X8 Drums Blog

In a tribute to Layne Redmond, drumming mentor and author of the book, When the Drummers Were Women: A Spiritual History of Rhythm, Kris Oster shares a bit of her own history with Layne and how she has influenced many women drummers. The article is shared through the Rebelle Society website and offers a glimpse into Layne’s research into drumming as a sacred act of women throughout time. Layne has been a treasure for Kris in her own academic and pleasure pursuits in drumming and she shares with …

Actor, musician, and author Mike Berry has another one-man show and it has been extended through August 4th, 2013. Keith Moon: The Real Me is an enactment of the life of the famous drummer for The Who. Berry aims to portray Keith’s passion, personality, and talent during the show which took 10 years to make. Stark Insider writes that Frank Simes, the musical director of The Who, is also the musical director of this show, giving it an even greater feel of authenticity. Characters portrayed, other …

If you are ever in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and stop by Coalition Drum Shop, you may be surprised by a special treat. La Crosse has its own celebrity grandmother named Mary Hvizda. This 63 year old woman is a whirlwind on the drums and visits the drum shop every now and then to relive her old, rock and roll days. Fox reports that when Mary was a younger woman, she played the drums for several bands in various genres of music, including rock and roll and country western. She was even a member of the …

While many of us may now think of drumming as a secular activity, the activity is rooted in the spiritual realm. Even today, in parts of the world where the origins of an instrument’s use may be remembered and the traditional ways followed, we find that spiritual offerings and rituals are still followed. Whether discussing the didgeridoo or the drum, percussion instruments have always played a central role in ceremonies. For this reason, the spiritual connection of drumming should come as no sur …

Once you have decided to become a drummer, you have opened yourself up to a world of creativity. Many beginning drummers spend hours learning to play their favorite songs by other artists and practicing basic drumming fundamentals. Eventually, though, a drummer is likely to want to branch out and learn how to write drum beats. There are a couple of ways to go with this and each is determined by the drummer’s ultimate goal. Of course, there is a formal way of learning drum beats. This is where th …

Earlier this month, Deep Purple fans got the opportunity to meet their drumming hero, Ian Paice. Music Radar reports that a UK drum store called DrumWright organized the dining event. The managing director of DrumWright, Ian Wright, had asked Ian Paice to design his ideal drum kit the year before. Then, a limited number of the kits were commissioned and enthusiasts who bought one were offered an opportunity to meet the famous drummer. With a dinner prepared by Paice’s favorite chef, the night wa …

Congas are Cuban drums with African roots. Originally made from barrels, over time the drums have taken on a tapered bottom. Typically, multiple conga drums are played together, but sometimes drummers only use one at a time. While most of us know the drums as congas, Cubans call the drums “tumbadoras” and the name is reflected in the many faces of congas. There are six main types of conga drums, categorized according to size and sound.The six, typical conga drums are: supertumba, tumba, conga, q …

The School of Rock in Las Vegas recently received enough funding to provide a year of music programming for special needs children. Las Vegas Review-Journal shared a story about how the Avril Lavigne Rockstar Club at Easter Seals runs the program for children ages 10-18. It meets monthly and gives 12 children the opportunity to rock out to music by bands such as KISS, The Beatles, and The Killers. The children get to play a variety of percussion instruments, including shakers, eggs, sticks, and …

Apple recently released Logic Pro X, the newest version of their professional audio software. According to Mac Rumors, the software has a new virtual drummer and includes integrated pitch editing. There is even a companion iPad app, for those who feel the need for such a thing. The interface has been updated and the program has expanded the instrument and effect collection. Drummer is one of the new features and it can play along with your song using a variety of drumming styles. Logic Remote is …

Latin Percussion has released a new series of congas and bongos. According to DRUM! Magazine, the series offers professional quality at reasonable prices. The new City Series congas are priced for a retail value of around $500 and the bongos are priced at $132. All the drums are constructed of Siam oak and have black powder-coated hardware. Both congas and bongos are available in finishes called “Natural Satin”, “Dark Satin”, and “Vintage Sunburst Satin”. The “Natural Satin” finish is the color …