I was only able to attend today and even after 7 hours of drums, cymbals, drum buddies and clinics, all I can say is I WANT MORE!!
This is a really great show, and thanks to Billy's forum, Drumforum.com, drumsmith and others, it's a great hang 'cause we get to meet with all the folks we've been chatting with for the prior year. For me, there were a bunch of hightlights:
-- watching Donny Osborne work up a 25-minute rudimental ghost of Buddy Rich sweat solo with RickK. And Donny's looking a lot younger and trimmer than he did at the show last year. Hmmm.......gotta ask who his doc is;
-- RickK was King of the Master Classes! I think he hit every one and was almost vibrating with his excitement for each one!
-- seeing our own Z28 SURROUNDED by gear in the Consignment booth. And for a moment I had to check my vision 'cause I was seeing TWO of him (Z's a twin)! Nice to see STL represented (go Cardinals!);
-- connecting with Amba for a tour through the Show. I want some of his energy to rub off on me! It was a blast hanging with Michael and his traveling buddies from the other side of The Cheddar Curtain (one of whom left as the owner of one of those beautifully well-made Trick double pedals). We had a great time test driving cymbals, of which Michael got THE prize cymbal of the show, and another that's pretty great as well. Stand back, 'cause I have my name in his will for this cymbal!
-- literally bumping into PurpleSparkleLudwig and having the chance to enjoy the Danny Seraphine clinic with him. We both loved hearing "those fills" played by the guy who created them. Really great clinic.
There were rumors that Matt the Madbasher was in attendance, but I didn't have the chance to connect.
One of the show's highlights was going to Danny trading fours at the end of his clinic with Donny. Juels puts Donny's kit back in place, but there's no Donny. Like Elvis, they think he left the building. Lo and behold, young drum phenom Hannah Ford (Purple -- she's 19?) was standing near by and Danny called her up to take Donny's place. Well, Hannah was in a short, skintight "thing" that really wasn't designed for drumming, but with a coat tied around her waist to ensure proper decorum, she wailed with Danny on "I'm a Man". She was a great sport and did more than hold her own. And hopefully Purple will jump on board here to tell about his experience trading fours with Hannah and Louie Bellson -- priceless!
Expect a massive pictorial from Ronn Dunnett -- he was everywhere with his camera. Had the chance to connect live for the first time with a few virtual friends -- Joe Kenny of Craviotto and Curt Waltrip of Joyful Noise -- and that was really nice.
Okay, now I have to get back to reality and realize that I have another YEAR to wait!
This is a really great show, and thanks to Billy's forum, Drumforum.com, drumsmith and others, it's a great hang 'cause we get to meet with all the folks we've been chatting with for the prior year. For me, there were a bunch of hightlights:
-- watching Donny Osborne work up a 25-minute rudimental ghost of Buddy Rich sweat solo with RickK. And Donny's looking a lot younger and trimmer than he did at the show last year. Hmmm.......gotta ask who his doc is;
-- RickK was King of the Master Classes! I think he hit every one and was almost vibrating with his excitement for each one!
-- seeing our own Z28 SURROUNDED by gear in the Consignment booth. And for a moment I had to check my vision 'cause I was seeing TWO of him (Z's a twin)! Nice to see STL represented (go Cardinals!);
-- connecting with Amba for a tour through the Show. I want some of his energy to rub off on me! It was a blast hanging with Michael and his traveling buddies from the other side of The Cheddar Curtain (one of whom left as the owner of one of those beautifully well-made Trick double pedals). We had a great time test driving cymbals, of which Michael got THE prize cymbal of the show, and another that's pretty great as well. Stand back, 'cause I have my name in his will for this cymbal!
-- literally bumping into PurpleSparkleLudwig and having the chance to enjoy the Danny Seraphine clinic with him. We both loved hearing "those fills" played by the guy who created them. Really great clinic.
There were rumors that Matt the Madbasher was in attendance, but I didn't have the chance to connect.
One of the show's highlights was going to Danny trading fours at the end of his clinic with Donny. Juels puts Donny's kit back in place, but there's no Donny. Like Elvis, they think he left the building. Lo and behold, young drum phenom Hannah Ford (Purple -- she's 19?) was standing near by and Danny called her up to take Donny's place. Well, Hannah was in a short, skintight "thing" that really wasn't designed for drumming, but with a coat tied around her waist to ensure proper decorum, she wailed with Danny on "I'm a Man". She was a great sport and did more than hold her own. And hopefully Purple will jump on board here to tell about his experience trading fours with Hannah and Louie Bellson -- priceless!
Expect a massive pictorial from Ronn Dunnett -- he was everywhere with his camera. Had the chance to connect live for the first time with a few virtual friends -- Joe Kenny of Craviotto and Curt Waltrip of Joyful Noise -- and that was really nice.
Okay, now I have to get back to reality and realize that I have another YEAR to wait!
I still cant get the smile off of my face.
)
Just like a kid on Christmas morning.
!! So Louie kinda brings the jammin down to some soft delicate stuff which he of
course was brilliant at! We're going along and Louie's turn comes up and he puts the stick perpendicular onto the center of the snare with his hand
at the top of the stick and lets his hand just slide down the stick making this bbbrruuuppppptttt sound, all with this sly grin on his face! We just looked at
each other, threw up our hands and laughed as if to say "I give, it doesn't get any better than that! We're done here!"
