Neils Cross
Drums
Age 28
High-energy, physically intense, technically terrifying. Neils plays like he has something to prove in every single take, and the fact is, he does not — he is that good. Off the kit he is surprisingly mellow and thoughtful, interested in philosophy and long-distance running. The contrast between Neils on and off the drum throne is one of the band running internal jokes.
Backstory
From Tacoma, WA. Grew up in a Pentecostal church family where percussion was his first instrument — he was playing drums in the church band at age 8. The ritualistic, communal power of music he absorbed there never left him, even as his faith did in his late teens. He studied drumming under a former touring drummer for Alice in Chains in Seattle, and spent three years doing session and live work before Declan tracked him down after seeing him destroy a tiny club stage with an indie band. He uses a hybrid acoustic/electronic trigger setup that allows him to layer textural elements in real-time during live performance.
Gear
DW Custom 5-piece kit with Roland SPD-SX electronic pads integrated into the acoustic setup.