Casey Strumz: From Small-Town Musician to Playing in Front of 70,000 With Jelly Roll
From discovering Linkin Park through his elementary school bully to joining Jelly Roll's touring band through a chance encounter, drummer Casey Strumz has had anything but an ordinary journey through music.
Some musicians spend years chasing their first big opportunity. For Casey Strumz, it arrived outside a Nashville-area apartment in 2015, when a stranger stopped him with a simple question about playing drums.
That conversation would eventually take him from touring in a packed van to performing in front of tens of thousands of people.
We caught up with Casey to talk about growing up surrounded by music, life on the road with Jelly Roll, the moments that made it all feel real, and what comes next.
Music Was Always in the Family
For Casey, music wasn't something he discovered later in life. It was everywhere from the beginning. His mother sang in the country band Highway 101, while his father and stepfather were both working musicians. His grandfather played bass, and his grandmother sang.
Some of his earliest memories involve weekend drives from Dickson to Nashville with his father, discovering artists like Dire Straits, Steely Dan, Beck, Cake and XTC. But one unlikely encounter changed his musical direction.
"The first ever album I bought, I was introduced to by my elementary school bully,"
After getting bullied at school, Casey was handed a portable CD player. Inside was Linkin Park's Meteora. That moment sent him searching for heavier music. Bands like Billy Talent, The Fall of Troy and Coheed and Cambria became major influences. He even remembers getting into trouble in fifth grade for writing an essay about Billy Talent's "Line and Sinker" because the lyrics contained the word "suicide."
"The first time I heard a distorted guitar my life was changed forever."
The Chance Encounter That Changed Everything
Casey spent much of his school years immersed in music, from playing clarinet to performing in marching band drumline and multiple choirs. But by 2015, he'd dropped out of college and was working restaurant jobs.
Then came an unexpected opportunity. While visiting someone to buy weed, Casey crossed paths with a man named Phil Bogard.
"He stops me and says, 'Hey man you look like a musician. The artist I work for is going on tour all over the country and we are looking for a rock and roll musician.'" The artist was Jelly Roll. Casey's response? "Never heard of him, I'll think about it." After some encouragement from his friend, Casey took the gig.
"And the rest is history. Thanks, Mary Jane. Couldn't have done it without you."
From 70 People to 70,000
What started as five guys traveling together in a van eventually became a massive touring production. Casey remembers those early days fondly, especially their old touring van, Big Bertha, which he now has tattooed on his ankle.
"I sometimes wish we could go back to those days of slumming it in the van because those were some of the best times I've ever had." Today, the operation involves hundreds of employees, something that has given Casey an enormous appreciation for the people working behind the scenes. He credits the touring crew for making the shows possible, calling them some of the best people he's ever worked with.
"Touring with Jelly has been absolutely mind blowing in the fact that I've seen our crowd go from 70 to 70,000."
The Reality Behind the Stage
Touring might look glamorous from the crowd, but Casey describes a very different reality. Between soundcheck and showtime, there's often a surprising amount of downtime.
"We don't have much responsibility other than to know the music and play it well." The band fills the hours with workouts, naps, games and whatever else keeps them occupied. Casey and bassist Alex even play hockey with crew members whenever possible. "The late nights and early mornings. The shuffle from airport to hotel to venue to hotel to airport."
But constant travel takes its toll. His biggest lessons from the road? Learn to adapt, think quickly and make time to rest
The Night at Red Rocks
Of all the moments Casey has experienced, one stands above the rest. Selling out the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
"I always look at when we sold out Red Rocks as one of those 'oh shit' moments. I think that was the show that really solidified that we were doing something right."
To commemorate the occasion, Casey had the venue's logo and the concert date tattooed on his leg, right there in the Red Rocks green room.
What's Next for Casey Strumz?
After roughly five years of steady touring, Casey is enjoying some much-needed time at home with his children. With Jelly Roll's touring schedule on an extended break, he's also finding time to work on his own music. His home studio has become a place to experiment and write freely, with a goal of releasing a single before December. He also has a second single nearly ready.
And for musicians hoping to follow a similar path, Casey offers one piece of advice:
"Don't put a time limit on yourself or your art. There is truly no age limit to creation and your art will speak for itself."
It's a perspective shaped by years of hard work, unexpected opportunities and a career that began long before the big stages. "If you believe in something, never stop believing. Good things will happen with persistence."
From discovering distorted guitars through a borrowed CD player to watching crowds of 70,000 from behind his drum kit, Casey Strumz's story is proof that a career in music rarely follows a straight line.
Sometimes, all it takes is being ready when opportunity comes knocking.
