November 2012 Issue – Volume 37 • Number 11

Stephen Belans

He never planned to become an expert in the field of roots drumming. But after twenty years as one of Austin’s most in-demand musicians—not to mention his participation in two recent Americana drum software packages—that’s how things seem to have…

November 2012 Issue – Volume 37 • Number 11

Doug "Cosmo" Clifford

Creedence Clearwater Revival achieved an unprecedented level of success in a short span of time with hits like “Travelin’ Band,” “Proud Mary,” and “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” helping to establish a down-home sound that has informed several generations worth of…

J.J. Johnson and Tyler Greenwell

Everybody's talkin' about the Tedeschi Trucks Band's dual-drummer team. As in all great relationships, though, communication between the two rhythmic igniters requires few words. Coming off their 2011 Grammy-winning album, Revelator, slide guitar monster Derek Trucks and his wife, the…

Levon Helm May 26, 1940 – April 19, 2012

  There were flowers and a closed casket. And standing next to it, an unmanned drumset. Mourners from nearby and as far away as Australia arrived by the thousands at the Woodstock, New York, barn that served as a communal…

The CRASH Course to Success Part 4: Skill

This month we focus on the fourth part of our CRASH concept for success. For those of you who have not been following this series, CRASH is an acronym that stands for “commitment, relationships, attitude, skill, and hunger.” These are…

Don’t Disturb the Groove! Part 2: Hi-Hat Substitutions

In this article we’ll discuss substitutions where we’re basically using the hi-hat foot to replace either a hand or a bass drum note. The idea is to look at the hi-hat as not just an instrument that plays quarter notes…

Ralph Molina

Neil Young & Crazy Horse at Farm Aid VII in New Orleans, September 18, 1994 Rock 'n' roll bands don't get any more quintessentially American than Neil Young's longtime collaborative soul mate, Crazy Horse. What does the drum chair demand…