”
00:21:12 A band is a team
You gotta make a few passes before you take that big shot
Wait for the opportunity, don’t force it
00:23:47 Balancing credit so the public doesn’t pull you apart
Bands who famously publicly-shared credit to avoid battles: Beatles, REM, Rush, more?
It needs to be fun for everyone!
Let everyone have their voice.
00:25:48 Someone needs to be in charge, but… a benevolent dictator is best.
But you want your record to sound like five guys in a room having fun
00:27:24 When it’s fun… vs. when it’s not fun
If you’re not having fun, ask yourself what you can change (hint: you can always change yourself)
00:31:56 Sometimes letting go is best
00:33:16 Managing your expectations
When it comes to sound, travel with a splitter snake
00:40:00 Considering the move to In Ear Monitors
00:42:11 Traveling with the same FOH engineer for every gig
Playing with
John Craigie (and his FOH engineer)
Negotiating a new relationship with Every. Single. Engineer.
00:47:28 Even if just for a few hours,
