January 2016 Issue – Volume 40 • Number 1
On 01st Jan 2016
Articles in January 2016
The War on Drugs’ Charlie Hall
The War on Drugs hit the ground running after Lost in the Dream was released in March 2014, and never slowed down in 2015. MD caught up with drummer Charlie Hall while the band was performing in Miami. “On this…
Amedia - Kommagene Series Cymbals
Amedia Kommagene Series Cymbals Dark-finish cymbals with appropriately dark yet cutting tones. by Michael Dawson Commagene is the name of an ancient civilization that existed from 163 BC to 72 AD in a region of Europe that now comprises south-central…
Provenance - 4x14 VW Snare
Provenance 4x14 VW Snare From the scraps of a funky old work van to one of the funkiest-sounding snares around. by Michael Dawson The U.K.-based Provenance Drums specializes in repurposing materials from specialty vehicles like Jaguar sports cars, racing yachts,…
This is 40
by Adam Budofsky There are forty-year periods…and there are forty-year periods. Back in the Paleolithic era, all we managed to accomplish in a few million years was figuring out how to knock out some basic stone tools. The big headline…
It's Questionable - I Want My Old Drums Back
I recently received a promotion at my day job, so I decided to treat myself to a new set of drums. My old kit had big, deep power toms with a 24" bass drum, and they had started to look…
40 Years of Innovation - A look at Drum Gear Then...and Now
Drums are as old as history, and possibly older—there’s probably a cave drawing somewhere depicting a guy happily jamming away. Cymbals, too, are so ancient that they figure prominently in the Old Testament. The drumset, on the other hand, was…
World Groove Independence Mash-Up
Improving Facility With Afro-Cuban Inspiration by Mike Johnston When I began writing my latest book, Groove Freedom, the goal was to gain flexibility both within my students’ grooves and my own. As I practiced the book’s systems, I realized…
It's Questionable - What's This Ride?
"I bought this Meinl ride on Craigslist, and I’ve been wondering if it’s a rare cymbal. The writing on it says it’s a Byzance series 21" Dry ride, but when I searched for that exact model I couldn’t find anything.…
Neil Peart
For his (record) ninth MD cover-story interview, Rush’s drummer holds a typically fluid and intense discussion of soloing and set lists, the very real differences between his drumming past and present, and the much-speculated topic of his band’s future. Interview…
How to Practice: Get the Most Out of Whatever Time You Have
by Gary Williams Enthusiasm is your fuel to improve your drumming. You probably spend time working on grooves and fills, playing along to recordings, searching YouTube for videos, attending concerts, practicing from method books, and jamming with other musicians. These…
Yamaha - Stage Custom Birth Hybrid Kit
Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Hybrid Kit An all-in-one setup for blending acoustic and electronic elements. by Michael Dawson Being that it manufactures acoustic drums, electronic pads, sound modules, drum triggers, and a full range of hardware, Yamaha is in a…
New and Notable
Zildjian Premium Cymbal Bags and Cases The Zildjian 24" rolling cymbal vault, which features a molded polyethylene shell that holds five to ten cymbals, provides protection and durability. For lightweight yet sturdy transport, the 22" and 24" premium cymbal bags…
Catching Up With...Travis Orbin
The greatest session drummers of yesteryear would dart from one legendary L.A. or New York studio to the next, where they’d crank out smash hits that the world would be singing along to a few short weeks later. Today’s busiest…
Eddie Knight: A Living Legend of Leedy Lore
Eddie Knight with his ’30s Broadway Standard in rainbow pearl finish by Harry Cangney When I walked into the South Bend, Indiana, drum studio of veteran drummer/teacher/collector Eddie Knight, I picked up more sensory input than I could process. On the…
Tycoon - Triple Play Cajon
Tycoon Triple-Play Cajon Three distinct playing surfaces for ultimate tonal variety. For thirty-plus years, Tycoon has been manufacturing top-quality hand percussion instruments at its own factory in Thailand. The company’s expansive catalog includes authentic representations of Latin American congas, bongos,…
News
Out Now Converge Thousands of Miles Between Us Metalcore pioneer Converge is dropping the multi-format audio/video release Thousands of Miles Between Us, the centerpiece of which is a full twenty-song show filmed in HD on the All We Love…
Endorsements Part 2: Are You Really Ready?
Photo by Miguel Monroy by Russ Miller Last month we started our discussion of product endorsements with the equipment manufacturers. I encourage you to read through that article again to familiarize yourself with some of the terms we’re using this…
Quintuplets Part 2: Polyrhythms With Fives
by Bill Bachman Last month we got acquainted with quintuplets by using accent patterns and transitions with familiar rhythms. In this lesson we’ll superimpose quintuplets across two beats using a five-over-two polyrhythm and across three beats using a five-over-three polyrhythm.…
Modern Drummer: The First Decade
In the mid-’70s, a relatively unknown drummer named Ron Spagnardi had a big idea: to create the first independent magazine for and about drummers. He had no funds to speak of, and even less experience in publishing. He did, however,…
