This week we talk about working with live sound guys .. gals .. humans.  Sound people.  John Bonham is the drummer of the week, the Inverted Flam Tap is the rudiment of the week, and we review the Lenny White signature stick by Vic Firth.  Show Notes

Filed under: Education, Musicianship, News, Podcast, Reviews, Videos | 3 Comments »

On August 18, 1962, Ringo Starr played his first gig with the Beatles replacing Pete Best.  To honor this day, here is a video of the Beatles’ first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show on Feb 8, 1964.

Filed under: Artists, Education, Videos | 3 Comments »

Here a slick video of three of modern drumming’s greats duking it out with stick tricks.  The collabo at the end is the highlight for me.

Filed under: Artists, Books/Mags/Web, Randomness, Videos | No Comments »

Filed under: Events, Videos | No Comments »

Source: DCI.org

It was the closest of victories at the 2008 Drum Corps International World Championship Finals in Bloomington, Ind. By only 0.025 points, Phantom Regiment passed the Blue Devils to take the gold medal and their second Championship title. Phantom Regiment (98.125) moved forward one placement from Quarterfinals to Semifinals, and from Semifinals to Finals in their quest for the Championship trophy. The Blue Devils (2nd, 98.100) took the silver medal as they walked the yard-line tightropes of Memorial Stadium one final time, and the Cavaliers (3rd, 97.325) received the bronze after the thunder of their taiko drums faded into the cool and clear summer night.

Phantom Regiment’s Finals night performance was marked by infectious crowd energy, with calls of “I am Spartacus” coming from the stands during their competitive performance and again later during the awards ceremony. Phantom Regiment last captured a Championship title in 1996 when they tied the Blue Devils for the gold medal. This season marks their first outright Championship win, as well as a capstone achievement to their previous performances of “Spartacus” in 1981 and 1982.

Read the full story here …

Here’s a vid of Phantom warming up just before their Gold Medal performance.  Congrats, PR!

Oh!  And Carolina Crown got 4th place!!  Go Crown!  Here’s a complete rundown of all the scores.

Filed under: Artists, Musicianship, News, Videos | No Comments »

Truly, one of the most underrated drummers in history …

Filed under: Artists, Musicianship, Videos | 2 Comments »

This is why live drummers will always have a gig:

Filed under: Randomness, Videos | 5 Comments »

Guys from Blast duke it out … plus blacklights!!

Filed under: Education, Musicianship, Videos | 1 Comment »

Living Legends Music has posted a cool 8 part interview with Dream Theater drummer, Mike Portnoy, on their YouTube channel.  The interviews discuss the beginnings of Dream Theater, to the creative process, to artistic fulfillment.

Here’s Part 1.  For more, check out their channel.

Filed under: Artists, Interviews, Videos | No Comments »

Drum maker Ronn Dunnett (Dunnett Classic Drums, George Way Drum Company, www.drumsmith.com) is also an accomplished photographer. Check out his pictorials of many drum expos and shows (NAMM, Musik Messe, Chicago Drum Show, Hollywood Drum Show, and many others) here. 

The one catch is you have to register. But I highly recommend becoming a part of the site. Good people and good discussions!

Filed under: News, Reviews, Videos | No Comments »

Here’s a great video from ESPN talking about the rigors and athletic demands of Drum Corps players.

Filed under: Education, Videos | No Comments »

Source: StarTribune.com

Starting in 2009, the activity’s governing organization, Drum Corps International (DCI), will allow not only electronic instruments such as keyboards to augment the marching performances, but it also will let more performers be amplified by microphones. Brass soloists and ensembles may be miked beginning next year, in addition to the vocalists (narrators and singers) and sideline percussionists who can already be amplified.

The changes have led to heated debates in online forums such as Drum Corps Planet among those who see the expansion of electronics as a necessary and inevitable change in modern drum corps and those who long for the tradition of “the glory days.”

I don’t know how I feel about this. On one hand, this will open the door to whole new possibilities in terms of texture and sound, but there’s just something artificial about it. So we won’t allow clarinets and flutes, but a Korg Triton is just fine??

I guess DCI went through the same kind of debate when they brought the mallet instruments and timpani onto the sidelines …

Filed under: News, Videos | 2 Comments »

Click here for more details.

Here is Paul Wertico playing the Slapstik …

Filed under: Events, News, Videos | No Comments »

Andrea VaDrucci, A.K.A. VaDrum has released a video of his latest creation. A drummer’s version of the Barber of Seville.

This guy is definitely potential drummer of the week material.

Filed under: Artists, Videos | 6 Comments »

Videos are now beginning to circulate from Guitar Hero’s website which feature Chad Smith, Stewart Copeland, and Travis Barker all weighing in on Guitar Hero’s new drums feature.

Chad Smith is stoked about the idea and loves the thing: “It’s a real as you can get. For a Video game, it’s impressive. If it holds up to me beating on it, it should be pretty good.”

It looks as if Travis Barker does some motion capture for the game. “One of the things I has actually said when I was asked to be involved with this was, ‘will it be an exact interpretation of what that drummer is playing? Can I close my eyes and play a song I wrote the drum part for and socre a perfect score if I’m playing it right?’ And it was, ‘yes.’”

Man .. at first I wasn’t at all into this idea, but now I can see myself getting excited for it. I am cautiously optimistic.

Thanks to Big Drum Thump.

Filed under: Gear, News, Randomness, Videos | 3 Comments »