August 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 8
Articles in August 2018
Mark Sheppard of Robyn Hitchcock and His L.A. Squires
It’s a balmy January evening, and at the back of an Italian restaurant nestled in a southern California strip mall, Mark Sheppard is telling the story of how he came to be the drummer with the psychedelic pop institution the…
Zildjian - A Series 18" Uptown Ride and 12" New Beat Hi-Hats
Quick, articulate, and bright sounds for compact setups and electronic/fusion situations.
Zoom L-12 LiveTrak
A versatile digital mixer and multitrack recorder with five independent headphone mixes, an audio interface, and more.
Drum Journalism
Every once in a while when I’m trying to sound important in an editorial meeting, I’ll pull out this line: “We can never forget that even though we’re all drummers around this table, it’s just as crucial that we’re journalists…
A Keller Innovation
This month’s inventive setup comes to us from Stephen Shepard, who’s been playing drums since 1962. In the late ’70s, Shepard started a drum restoration and manufacturing company in San Diego called the Drum Craftsmen with his best friend and…
Multilayered Polyrhythms - Rhythmic Puzzles for Your Mind and Body
Last month we concluded our two-part introduction to polyrhythms with an example that combined multiple polyrhythms within one phrase. In this lesson, we’ll continue layering multiple polyrhythms to take the previous ideas to an even deeper level. These exercises will…
John “Jabo” Starks and Roy Burns Pass, Guitar Center Names Donny Gruendler Vice President of Music Education, and More Industry Happenings
Photo of John "Jabo" Starks by Paul La Raia. John “Jabo” Starks and Roy Burns Pass As this month’s issue went into production, Modern Drummer was saddened to hear about the passing of the funk legend John “Jabo” Starks and…
WFLIII - Signature Metal and Classic Wood Snares
Uniquely designed drums that carry the legacy of generations of high-quality craftsmanship into a new era.
What You Need to Know About Snare Drum Heads
We began our deep dive into drumheads with a survey of the assorted types—and their sounds/applications—that are available for the bass drum (June 2018). This month we’re examining the different makes and models for the snare drum, which is arguably…
Ryan Pope on the Get Up Kids’ Kicker
Wild drum tones, energetic grooves, and signature hooks fuel the eminent group’s first release in seven years.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard's Eric Moore and Michael Cavanagh
Last month we interviewed drummer Marian Li-Pino of the SoCal indie-surf rock band La Luz, who recently toured Australia alongside that country’s progressive psych ensemble King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. Marian, the good sport that she is, agreed to put on her journalist cap and report back on what drives this unlikely double-drummer-powered group.
Jimmy Paxson’s Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie Tour Kit
Fleetwood Mac guitarist/vocalist Lindsey Buckingham required an electronic kit for his 2017 duo tour with bandmate Christine McVie, but that didn’t stop Jimmy Paxson from applying his creative vision to the Roland V-Drums he chose to use. The drummer, who…
Latin Jazz Drumming - The Mambo, Part 1
In this lesson series we’ll focus on Latin jazz rhythms and interpret them on the drumset. For the first installment, we’re digging into the Afro-Cuban mambo bell pattern. Mambo is an Afro-Cuban style that’s built upon a clave foundation. Traditionally…
Pete Lockett
Pete Lockett has traveled the globe countless times in search of new sounds and ethnic styles to interpret. The latest example of his approach is Boom!, a collaboration with Luis Conte where the two master percussionists seamlessly meld Indian, Cuban,…
What’s Your Favorite Hip-Hop or R&B Drumming Performance?
Acoustic drumming generally isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when considering modern hip-hop and R&B album production. But when we took to Facebook and Instagram to ask readers about their favorite hip-hop and R&B drumming performances, plenty of…
Charlie “Chalo” Quintana: 1962-2018
The versatile L.A. drummer left a huge impression on musicians and fans alike.
Antonio Sanchez, McClenty Hunter Jr., and Duduka da Fonseca take the reins, a trio of albums featuring Vinnie Colaiuta, and more!
RECORDINGS Taking the Reins Photo by Elisa Caldana Antonio Sanchez Channels of Energy The innovative musician veers in yet another direction. Following on the heels of his Grammy-nominated drums-meets-electronics tour de force, Bad Hombre, the amazing Antonio Sanchez takes a…