Meet Michael B. Koep, who has been a college educator, an international touring musician and a dynamite waiter.

Michael is a swordsman, an avid world traveler, a visual artist and a professional rock drummer. He has climbed the pyramids of Giza, fenced an Italian master and has done battle with the infamous North Korean propaganda loudspeakers by aiming a massive PA across the DMZ and taking a drum solo. He is the author of the award-winning "Newirth Mythology: The Invasion of Heaven" (2013), "Leaves of Fire (2015)" and "The Shape of Rain" (2018). His latest book, "Gigmentia: A Drummer’s Love Song to Rock Shows, Fatherhood, Writing, and the Passing of a Beloved Mom," released in 2024. Michael is the drummer for the rock bands the RUB, KITE and PS I Love U. He is the operator of KOEP Concerts, which promotes and produces three separate concert series in North Idaho. He lives in Coeur d’Alene with his partner, Sheree, his son, Michael, and two cats, Arthur and Merlin.

Info: koepconcerts.com, michaelbkoep.com, rubtherub.com

1) How are things going with Koep Concerts this summer?

Amazing for a first year! It’s all community-sponsor driven, free to the public and built on this idea of love, unity and a big, shared summer soundtrack. We’re two shows in —still ironing out the kinks (it’s live events, there are always kinks) — but the energy has been inspiring. And I’m not doing this alone. I’m blessed to have so much help — my partner, Sheree, my son, Michael, our chief of operations, Jay, and Uncle Stan, Todd, Cory, Bryce and Cary, everyone at the Coeur d'Alene Parks Department, the police department, the bands, the techs, the sponsors and so many others — so many good people pitching in to make this work. Now we just need Coeur d’Alene to help us keep it rolling: Keep the park clean, keep the drinks inside the venue (for goodness' sake!) and keep the vibe good — smiles, kindness, maybe even a dance move or two. If everyone does that, the rest takes care of itself.

2) When did you become involved with music and what do you love about performing?

I started playing drums because my older brother said they were cool — and when you’re a kid, you figure older brothers are basically geniuses. So I grabbed some coffee cans, a pair of No. 2 pencils and went to work. From there, one thing led to another, and somehow I ended up touring all over the world with real drums instead of kitchenware.

Performing, for me, is about more than just making noise (though that’s still pretty fun). It’s about inspiring, entertaining and pulling people together for a few hours where nothing else matters but the music. When it’s good, the whole crowd feels like one big heartbeat — and that’s what keeps me coming back. 

3) Who are some of your top favorite artists and songs, locally or otherwise, and what do you enjoy about them?

That’s a tough one — there’s just so much talent around here, and honestly, not enough hours in the day to hear everyone. Every week I stumble across someone new who blows me away.

I grew up glued to my older brother’s record collection — The Beatles, Queen, RUSH — the classics. I figured if it was on his turntable, it had to be cool (there’s that word again). What I’ve discovered over the years is that the secret sauce of a great band or song isn’t fancy solos or flawless notes — it’s heart. It’s that raw energy of believing in what you’re playing and connecting with people while still doing your own weird, wonderful thing. When that happens, you feel it and suddenly, you’re part of it. 

4) What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

People are usually surprised to find out I’m also an author. I wrote "The Newirth Mythology" series, which, I’m delighted to report, is in development for a streaming TV series right now. My fourth book, "Gigmentia: A Drummer’s Love Song to Rock Shows, Fatherhood, Writing, and the Passing of a Beloved Mom," digs into what it’s really like to be a blue-collar musician (hint: a lot less glamour, a lot more duct tape).

And for the record, I’m also a semi-retired swordsman — yes, really — which might explain why my next book (still on the desk) has a bit of that in it. Honestly, it all started the same way: coffee, coffee cans and No. 2 pencils. That’s where the drumming began, and I still haven’t put down the pencils … now I just use them for writing instead of denting kitchenware.

5) How does music speak to your soul, and how do you feel it speaks to our collective soul as a society?

What we need most right now is unity. There’s so much noise and so many upside-down stories out there that it’s easy to forget what we share. But music cuts through all of that. Bare feet in the grass, dancing, singing together under the sky beside the blue lake — that’s real, that’s simple and it reminds us who we are. It’s the only magic I know how to bring to the conversation … and honestly, we all know the songs. They haven’t changed. We just need to be singing them together again.