modern drummer

ModernDrummer.com gets a redesign

In an effort to bring their site to meet the demands of the modern Internet user, Modern Drummer has updated their website with new features.  According to an article from DrummerCafe.com …

These recent developments represent an ongoing pledge to our readers and the drum industry,”explains Modern Drummer associate publisher Tracy Kearns. “Since Ron Spagnardi first began publishing Modern Drummer in 1977, we have been dedicated not just to covering the drumming community, but delivering this information in a variety of ways that serve the needs of players, students, teachers, dealers, manufacturers, and distributors. The digital age is here. Call it revolution or evolution, Modern Drummer continues to be on the leading edge.

Unfortunately there are a few blunders that MD is making.  The site redesign is simply terrible and looks woefully amateur.  Why would a company with one of the best designed magazines have such a sloppy, hacked together looking web presence?  It’s as if the art departments for the site and mag didn’t work together at all.  I feel that any company’s website should reflect the tone, attitude, and style of their physical counterpart, but the new MD.com is nowhere near the polish of the mag.  Read more

MD 2008 Festival Lineup Finalized

Source: ModernDrummer.com

We’ve been following this for a while, but here is the final, official roster of artists for MD’s festival weekend to be held September 20 and 21 in NYC.

Will Calhoun
Living Colour
In 1988, Living Colour’s Will Calhoun exploded onto the world stage with a unique mix of power and finesse. Will’s continued to evolve in startling ways, and today he’s considered one of the most profound drummers alive.

Bill Stewart & Special Musical Guests
John Scofield/Pat Metheny
For two decades, Bill Stewart has been a wildly imaginative go-to drummer for today’s most successful jazz artists. And he’s a daring leader in his own right.

Billy Ward & His Trio
Joan Osborne/Robbie Robertson/Bill Champlin
Billy Ward is a world-renowned drummer of relentless creativity and purpose. He’s also one of the freshest, most incisive drumming scholars around.

Thomas Pridgen
The Mars Volta
Thomas Pridgen’s been winning drum-offs, endorsements, and scholarships since the second grade. And now he’s in the coolest, most advanced rock band of the age. Read more

Are You a Drummer Needing Work? Need a Drummer? Visit DrummerHunter.com

Source: ModernDrummer.com

Finding a good drummer can be a time consuming and difficult task. Drummer Hunter aims to ease the search. The simplicity of the site reflects the simplicity of the concept. Todd explains the inspiration behind the idea; “I moved from Minneapolis to Austin I didn’t know anyone and had been trying to find a band online. The whole process was a lot like dating. Finding the right fit has so much to do with personality, tastes, compatibility, as much as ability…then the idea just hit me. Ultimately, Drummer Hunter is meant to be a bit of a cross between Craigslist, MySpace and eHarmony.”

Drummer Hunter’s “online-dating”approach allows drummers and bands to create profiles that specify: location, influences, styles, party preferences, practicing/touring availability along with MP3s, videos, MySpace/website links all in a searchable database. Plus, each profile receives a public profile link. Thus allowing the band or drummer to promote them self outside of the site as well.

Read more here or visit DrummerHunter.com for yourself!

The Gretsch Company Celebrates 125 Years with a Search for the World’s Hottest Unsigned Bands

Source: ModernDrummer.com

To celebrate its 125th anniversary, The Gretsch Company, one of the world’s most well-known drum and guitar manufacturers, is kicking off the Next Gretsch Greats Unsigned Artist Competition, an online competition to identify the world’s hottest unsigned bands. The competition entry period will begin May 1 and end May 31, 2008.

Go to Gretsch’s 125th Anniversary site, or Read the MD article here …

Sabian’s “Dream Spot” Contest Returns

Source: Modern Drummer

SABIAN, Ltd. announced recently the return of the SABIAN Dream Spot competition. The second annual promotional contest will give one lucky undiscovered band the chance to play 10 dates on the 2008 Vans Warped Tour. The winning band will earn the opportunity to play the “Kevin Says”stage, the launching pad for many SABIAN bands including “My Chemical Romance,”“Fall Out Boy,”and “Avenged Sevenfold.”

Read the full story …

Sonor leaks MD 2008 Readers Poll results

Ok .. well, maybe MD doesn’t care, but Sonor has posted the Modern Drummer 2008 Readers Poll results, and I must to say – I’m getting frustrated with these things.

It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy: the mags write about artists who they think readers will like so the readers begin to like the people that the mags write about so the mags continue to write about artists readers will like so … *sigh.* These are the same names year-in and year-out, and it all seems a little in-bred to me. How else do you explain Neil Peart (whom I love and is one of my greatest influences) winning the rock and recorded performance category?! These polls seem more and more like drumming celebrity contests.

Bah! I’m worked up into a froth now. Nevertheless, here are the results thanks to the folks over at Sonor … Read more

MD Announces Lineup for 2008 Festival

A few weeks ago, we reported that MD’s Festival Weekend had gotten a date, and now it seems they’ve gotten the talent to ink to an appearance. According to MD, scheduled to appear so far are:

Simon Phillips & Protocol
Toto/The Who/Jeff Beck
A true giant of rock and fusion drumming, and a revered clinician, Simon Phillips has been enrapturing audiences with his ultra-precise chops for over thirty years.

Gavin Harrison
Porcupine Tree/King Crimson
Gavin Harrison’s head-turning neo-progressive drum work and popular advanced tutorials leave drumming fans enlightened-and amazed.

Todd Sucherman
Styx/Brian Wilson
There are over 6 billion people on this planet. Maybe a half a dozen of them posses the advanced drumming talents of Todd Sucherman.

Dafnis Prieto
Michel Camilo
Dafnis Prieto is one of jazz’s most intriguing drummer/leaders. His taste, technique, and tremendous musicality will leave Festival attendees awestruck.

Derek Roddy
Today Is The Day/Hate Eternal

It will be interesting to see where this goes. So far, Simon Phillips is the only real “A-List” drummer to have signed on.  For more info, check out MD’s full article.

Aquarian gets into the practice pad game

Aquarian gets into the practice pad game

You can’t flip open a drum mag this month without catching a large, full-page ad for the Tru-Bounce Practice Pad – Aquarian’s foray into the crowded practice pad market. The Tru-Bounce is said to provide “an active playing surface of specially selected neoprene for a true and accurate response.”

Enclosed with the Tru-Bounce pad is a FREE pair of Power-Sleeve 5A drumsticks. Also included is a teacher approved rudiment sheet and two “Fact Sheets” by Roy Burns which cover some warm-up exercises and tuning tips.

Can it beat out HQ’s Real Feel, the current champion of practice pad technology? When we get our hands on one, we’ll let you know!

Modern Drummer’s Undiscovered Drummer Contest is Back

Modern Drummer is now taking submissions for this year’s Undiscovered Drummer contest. The winners of both age categories (18 & under, and 19+) will get $1000 cash and a full write up in Modern Drummer magazine. Previous winners have been immortalized in the Modern Drummer Festival DVDs, but will that continue for this year? MD hasn’t announced yet, but they have guaranteed “an attractive plaque commemorating your victory.” Whee, a plaque! It can go right next to my Little League “You’re a Participant” trophy.

New for this year, you can submit your entries on YouTube (ala Heinz’s commercial contest)! A couple have already cropped up but I’m sure there will be 100’s more. We’ll keep an eye on them and report on any that are either very amazing, or very very awful.

Modern Drummer Festival Returns Sept. 2008

Source: ModernDrummer.com

The Modern Drummer Festival Weekend is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious live drumming event in the world. Produced since 1987 by Modern Drummer magazine, the world’s most widely read drumming publication; the two-day Festival presents a roster of today’s top drumming talents, representing a variety of popular musical styles. Some offer solo “clinic”performances; others appear “in concert”with additional musicians. All share their talents in an educational and entertaining format that has made the MD Festival a must-see event for drummers around the world.

Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21, in the Concert Hall on the State University of New York at Purchase campus. Tickets are on sale now by phone only by calling PAC box office at (914) 251-6200 Monday thru Friday 10 a.m to 6 p.m.

Artists have yet to be announced.

Drummer Talk 06/22/2007 – Modern Drummer Festival 2006 DVD Review

We have a huge mega-show today as we discuss the Modern Drummer Festival 2006 DVDs – audio clips and sound bytes included! Also, we go over MD’s 25 Drum Gods issue and we have news from the FUTURE!

Drummer Talk 06/22/2007 - Modern Drummer Festival 2006 DVD Review Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Drummer Talk 01/12/2007 – Drum Magazines

Today we discuss drum magazines and publications. We also hear the Lonestar Percussion romp as well as Ian’s post-party night with Tommy and Johnny recap.

Drummer Talk 01/12/2007 - Drum Magazines Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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