If you haven’t already heard (which we’re darn sure you have), Mike Johnston of MikesLessons.com is one bad mutha.
One of our favorite solos of Mike’s is the one he performed at Drum Daze, a drum fest run by Columbus Percussion, on March 30th, 2014, in Columbus, Ohio.
Check. This. Out.
Mark Feldman and the gang over at BANG! The Drum School consistently put out some of the raddest drumset lessons on the web. We highly recommend checking out their site and diving into ALL of their smokin’ groove and fill lessons, but wanted to take a few minutes to highlight several of our personal favorites.
Specifically, we’re going to share some gems from a series that BANG! calls “Nasty Licks.” These are some fantastic sounding beats, fills and solo ideas that are sure to keep you busy for a while in the woodshed. Click on over to each of these, download the sweet PDFs they provide, practice, practice, practice, and then amaze your friends (and enemies) with drumsticks at your next gig, rehearsal or jam session!
• Nasty Lick #33: RLF all day long!
• Nasty Licks #40, #41 and #42: Around The Drums–Quickly!
• Nasty Lick #43: Vinnie Colaiuta on “Joe’s Garage”
• Nasty Lick #49: Paradiddle-diddle hi-hat madness
• Nasty Lick #62: 5 Double Stroke Roll and Hand Foot Triplet Combinations
• Nasty Lick #67: A Vinnie Colaiuta Inspired Triplet Lick
• Nasty Lick #69: Variations on the Foot-Right-Left Drum Lick as 32nd Notes
• Nasty Lick #71: Sixteenth-note triplets in groups of five
Enjoy!
Ty Anderson and his wife were enjoying the Don Kelley Band at Robert’s Western World on Broadway in Nashville, Tennessee this past Friday . . . when the most unexpected of events took place. At the end of a song, drummer Stan Saxon stood up from his drums to thank the audience, and toppled over backwards – falling straight through the glass window behind him!
On top of that, Ty caught it all on camera:
The resilient Saxon not only finished his set of music with the band, but he also performed another four hours elsewhere nearby that same day. It wasn’t until the next morning that he learned that he’d actually broken a rib.
But that still didn’t stop him from drumming at a gig again already that night. Talk about dedication to the music!
“I didn’t go into this competition half-hearted – I knew what a big deal it was and I really wanted to win,” says Taylor.
And win, he did! Of thousands of contestants from across the US, Illinois’ own Tony Taylor, Jr. took the title of 2016 Guitar Center Drum-Off winner. According to the announcement on GC’s website, young Taylor took home $25,000 cash, a Roland TD-30KV electronic drum kit, a Roland SPD-SX sampling pad, his choice of a drumset (from DW, Tama, Pearl, Gretsch or Yamaha), a full setup of drumsticks, cymbals, and drumheads, endorsement deals from some top drum manufacturers, a VIP Experience at NAMM 2016, studio time at Converse Rubber Tracks, and a feature in the Guitar Center Buyer’s Guide.
Check out Tony’s award-winning drum solo:
Judges for the Guitar Center Drum-Off included Steve Ferrone (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers), Matt Garstka (Animals as Leaders), George “Spanky” McCurdy (Lady Gaga), Ced Mitchell (Nick Jonas), Cora Dunham (Beyoncé), Glen Sobel (Alice Cooper), Mike Reid (Rhianna), Gerald Heyward (Chris Brown), Tony Royster Jr. (Jay Z), Jim Riley (Rascall Flatts), Dave Elitch (Antemasque) and Nisan Stewart (Dancing With The Stars).
The event also featured special performances by Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Mike Mangini (Dream Theater), Clyde Stubblefield (James Brown), Robert Spurt Searight (Snarky Puppy) and Gil Sharone (Marilyn Manson).