Jess Bowen is best known as drummer with Scottsdale, Arizona-based band The Summer Set.



Jess started drumming when she was 11, and finally started touring when she was 18.



Jess Bowen started out by playing in the school jazz band, with Buddy Rich’s Mercy Mercy Mercy being the first song she learned to play while sight-reading. After a few rehearsals, Jess realized that reading the music was keeping her from actually feeling it, and she took the initiative to scrap the sheet music and play the song by ear.



Eventually Jess Bowen was approached by some of her friends when she was in the 8th grade, asking if she’d be interested in joining their band to play covers of Blink-182 and Green Day songs. Jess: "Of course at the time these were some of my favorite bands, so I happily agreed."



Theye continued playing around locally, and eventually in 2007, with a few lineup changes, they formed the Summer Set. Jess and her band toured the United States as part of the Vans Warped Tour 2010.



Factoid: Jess Bowen didn't always want to play the drums. Recalls Jess: "My dad and my older brother both played the drums. When I asked my dad to buy me a guitar, he told me on the spot that I had to play the drums instead. So, in a way, I was technically forced into drumming, but I'm extremely thankful for it now."