LP Square TambourineWe’re back form Winter break with our Winter NAMM 2012 recap.  The English Muffin sits in and we’re joined by PastorStix, our roving correspondent, who went above and beyond the call of duty in bringing us the most unique and interesting things to see and hear at the convention.  Show notes, pics and more after the break!

We’re back from PASIC and it’s time to recap what we’ve learned!  Show Notes after the break!

• PASIC Blog over at Drumathon.com
• California Percussion P-Bag
• Emil Richards

Thursday, Nov 17, the folks over at Drum Channel will be live streaming a performance and interview with drummer Hannah Ford and bassist Nik West.  It’s FREE!  Click Here.

It’s that time of year again for our annual PASIC Preview!  PASIC is Nov 9-12 and we’ll be liveblogging from the show floor! Show notes after the break!

News

Meinl is planning their 2012 Meinl Drum Festival and want to hear from you about what artists you’d like to see.

Head over to their blog and chime in!

Want to win $1000 in gear and DVDs from MyCymbal.com and Drum Channel?  You can enter Drum Channel’s Drum Solo contest and impress the world!  Submissions and voting are now open!

The Memphis boys are at it again!  They’re streaming another clinic live, and for free, over at MyCymbal.com and MemphisDrumShop.com.  The clinic is today, at 7pm (Central)!

Check it out!

PRESS RELEASE

WORLD’S FASTEST DRUMMER CONTEST

Do You Have What it Takes to be THE WORLD’S FASTEST DRUMMER?? PROVE IT!

NAMM International announces the eleventh outing to find the ‘World’s Fastest Drummer’. This highly charged Interactive Event is a feature at this year’s Summer NAMM Show in Nashville Tn.. The contest which consist of two categories, Fastest Hands and Fastest Feet will be held each day on World’s Fastest Drummer Lobby Stage at the Nashville Convention Center starting at 11:00am Thursday, July 21st, with “heats” continuing through Friday until 5.00pm. The top ten Fastest Hands and top ten Fastest Feet will compete in a ‘Finals Battle’ of both categories held Saturday, July 23rd.

WFD-Extreme Sport Drumming has been a feature on The Warped Tour, OzzFest and most major networks including ESPN, FOX SPORTS, MTV, VH1, ABC, BBC, PBS and CNN. WFD The Game produced well over 1.5 million plays for MTV’s Addicting Games in it’s first 90 days. WFD is the official ruling and certification organization for Guinness World Records.

“WFD as an X-Sport is celebrating it’s 10th year anniversary. We are totally elated to commemorate this 10 year milestone with NAMM in Nashville. This will truly be an awesome WFD Official World Finals. If you think your local coffee shop manager is a bundle of energy, wait till you get a load of these guys! says Boo McAfee, creator of WFD-Extreme Sport Drumming.

Contestants should sign in at World’s Fastest Drummer Contest stage area located at the WFD lobby stage in The Nashville Convention Center starting the morning of Thursday, July. 21st.

For more information please visit www.namm.org or www.WorldsFastestDrummer.com
Or email us at info@WorldsFastestDrummer.com

MAY THE FASTEST DRUMMER WIN!!!!!!!

KISS has just announced that they’ll be offering a KISS Kruise from October October 13-17, sailing on the Carnival Destiny.

ARE YOU READY to INVADE the seas on the first ever KISS Kruise? KISS is partnering with cruise industry leaders, Sixthman for this sea-bound adventure.

On this outrageous ship, you’ll get to party with fist pounding hard rock all night, and live like a rock star all day. You’ll see a legendary show with KISS in an intimate indoor venue and an acoustic “Sail Away Concert” (no make-up!!) to keep the party going as the ship leaves port. It doesn’t stop there; we’ll have krazy on board activities, KISS-themed nights, badass costume contests and more!

Read more here or sign up for the presale over at www.sixthman.net/KISS.

The Summer of contests continues with this one being offered from Rhythm Magazine and Sabian Cymbals.

Win a meet and greet with Neil Peart’s drum tech Lorne Wheaton for an onstage tour of Neil’s kit! Plus! See the band perform live in London

Enter this exclusive competition and you, along with a friend, will be in with a chance to meet Neil’s right-hand man, drum tech Lorne Wheaton who will take you onstage for a guided tour of Neil’s phenomenal drum set-up (click here for a sneak preview). The kit tour will take place at London’s O2 Arena on Wednesday 25th May, and the prize also includes two pairs of tickets to watch the band perform that evening.

To be in with a chance of winning we want to know how much of a Peart fan you really are. In no more than 25 words, explain why you are the world’s biggest Neil Peart superfan and deserve this all-access pass to check out Neil’s kit. The more creative you are the better! Closing date for entries is 9am on Friday 20th May.

More details here

Find out all the deets and enter over at AirDrumBattle.com.

‘Tis the season for contests!

Take the chance to win a comprehensive set-up of Meinl’s new Classics Custom Series Cymbals, and upload a video of yourself playing along to the mp3 provided.

Watch and listen to Grant McFarlands drum along to “Toro” from the This or the Apocalypse album “Haunt What’s Left.” The drum track you’re listening to is Grant performing strictly to the guitars and bass.

Download the mp3 of “Toro.” Then record a video of yourself playing along to the mp3 provided. You must be visible in the video, and both your drumming and the backing track must be audible. The important part here is that the contestant must be visible!

You have from April 01, 2011 until July 31, 2011 to upload your video. Videos that are uploaded after July 31, 2011 will not be considered. Once all videos have been uploaded, Grant McFarland of This or the Apocalypse and Chris Adler from Lamb of God will personally view all of the videos submitted and will judge which one is the winner.

Head on over to meinldrumcontest.com for more info!

As of April 14, he’s raised £502, so please consider giving!

You can support Mike over at JustGiving.com.

Here’s a little vid about Mike:

News:

• Jason Bitter May Clinic Tour
• Foo Fighters Record Record
• Want to go to PASIC for free join the Logistic team
• Chris Coleman Live stream clinic at memphis drum shop May 4th
• Want any Nicko McBrain Kit, buy premier drums
• Namm pledge to play

TOPIC – New Gear from Musikmesse

• Korg Wave Drum mini
• New Iron Cobra
• Yamaha New electronic stuff
• Pearl Master premiums legends
• Yamaha announced limited edition recording customs drums

Music from this episode:

• Living Color – Cult of Personality

Commenting on the upcoming clinic tour, Bittner said, “The clinic tour will feature play alongs, free-form playing, educational content, and fun. I’m hoping to have a few Shadows Fall tracks from my new record to share with fans on the tour. Zildjian cymbals are featured in these new recordings. They’ve already become a part of my sound. It’s really been a seamless transition for me.”

Source: Zildjian.com

Tour Dates:

Mon, May 9th - World of Music – Erie, PA
Tues, May 10th - Ken Stanton Music – Atlanta, GA
Wed, May 11th - Drum Headquarters – St Louis, MO
Thur, May 12th - Memphis Drum Shop – Memphis, TN
Fri, May 13th - Midwest Drum & Percussion – Wichita, KS
Mon, May 16th - West LA Music – West Los Angeles, CA
Tue, May 17th - Donn Bennett Drum Studio – Bellevue, WA
Mon, May 23rd - Parkway Music – Clifton Park, NY

From the PASIC website:

Volunteering to work on the PASIC Logistics Team makes it possible to attend and participate in the convention, get a behind the scenes view of the show and save some money. Meet some of your favorite artists, be entered to win gear donated from the exhibitors, or if you’re a student, have the chance to win a scholarship.

Logistic Team members receive the following benefits:
Free:• PASIC 2011 registration• Logistics t-shirt and PASIC 2011 t-shirt
Entered to Win:• $1,000 in scholarship money from the Percussive Arts Society(full time students only, must be applied to tuition)• Percussion gear from participating manufacturers

Find out more, here!