January 2019 Issue – Volume 43 • Number 1
Articles in January 2019
Halestorm's Arejay Hale Modern Rock Trailblazers
More than twenty years into their career, the modern rock trailblazers Halestorm continue to scale the genre’s highest peaks. And on the band’s latest release, their energetic drummer and founding member got a chance to fully explore his true voice…
Modern Drummer 2019 Readers Poll
Make your voice heard in the most important poll in the drumming world. The time to vote has passed for this years' poll. Thank you for visiting ModernDrummer.com.
Gang of Four’s Solid Gold
One of the downsides of making a groundbreaking, influential album is that your other records often get overlooked. So it goes with Leeds, U.K., post-punk trailblazers Gang of Four. While the band’s 1979 debut LP, Entertainment!, is rightfully hailed as…
J. J. Johnson and Tyler Greenwell on Everything’s OK by Whose Hat Is This?
The Tedeschi Trucks Band’s killer double-drummers slay on their second completely improvised side-project release.
Portugal. The Man’s Jason Sechrist
Portugal. The Man’s Jason Sechrist first spotted Ludwig’s new hot pink Vistalite kit at Summer NAMM 2018. Although it took a few months for his to arrive, it was worth the wait. This stunning set fits perfectly into the lefty…
New Releases from Bill Stewart, Gerry Gibbs, and more!
RECORDINGS Spin Cycle Assorted Colors A group that’s greater than the sum of their top-notch parts. Spin Cycle is led by drummer Scott Neumann and sax player Tom Christensen, and features guitarist Pete McCann and bassist Phil Palombi. Each has…
Mr. Muff - Vintage Sound Tools
Fluffy, furry stick and beater attachments for soft, attack-free tones.
What’s Your Favorite ’90s Rock Drumming Album?
From the emergence of grunge and nü metal to evolutions seen in alternative and indie styles, rock music underwent significant change throughout the 1990s. Here we check in with our readers and social media followers to see which rock drumming…
Voices Refined
In conversation, this month’s cover artist, Arejay Hale, exudes excitement. That should come as no surprise if you’ve ever seen him play with Halestorm, the rock group he started as a youngster. But as I listened back to our conversation…
Turkish Cymbals - Chris Wabich Travel Set
A simple three-piece configuration designed to provide classic tones that’ll fit in a carry-on bag.
Milford Graves
A new documentary on the drummer artfully reveals a player and educator who’s long been uneasy with typical learning methods. But his commitment to musical communication and self-actualization has resulted in his being considered one of the most revered musical voices of our time.
The Patti Smith Group's “Because the Night”
The saying “It takes a village” certainly applies to the Patti Smith Group’s breakthrough single “Because the Night.” Bruce Springsteen wrote the song around the time of his 1978 album Darkness on the Edge of Town. Jimmy Iovine, who engineered…