Ronnie Vannucci, Jr., likes to joke that his “day job” is drumming with the internationally successful rock band The Killers, which performs its only scheduled 2015 show on Sept. 20 at the debut edition of the three-day KAABOO Del Mar festival.

On Sunday, he’ll perform his “other job,” as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist in Big Talk, the side band project he launched in 2011 during downtime between albums and tours with The Killers. (Ticket information appears below.)

“I was a little freaked out at first,” Vannucci admitted of his transition from drumming with The Killers to being the front man with the Big Talk. “It’s like: ‘What am I doing here?’ It wasn’t part of the plan.”

As the drummer with The Killers, the Las Vegas-bred quartet that has sold more than 20 million albums over the past 11 years, Vannucci has had plenty of opportunity to watch Brandon Flowers, the band’s charismatic lead singer, command stages (and audiences) in clubs, arenas, stadiums and at major festivals around the world.


Even so, he acknowledges that moving out from behind the drums isn’t the easiest transition.

“I think that the interesting thing for anybody who hops on vocals, after having another role in a band, is that you’re kind of naked up there. There’s not a lot to hide behind,” said Vannucci, 39, who studied classical percussion and music education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

“As far as being a singer in a band, it’s something I’m very new at. Even thought it feels weirdly natural, I’m still (getting used to) this whole thing. In some ways, it feels like second nature. And other times, I sort of ask myself, like a little spaz: ‘What the f--- am I doing here?’ ”

Big Talk is now on tour to promote its second album, “Straight In No Kissin’,” which – by design – has a less glossy, more gritty sound than The Killers. Vannucci’s Sunday gig with the five-man band at the Casbah marks his return to the intimate San Diego venue. He performed at the same club in 2004, when The Killers opened for Stellastar.


Here are excerpts from our Friday interview with Vannucci.

Q: You drummed in your school jazz ensembles. If you could sit down with Buddy Rich, Max Roach or Elvin Jones, who would you pick and why?

A: Oh, man, what a great question. Those are three of my favorites, three of the forefathers of modern drumming. I’ll go with Buddy, not only because he’s fresh in my mind... but I’d like to sit down with anybody like that, who had a preternatural instinct for music. There are a lot of drummers who can play their asses off and be really fast, but Buddy was really the king of musicality, phrasing and being able to make the drums a much more musical instrument. He was flashy, but his phrasing made the drums sing. That takes a real talent and it’s not something easily learned.

Q: How does your drumming affect your guitar playing, and vice versa?


A: I think anybody who’s looking at a career in music should hop on another instrument. It will help you be a better musician. If you plan on being part of an ensemble, it’s good to take up a secondary instrument... For me, I went to music college and played pitched percussion instruments, anything but the drum set. I was a music education major and had to learn to play brass, woodwinds and string instruments. Having that perspective made me into a better, all-around player.

Q: Who are some of your biggest songwriting inspirations?

A: I’m a big fan of ZZ Top, The Replacements, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. And I’m a huge fan of singer-songwriters. I really like Rufus Wainwright.

Q: The album cover for Big Talk’s “Straight In No Kissin’ ” is an illustration of the band’s members in drag. Are you paying homage to the Rolling Stones?


A: There’s a whole lot of things going on there. You’re the first one who got the whole rock ‘n’ roll reference. I appreciate the ‘Some Girls’ (album cover) reference

Q: You’re playing Sunday at the Casbah with Big Talk, and in September at KAABOO Del Mar, a major new outdoor festival. Apart from the differences in the venues and the fact you’ll be playing with a different band at each, what do you try to deliver to audiences in any setting, no matter how large or small.

A: Ideally, you want to deliver the same passion and emotion. People are paying and you want to give them something in return.

Q: Presumably, you schedule Big Talk around The Killers’ schedule?


A: Yeah, The Killers have a schedule. We’ve got a few shows this year. Actually, I think the San Diego show is the only one (left that) confirmed, so there’s sort of a vacancy, as far as shows go. But we’re already trading ideas for the next Killers’ album. Were kind of working on a schedule. Brandon (Flowers) has a new (solo) record out, too. I think we want to allow our creative itches to be scratched, but not be far too from our ‘day job’.

Big Talk, with The Nervous Wreckords

When: 9 p.m. Sunday

Where: The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., Middletown


Tickets: $12 (advance) $14 (day of show)

Phone: (619) 232-4335

Online: casbahmusic.com