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Welcome to the Trap Set, where each week we explore the lives of drummers.

I want to play something for you. You're hearing Black Sun by Death Cab for Cutie,

featuring my guest Jason McGur on drums.

The native of Bellingham, Washington, Jason was enamored with drumming from an early age.

He practiced on a neighbor's kit until finally convincing his mother, a teacher, to purchase one of his own.

After high school, Jason moved to Seattle, where he worked at drum shops, taught, and played in several bands,

establishing a reputation as a skilled, clever, and disciplined player.

He joined Death Cab prior to their 2003 album, Transatlanticism, and his dynamic playing helped

propel the band to mainstream success.

Aside from Death Cab, Jason can be heard with artists such as Teigen and Sarah and fences.

His rigorous, creative approach has won him respect from the indie world and the traditional drumming establishment alike.

And now our conversation with Jason McGur.

I used to have a horrible time falling asleep as a little kid. And I remember just finding sheets, getting tangled in sheets and being too hot, too uncomfortable,

and I would sometimes think the carpet was maybe a better place to fall asleep.

Sometimes it was the closet.

I don't know why I had insomnia. I was an early age before what I knew what insomnia was, but one particular memory that I have that has haunted me for years

is around the holidays.

I was sleepless or restless, and I remember looking out the window,

and, like, from a number of rooftops over I saw Santa

...