September 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 9
Articles in September 2018
Vater - Extended Play Drumsticks
A new innovation for increased durability with a guarantee to back it up.
Drumset Ergonomics - Part 3: Pedal Placement
In Part 2 of this series, we discussed the importance of setting your throne height to a position that will be optimal for your body to be comfortable and strong for a lifetime of playing. This time we’re going to…
Bishop Briggs’ Nik Hughes
MD caught up with Nik Hughes while he was on tour with British indie-pop artist Bishop Briggs to find out how he recreates for the stage the unique mixture of electronics and acoustic drums from Briggs’ recordings. “Our idea is…
An Evanescence Tribute
The U.K.–based drummer Ben McIlvenna assembled this customized Tama Silverstar for live gigs with his Evanescence tribute band, Fallen. McIlvenna tells MD that he’s been building the setup over the past five years. “It started out as a standard five-piece…
What’s Your Favorite John Bonham Performance?
In this month’s Rock ’n’ Jazz Clinic, the drummer and educator Powell Randolph explores a classic John Bonham foot pattern. In keeping with the “Bonzo” theme, we were curious to find out from our readers and social media followers which…
Bone Custom Drums - Maple/Carbon Fiber Drumset
A modern-sounding kit with some vintage punch.
Underøath’s Aaron Gillespie
After nearly ten years away from the band he cofounded while still a teenager, the drummer returns with a new full-length, a 2018 world tour, and a fire in his belly.
Hiding in Plain Sight - Musically Applying Odd Rhythms
Unless you’re playing in a technical prog-metal band, you may find it difficult to apply odd rhythmic ideas to songs without getting deathly glares from your bandmates. Although I wouldn’t suggest that you start cramming polyrhythms and septuplets into pop…
Reggie Quinerly and Steve Gadd take the reins, Chad Smith with Joe Satriani, Claus Hessler's Camp Duty Update, and more
RECORDINGS Taking the Reins Reggie Quinerly Words to Love An ascending drummer delivers a welcome surprise. Reggie Quinerly proved himself as a strong, swinging, fluent, and sensitive drummer accompanying the likes of Branford and Wynton Marsalis, Joe Lovano, and Greg Osby,…
Istanbul Mehmet - Hamer Series Cymbals
Heavily hammered, dark-sounding cymbals with extra dry, trashy tones.
Keith Forsey
The drummer, producer, and songwriter has had a hugely successful career playing multiple, invaluable roles with Billy Idol, Simple Minds, Donna Summer, and other pop and rock greats. Here, close associate Erik Eldenius gets personal with the triple-threat artist, who…
Must-Know Grooves - Demystifying the Half-Time Shuffle
In This Lesson What are the characteristics of the half-time shuffle? Which drummers defined this groove? Which songs feature the half-time shuffle? https://vimeo.com/282012161 This month we’re tackling a groove that has confounded drummers for more than forty years: The half-time…
Margaret Glaspy’s Tim Kuhl
Tim Kuhl’s musical background is rooted in classical percussion and jazz. But in recent years, electronica artists, who can captivate crowds with little more than a laptop and quick-thinking musical minds, have seduced the drummer into conceptualizing outside—and inside—the “box.”…
Courtney Barnett’s Dave Mudie
Alright drummers, let’s go over that international travel checklist one last time: suitcase, cell phone, cell phone charger, snare and cymbals (assuming there’s a backline kit being provided at your destination), sticks, in-ears, drum key, and, most importantly, your passport.…
Alesis - Command Mesh Drumkit
A competitive entry-level setup with improved feel and sample upload capabilities.
On the Road
I love our new series, “It Happened on the Road,” and this month’s piece on Courtney Barnett’s Dave Mudie is no exception. It’s wild considering what can happen when you throw a group of musicians into a bus, van, plane,…