Rex Larkman: Tropidelic, Positive Energy, and the Cleveland Sound

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with Tropidelic drummer Rex Larkman to talk about the band’s new album, First Light, and the musical evolution behind it. Rex joined the Cleveland group in 2018, bringing the intensity of his punk and metal background into Tropidelic’s blend of reggae, rock, ska, funk, and hip-hop.We dig into Rex’s growth as a drummer—from wanting to play everything to recognizing the beauty and difficulty of playing exactly what a song needs. He explains why pocket, restraint, and a strong connection with the bass player matter so much in rhythm-driven music, and why listeners often move more when the drummer leaves space.Rex also takes us inside the making of First Light. Ideas emerged at soundchecks and on the road before being developed with producer Craig Broadhead in Cleveland. Live performances, programmed beats, layered snares, keyboards, and studio experimentation all became part of an album in which every song was allowed to find its own sound.We talk about the danger of quantizing the life out of a drum performance and the importance of allowing music to breathe. Rex describes how Tropidelic transforms its studio recordings for the stage by changing tempos, rearranging sections, adding horn solos, and adjusting set lists from one night to the next.We also discuss Tropidelic’s touring community, the band’s Everwild festival, and the positive message running through the new music. For Rex, the goal is straightforward: work hard, connect with the audience, support the people around you, and give every room a high-energy show that still feels human.Key TakeawaysRex joined Tropidelic in 2018 after becoming part of Cleveland’s local punk and independent music community.His early influences included classic rock, Metallica, Avenged Sevenfold, punk, metal, ska, Sublime, Streetlight Manifesto, and Less Than Jake.Playing with Tropidelic taught Rex that restraint can be more challenging—and more musical—than filling every available space.Much of First Light began with short ideas created at soundchecks and developed later with producer Craig Broadhead.The album combines live drums, programmed elements, layered snare sounds, keyboards, effects, and production created in several locations.Rex believes precise editing can remove the natural movement from a performance; everything should feel in time without necessarily sitting perfectly on a grid.Tropidelic regularly reshapes its songs for the stage, changing tempos, shortening arrangements, adding solos, and responding to each audience.Music from the EpisodeSignals - TropidelicAbout the PodcastThe Bandwich Tapes is a podcast about music, the people who make it, and the experiences that shape their creative lives. Hosted by musician Brad Williams, each episode offers an honest, thoughtful conversation with artists, producers, engineers, and other members of the musical community.Connect with the ShowEmail: [email protected]