Another year gone just like that! Let’s get right to it.

2025 was another year full of rock shows and classical gigs, but unfortunately it was to be the last year my Dad would live. He died peacefully in TN on June 6. I was in the middle of a soundcheck with EOTN when I got the news and had to somehow find a way to get through the rest of the night. I had a ticket to see him the next day because I knew he was getting worse, but it wasn’t meant to be. RIP Cosimo DeChiara 5/5/34-6/6/25

In happier news and somewhat related, I had quite possibly the biggest show of my life - performing with the legend Andrea Bocelli. A few years ago I actually got called to do his regular show at Capitol One Arena in DC. When I told my Dad this over the phone, he was moved to tears. I happened to get taken off that gig, but when the opportunity came around again this year, I wish I could’ve told him and sent him footage. My Dad was an amazing singer, a native Napolitano, so of course loved Bocelli. He just couldn’t make singing a career. Someone put a song he sang up on Youtube that he sang called “Kennedy in Paradiso.” Take a listen here.

Playing percussion for Andrea Bocelli is one thing, but playing drumset and actually providing the rhythmic foundation for him is a whole other thing. The songs on kit were “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “Vivo per lei,” “Canto della terra,” and the Eric Carmen classic “All By Myself” in which special guest, Pia Toscano, absolutely crushed. She is considered to have eclipsed the version Celine Dion made famous. To keep things together and because of some backing tracks, the conductor, keyboardist, bassist, and myself all had a click going into our ears. We didn’t have the vocalists (or click track) for the first rehearsal. Only at the dress rehearsal the day of did we have a click and only Pia Toscano sang her solo. The first time I’d hear Bocelli sing live in the same room would be at the show a few hours later. After 3 encores, he came out for 4 (maybe it was 3, I lost track) curtain calls and each time the audience of ~20,000 went absolutely apesh*t. I haven’t heard a crowd scream like that in my life. It sounded like the wall of sound shrieking associated with Beatlemania. Every. Time. Just wow! Someone posted an edited 46 min version of the concert on YT if you want to check it out here. Even Renée Fleming made it out!

Here is the kit and percussion setup-

Here are some pro shots by Luca Rossetti-

And a combination of my cell and friends’ pics-

Iron Maiden tribute, Eyes of the Nile, continues to spread its wings, reaching more of the US. In April, we made our way to an amazing venue in McHenry, Il right outside of Chicago called The Vixen. It was Matt’s first gig, so we hired a photographer and made a night of it. We even stopped at the kings of online shopping for musicians - Sweetwater. The icing on the cake was a visit from my high school and drum corps bud, Chuck Collins; ex-Reflex singer, JR Russell; and percussionist extraordinaire Yun Park. Pro shots by Jim Knobbe.

We also visited OH and NY for the first time and debuted at more new venues: Dunellan Theatre, Afterlife, Water St. Music Hall, Palatine Park, Canal Club, and New Realm Brewery. We’re back for more new venues in OH and debuts in NYC and MI in 2026. Jan.30 we’re back at our home base, Tally Ho Theater, for an epic complete album performance.

Hopefully we can announce some really big news we have been holding on to as well!

I’ve been in Dr.FU now for over 21 years! Crazy that an ad looking for a singer has led to the longest running band I’ve been in. While things are a little slower, we’re continuing as the longest running cover band in the DMV, playing outdoor festivals such as Friday Night Live!, Rock the Block, private parties and the usual haunts like The Perch, Farm Brew Live, Electric Palm, and Renegade. We’re making our way to Philadelphia for the first time in January 2026 for a big event.

Nowhere Men has also slowed down a bit, but is still active! We’re returning to Glen Echo Park next fall this time to perform in the dance hall. We have a big, enthusiastic fan base there so it should be a great time.

Herr Metal has regular gigs at Tally Ho Theater now and continues world domination and melting faces at Friday Night Live!, Rock the Block, and Reston Town Center. They continue to play private parties as well!

In the world of original music, I’ve been collaborating again with guitarist/songwriter Richie Gomez. He has an album’s worth of new material that has been recorded and although I’m not playing drums on the album, I helped shoot some videos for the songs. It was a different experience learning songs I didn’t record so that the video looks like I own the song! Thanks to Carter Louthian for capturing so much energy behind the lens!

Here is “Into the Light”-

And “Is it Mine?” (in which I had an “acting” role)

Here are some behind the scenes shots from each shoot-

My friends Anthony Nuccio, Jason Hurley, Matt Berry, and I put together a sick Slipknot cover of “Psychosocial.” I had a blast with the video editing and feel like it has a lot of energy. Matt mixed the hell out of it and Brian Archer put some finishing mastering on it. Enjoy!!

The classical world always scratches the itch and it was another fun-filled year. Alexandria Symphony, Young Artists of America (Britney Spears’ “Once Upon a One More Time” musical, New Orchestra of Washington, Harrisburg Symphony, and the many church gigs. Some rep highlights - Tchaikovsky 5, Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, Puts’ Marimba Concerto (Lee Hinkle, soloist), Schubert’s “Great” Symphony, and Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Piano Concerto. Here is a look back!

I’m in my 4th year teaching at Catholic University and a highlight was speaking to Francesca Hurst’s “Musician in Modern Society” class. We talked about social media, creating opportunities, auditions, and people skills.

I was super honored to be a guest on WETA’s podcast, “Classical Breakdown.” I spoke about the origins of percussion and timpani until the present day and how things have changed throughout the years. We also talked about what it is like on stage in the percussion section from sound concepts, following (or not) the conductor, orchestra time, and where to place your notes. It was somewhat of a monumental task and we dove really deep for almost 2 hours. I demonstrated some orchestral excerpts, techniques, and some examples of the earliest writings to more modern examples for the snare drum and xylophone.

Here is the link if you want to listen.

People from around the world have been interested in the Images and Words transcriptions and Rite of Spring book! The ROS book is now in Germany, UK, Japan, US, Alaska, Italy, and Spain. The Images and Words transcriptions have been downloaded in the US, Poland, France, Thailand, Australia, Germany, Vietnam, Italy, UK, Switzerland, Japan, and Netherlands. Wow!

Concerts I saw:

Stone Temple Pilots (on my 53rd birthday - Level One, Baltimore MD)
Bruce Dickinson (Fillmore, Silver Spring MD)
Colin Hay (Birchmere, Alexandria VA
Dream Theater (The Anthem, Washington DC)
Jason Aldean/Luke Bryan (Cancun, Mexico)

And here are my 2025 reads. If The Fellowship didn’t take so long and wasn’t a snoozefest, I would’ve made it through a lot more. ;)

My love of travel took me to Cancun in January and China and South Korea in May! I started in Hong Kong, then flew to Beijing. From there I joined a group tour (Gate One Travel is great if you are interested in this) that took us from Beijing to Xian via bullet train, then flew to Shanghai. From Shanghai, we took a day trip to the “Venice of the East", Suzhou. Then it was off to the small town of Rizhao for a few days. From there I flew to Seoul, Korea for 5 days before heading back to the US.

If you had any reservations about visiting China, put them to rest and grab that ticket! The history is astounding and just being at a site like the Great Wall or the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xian will make you appreciate the skill and sheer dedication it took to build these structures and make it all worthwhile. I mean the Great Wall itself is over 14,000 miles long!

I ate some of the best food of my life, visited my American friend Ashley in the amazing Shanghai, saw one of the best shows ever - Tang Dynasty, ate Peking Duck, traversed part of the Great Wall, saw the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xian, ate crickets (roasted and spiced!), floated down a peaceful river in Suzhou serenaded with Chinese folk songs, danced Gangham Style in Gangham, Korea, walked along the Bund day and night, visited Bruce Lee’s hometown and museum, and did I mention the food?

I took thousands of pics, but here are just a few starting with Hong Kong and Kowloon-

Beijing

Xian

Shanghai

Suzhou

Cancun w/ my friend Mary and her cooworkers. Highlights included zip lining for the first time, Xenses Park, Tullum, Chichen Itza, and Luke Bryan’s “Crash My Playa” Festival featuring Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Kane Brown, and more.