NAMM 2005

Spent the morning at NAMM. Here's a few notes:

1) The Gretch Renown "Pure Wood" kit in Walnut sounded great!

2) Finally tried the Armand "Beautiful Baby" Ride Cymbal from Zildjian. NIce clear, articulate sound.

3) I spoke with Jeff Hamilton for awhile. Nice guy!

4) Saw John Blackwell and Steve Ferrone hanging out.

5) Checked out the Axis long boards very different feel from the DWs and Eliminators.

6) Pearl also had a nice display of Eliminators and I was able to try out all of the cams. Very cool.

7) Spent a bunch of time talking to Jim Chapin. What a walking history book of drumming. I wish I could've taped that discussion. He was talking about all the great old drummers and explaining their styles. He was even discussing some of the current guys like Virgil, Lang and Marco.

8) The highlight of my day was when I got the nerve to show Jim Chapin my version of the Moeller technigue. Jim said "You're doing it wrong! You're doing it just like Freddy Gruber!"

'looking forward to meeting up the HODer's at NAMM tomorrow!

Thank's Andy for the info nice to know even a little of what is going on there, keep the info coming guy's.

Dig

Awesome, Andy!

I want to hear more!!!!!

[img]cool.gif[/img]

Went to NAMM this morning. The place was nicely sparse, not too crowded. I'm sure Fri and Sat will be a zoo!! I took pics of several "boards" showing who was visiting or playing at a particular booth, I'll post them soon.

I think I saw Stuart Copeland is playing on sunday along with Steve Smith at another booth. Have to look at my pics. I'll try to get pics of as much "stuff" as possible.

Andy.....

I'm meeting L.A. Danny and Randy Walker for breakfast tomorrow around 8am. We're meeting around the escalators near registration. Otherwise I guess we'll be at Greg's stick bag endorser around 11:30.

My cel number is (818) 470-6280. We'll hook up!!

John

How's the "badge" scene? ID + badge walking in and out of halls?

No problemo man!!

I registered my passes without showing I.D. for me or for my freinds pass that wasnt there with me. And they don't check I.D. going into the halls either. So if you have somebody elses pass, you won't have any problems at all.

See you saturday.

John
(818) 470-6280

COOL! I'll call ya Sat at the show or Friday night--still working out details.

In fact, if I could borrow your badge for 5 mins Sat morning, I could get a buddy in who wants to tag with me.

If we don't hook up, I'll get him in one way or another.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Andy Vermiglio:
[QB]8) The highlight of my day was when I got the nerve to show Jim Chapin my version of the Moeller technigue. Jim said "You're doing it wrong! You're doing it just like Freddy Gruber!"
QB]

---

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Can you Please tell us more about that ? [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Donu,

Both Jim and Freddy taught Weckl the Moeller method. I studied it with Dave. With Jim's method, (and he as you know was taught by Moeller in the 30's)the stick pretty much stays at the same angle to the drum throughout the strokes. The way Dave does it, the tip of the stick pretty much stays in the same place but the back portion of the stick moves slightly outward, so the angle of the stick to the drum actually changes throughout the multiple rebounds (right hand). Also, I think Jim is using less of the back fingers in his version.

Also, at NAMM I picked up a copy of Christian Musician and found a nice interview with Abe Laboriel Sr. and Vinnie. Vinnie discusses how he came to his faith.

When I was at the Axis booth yesterday, Tim Waterson (of World Fastest drummer fame)was demonstrating the Axis long boards for me. Very fast (as you would expect). Interesting foot position, where the toe is actually way down the foot board towards the back and he's really using the lever advantage of that long board. Very smooth action!

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ January 21, 2005 08:57 AM: Message edited by: Andy Vermiglio ]</font>

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Andy Vermiglio:
Donu,

Both Jim and Freddy taught Weckl the Moeller method. I studied it with Dave. With Jim's method, (and he as you know was taught by Moeller in the 30's)the stick pretty much stays at the same angle to the drum throughout the strokes. The way Dave does it, the tip of the stick pretty much stays in the same place but the back portion of the stick moves slightly outward, so the angle of the stick to the drum actually changes throughout the multiple rebounds (right hand). Also, I think Jim is using less of the back fingers in his version.

---

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I didn't knew that difference between Chapin and Gruber, Thank's for you explanation
[img]wink.gif[/img]

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Andy Vermiglio:
8) The highlight of my day was when I got the nerve to show Jim Chapin my version of the Moeller technigue. Jim said "You're doing it wrong! You're doing it just like Freddy Gruber!"

---

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">[img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img] [img]biggrin.gif[/img] [img]wink.gif[/img]

Freddy does it "wrong"? LOL

Was he serious?

Where's Sanford when we need him!?

P.S. Same topic:

http://www.tigerbill.com/cgi-bin/ult...1;t=002272;p=0

Boy oh boy...where to start....

Randy and I met Andy first thing in the morning and check out his booth. Thank you Andy!

When over to DW and saw the most BEAUTIFUL Pacific kit. The finish was flawless and incredible. Also saw the bowflex pedals, which will be under the Pacific brand.

Went to the Dunnett booth and chatted with Ronn for a bit. Then over to see C.Brady. Nice to see you as always. Met up with Todd S. (Styx)and hung out at Promark. Saw the new Sabian Vault cymbals. INCREDIBLE. The ride sounds like a 50s K ride....

Then Da Chuch and his crew met up with us. We went to see Gregg Bissonette and hung out with him for about 30 minutes.

The Zildjian signing at 3:00 PM was insane. It was a who's who of drumming. Erskoman was sitting next to Steve Gadd, who was next to Billy Ward. I think Weckl'sMechanic might have a picture of the board listing the names.

The highlight of the show was chatting with Vinnie for sure. Specifically, Shedder saying to Vinnie "can I have a hug???" And Vinnie saying "Of course!!!" and giving Shedder a BIG bear hug!! Kodak moment for sure!!!

We also headed out to Sabian night. What a small word this is. Randy and co. were sitting on the sound booth riser. We were chatting away, and this young guy next to Randy says "are you guys from HOD?" Randy and I look at each other surprised and say "yes!" And the young guy says "I'm Louis Palmer!" Needless to say, it was great to meet Louis in person. Fine a person as a drummer. Billy Cobham was great, especially with Victor Baily on bass!!!

Anyway, I'm sure Randy, WecklsMechanic, or others will post more.

For those that couldn't make it, we missed you!

That's it for now.

Danny

some namm pics

http://homepage.mac.com/ilovedrums/....s/DSC_4475.jpg
the gang

http://homepage.mac.com/ilovedrums/....s/DSC_4490.jpg
fans hounding vinnie (a guy even bent down behind vinnie and worshipped him!)

http://homepage.mac.com/ilovedrums/....s/DSC_4467.jpg
vinnie, steve, and simon.

http://homepage.mac.com/ilovedrums/....s/DSC_4492.jpg
wecklsmechanic and vinnie

http://homepage.mac.com/ilovedrums/....s/DSC_4458.jpg
steve gadd

http://homepage.mac.com/ilovedrums/....s/DSC_4408.jpg
blackwell showing his stuff (i wasn't impressed... sorry).

Thx so much for the pix shedder. This is really appreciated by me and all others that couldn't make it. What was wrong with Blackwell's appearance??

WOW! fantastic pictures Shedder THANKS! much. Great info also LADanny. Much appreciated guy's.

Dig

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Suspiria:
Thx so much for the pix shedder. This is really appreciated by me and all others that couldn't make it. What was wrong with Blackwell's appearance??

---

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'm guessing it was his hat, and I don't mean his hi-hat, I mean his top-hat! lol

[img]tongue.gif[/img]

Ooouuu aaaaaahhhhh, NAMM is the land of wonderful music gear and musicians! Thanks everyone for sharing your NAMM experiences with the rest of your HOD brothers and sisters.

Man!! I thought I was a computer geek!!! GOSH!!!

Well... Danny beat me to the punch!! I wanted to make fun of Shedder for asking Vince for a hug 1st... but Dannys post doesn't do it justice.

We were all at Starbucks in the Marriot Hotel after waiting in line to see Erskoman, Gadd, Vinie (who hadn't arrived yet), Kenny Aranoff, the guy from Loverboy (forget his name), Ralph Humphries, Scott Phillips, Russ Miller, Billy Ward, Brian Ticky, Raymond Herrera, Chad Sexton, Mike Mangini, Cole Marcus, Billy Mason, and others that stopped by also.

DaChuch/A.W. (will be known as the "Attention Whore" for the rest of this story) had his own personal photographer to take a picture with every dang artist. Each and every one of them!!!!

From Starbucks.... Shedder left the HOD gang and went back so he could call us on the cell and tell us when Vince showed up at the Zildian booth. Then we got the call.

I left Starbucks and was trying to figure out a way to get chummie with Vinnie. And I remembered he's a caffine and cigarette lover. Well..... in California you can't smoke in public arenas, so I thought I'd get him the next best thing. A Venti Triple Espresso Shot/White Chocolate Mocha, non-fat, no whip (say that 3 times fast!!).

(from now on this drink will be known as a PWVSAHBYSCO.........Play with Vinnie speed for an hour because your so caffined out)

So when I got to the Zildjian booth, I made eye contact with Vince and reached out across the line and gave Vince his coffee. He was sooooo appreciative for me getting him his favorite "fix"!!!

I went to wait in line again with Shedder, A.W.(we love you DaChuch), L.A. Danny and the rest of the gang eventually.

But OH NO!!!!!!!!!!

As we started to make it to the front of the line, Vince was actually getting ready to leave after only staying an hour or so. I leaped into action and and told the guys, "follow me!!". We all walked to the other side of the booth in formation to cut him off at the pass.

I walked up to Vince and said, "Vinne... I want you to meet some of my freinds". Vinne said, "wait right here.... I'll be right back... I've gotta take a group picture".

So wait we did.

We all looked like a Football team in formation at the line of scrimage. Vince was going nowhere until we had our way with him!! [img]wink.gif[/img]

When Vince finally weeded thru the rest of the groupees after the group artist shot, he was met with the HOD Defense line up. After we chit chatted for a second, Shedder was looking at Vinnie like a little boy looking up to his father. Vinnie caught his glare and they gazed upon each other for what seemed like an eternity (I'm really hamming this up). So then Shedder with his puppy dog eyes asks Vinnie.... "Can I have a hug??" (sniff). And Vince gladly abliges!!! [img]graemlins/boy_hug.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/girl_hug.gif[/img]

Baaaaahhahhahahahaha!!!! We were all busting up laughing our asses off!!! (L.A. Danny!! You are totally right!!! A TOTAL Kodak moment!!! [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

We were all hoping the massive caffine dosage we doped Vinnie with was going to kick in and make Vinnie uncontrollably run for a drumset and shred it into pieces.

I guess we'll need to get him an intrevinous rig next time [img]wink.gif[/img]

ps..... I can't find my cable to upload my pics [img]frown.gif[/img]

Danny!! I've got a good one with you and Gadd the dad.

Will post more stories as I think of them.

We had a blast at NAMM and I am really glad I got to me some really great HOD breatheren.

ps.... Randy.... I REFUSE to change my screen name to Ron Jeramie.

WOW! Sounds like DRUMMER'S HEAVEN! I gotta do what I can to get out to the next NAMM show... maybe by then i'll have some endorsements.

*Note to Blackwell Jr: You might be in Prince's band, but you are not infact PRINCE!*

P.S. How was Dunnett's booth? Did he have kits?

You guys rock. Great posts, GREAT pics. We got some high res Weckl shots at Catalinas. Direct links here:
http://www.houseofdrumming.com/images/weckl1_jan05.jpg
http://www.houseofdrumming.com/images/weckl2_jan05.jpg

Keep the pics coming !!!!

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Steve Holmes:
You guys rock. Great posts, GREAT pics. We got some high res Weckl shots at Catalinas. Direct links here:
http://www.houseofdrumming.com/images/weckl1_jan05.jpg
http://www.houseofdrumming.com/images/weckl2_jan05.jpg

Keep the pics coming !!!!

---

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Just make you second pics as wallpaper [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Thank's all of you guy's who make us live a little this event [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

CL thanks for that link on that Moeller discussion. Interesting stuff.


Had to work at NAMM so I didn't get to wonder around and check out more stuff. However in the morning I met with HOD's own Randy Walker and LaDanny. Great talking to them.

At lunch I saw Chester Thompson walking around then heard some nice funky fusion. I turned the corner and saw that kid from a video that was posted here recently where Carter was singing his praises. You know what, that video didn't do him justice. The kid can PLAY! Another guy stood next to me and was totally digging the kid's playing. I looked and it was Jonathan Moffett.

Heard some great bass playing and saw some guy, didn't catch the name, playing an 11 string bass. I couldn't believe it, then a guy next to me said check this out and showed me a 12 string bass around the corner.

Pete, I would have liked to have seen you on those Axis long boards!

Hope all of you guys can make the NAMM show some time in the future!

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ January 22, 2005 12:45 AM: Message edited by: Andy Vermiglio ]</font>

That's it. I am going to try my best to go next year!

I was at the show the last couple of days but I didn't see any of you guys. I guess shed was busy hugging Vinnie and stuff. I have a lot of pictures of bass-related stuff that you probably wouldn't care about. But I DID get to meet my bass hero, Lee Sklar and take a picture with him. Didn't hug him though.

NAMM's fun. Everyone should go, but not on Saturday. Too danged crowded.

The story with the defensive line stopping with Vinnie is great. He could reacted very differently too...Sounds like you guys had a blast though.

I forgot to mention that when I first got to NAMM, I was the proud father of Marc Atkinson, author of Unreel. How proud I am of my son! hahaha.

Thanks Marc for letting me borrow your Dad's pass. Thank you Marc's Dad for letting me be you! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Danny

Hey DaChuch!!??

Wheres all those shots you got "hangin" with your musician buddies?? You photo op queen you!! [img]wink.gif[/img]

It's only because I'm jealous of all the pics you got with all the drum gods. [img]graemlins/whatever.gif[/img]

Mark Atkinson is a really cool dude, very funny. So is Randy Walker. This man seems to know anybody and everybody that has anything to do with music. Cbrady is the host of all hosts. Thank you very much for introducing us to Rico Watson.... another very very cool cat. Very approachable. Makes you feel good about the musical communities open arms.

At the show, I don't think I've laughed as hard as I did when I 1st saw the movie jackass. DaChuch's laughter & good nature is infectious. So is everyone elses that we got to meet.

Will post more when the show is over & I find my stupid Digital camera download cable.

doh! weckmech, i'm going to see my bud caleb tommorrow at church and ask him to give me a link to the photos he took so that i can download it. shedder, do you mind hosting the photos? i have no way of posting it like you do.

here's another great story. i'm in line and shedder is behind me as we both went to get autographs. as i 'm getting my sheet signed by humphrey, i see this dude from the corner of my eye hugging steve gadd over the table!! it was hilarious. he didn't even strike a conversation or introduce himself, he just draped half of himself over steve gadd and hugged him like a prodigal son coming home to his father! steve was flattered? hahaha...he reciprocated in classy fashion. i've known shedder for a bit of time now and he doesn't come off as an emotional / lovey dubbey kinda guy but i guess we all turn into happy little kids when we see our childhood heroes. congrats, shed for finding your long lost father (gadd) and uncle (vinnie)! hahahaah [img]wink.gif[/img]

weckmech, don't even talk about laughter, dude! i think you're the biggest ham in the group! much love, brutha!! good times.

grove, i wish we could've seen ya there also. we did walk by your hero in awe as well.

Thanks for the great info and
pictures, everyone! I wish I
could have been there!!

Did anyone see if the Boa Pedals
were displayed?

I envy you all!

[img]cool.gif[/img]

andy, i'm so sorry i missed ya! what a bummer. i was hoping to meet ya at the zildjian booth at noon. we'll definitely have to make an effort to meet up and hang.

randy, it was great meeting ya finally outside of this cyberworld. i wish i could've met other HODers but since i only could attend one day i won't get to meet the other guys. (bummed)

the NAMM was the highlight of the new year for me. i mean it was (without sounding too corny) like dying and going to music heaven! it kinda reminded of a drummer festival. people hanging and checking out new gear as well as talking to artists and manufacturers as if they were your neighbors. really cool. drummers especially IMO.

saw gregg again at the KACES booth, and it was great as always. his uncle 'chuck' was there along with his dad. they are such a tight family. i really appreciated that. what can i say? i'm a family man myself!

it was a great time to meet people "in the industry". i mean just by connecting with one person, you just run into different people. case in point. i hang out at the VF booth, we start chatting with john ferraro (super cool guy). then comes a dude named i think - jamey tate? he joins in on the conversation and i'm thinking he's one of john's friends from yamaha. turns out he's touring with david benoit. as we're continuing, there's thomas lang at the corner of my eye! i do a double take and chuckle to myself. thinking well, this is namm.

at the zildjian booth... after getting autographs from the who's who of drummers signing table, (peter erskine remembered me from HOD!) i see sterling campbell from david bowie's band and adam budofsky (of MD)and talked with them about how much more gregarious the drum section of the show was compared to like the guitar section - adam was saying how it was so dead over there. gave props to josh freese (i was saying stuff like "go placentia high!" and he was like "yeah! go toreadors!") , talked with craigie zildjian (she's like your next door neighbor's mom and was pleasantly surprised to have been asked for a photo op - hey start at the top when it comes to endorsements [img]wink.gif[/img] ), saw people mob vinnie (me being one of them. oh to have shaken his hand! i will never wash it again!! hahah.) and saw great drummers show up for the group picture at the booth. other drummers such as jonathan moffet, steve smith, scott phillips, simon phillips, denny sewell, nathaniel townsley, i mean some drummers i just don't remember their names but know their faces!

met up with marc atkinson (the unreal book). mark, you're a swell guy! (he hung out with us for most of the show) then we ran into frank briggs and turns out he's still teaching and doing his own band thing at la velee's once a month.

spoke with ron dunnet. guys from dw were coming to his booth to check out what he was doing. i thought that was pretty cool. gave him props.

sabian's stuff is just pretty much insane. they IMHO have the most variety when it comes to color and texture if you're into the B-20 alloy type cymbals. LOVED the vault series. neil peart cymbals, esp. the chinas were outstanding! i was actually kinda dissappointed with the ziljian products because it just didn't seem to have much variety but at the same time if you have a good thing why change it, right?

dw - i know they have a huge base when it comes to high end but they literally OWN when it comes to their low end drums. yikes. danny, already mentioned it, but i thought that one pacific kit with the tobacco brown fade in lacquer finish was just outrageous! the price point is ridiculous as well! i believe all the other manufacturers are shaking in their boots, cuz the entry level is where they make most of their money from. they just upped the bar again. ( i got a 5 piece at GC for 500 bucks out the door!)

SABIAN NIGHT - missed ya again, andy!! [img]graemlins/cry.gif[/img] billy cobham and his band was so on high-octane!! the energy was killer! (i couldn't stay for long, cuz i went to check out a latin band with john pena, jimmy branly, justo almario and other latinos that i don't know at the hotel adjacent to the anaheim coast hotel. ran into tereon glover in the hallway of the hotel. i remembered him from the last MD feature. gave him props and he was surprised someone recognized him. super humble, nice guy. then there was victor wooten's drummer derico watson. couldn't recognize him at first cuz he lost so much weight! he hung with us a bit. super cool guy and so approchable! (said he was going to india to do a gig?) vic firth and roy burns got life time achievement awards from robert ziljian. as vic firth was walking out i said "congratulations sir." and he said "thank you" and shook my hand! it's great to see all the old time greats just mingle with the crowd. it was pretty darned special. zoro was hangin, steve ferrone was groovin and cursin, and the deleo brothers (to my surprise) were pretty funky. it was to cool to see brandon fields in the horn section!


heeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaah, *breathing in now*........that was a brief synopsis of how the day was at NAMM. weck-mech, shedder, danny, marc atkinson, khalib, randy walker, it was a blessing and a pleasure to have spent my first NAMM in 10 years with you guys. hope it's not the last.

Just got home from the Zildjian tribute to Roy Haynes and Louie Bellson-cool to see those living legends still kickin it. Erskine played with a jazz trion afterwards, very laid back, but still intense. he seems most at home in those small jazz settings. I got a nice recording of it too [img]wink.gif[/img]
Kinda cool thing happened as I was watching..I'm sitting there and become aware of someone standing behind me, so I turn to see who, and it's Omar Hakim. I say to him "Hey! Weather Report!" as I point to him and Erskine-he laughs and says "Yeah! freaky!". Cool to be watching one ex-WR drummer while standing next to another. Gotta luv NAMM for that stuff. Now I'm going back to Colorado-this bad air here is killing me!
goodnite.

Hey Shedder, next time you should ask Chambers for a hug. [img]wink.gif[/img]

Hi guys, for those you don't know, I'm the guys with the gray t-shirt in the 2nd pics at the right of Vinnie and in the middle of Vinnie and Wecklmechanic in the back in the other pic... The 1st day I've just showed up and found Randy, Mark Atkinson an Chris Brady together... I've met them for the first time and it was really fantastic... thanks guys for all, you're fantastic...
I came from Italy and it's really nice to know you and hang...
I will surely tell you some story when I came back home...
Peace
Robertopeland
www.thedrumland.com

Hey Randy
I had to jam--you seemed busy and preoccupied. My buddy had to get Zildjian passes.

Hope Marc A. is OK (traffic accident tonight)--didn't seem too serious if I saw you tonight after the fact and all seemed casual.

Hi Peter,

I saw the bow flex pedals and mentioned them in my first post. They will be released under Pacific. They also had a bow flex practice pedal which felt really good. Great for travel cuz it's so light.

WecklsMechanic, DaChuch, Randy, and Marc, I had the BEST time this NAMM hanging with you guys. Glad Shedder was able to join in the afternoon, to provide us with all the hug humor! Seriously, this was the BEST NAMM and HOD hang. I think my stomach hurt all day today from laughing SOOO much!

Great, now I'm going to have post-NAMM syndrome... [img]graemlins/cry.gif[/img]

must...have...HOD...hang...SOON!!!!

Danny

Marc got into an accident??? Oh Crap! I met up Marc today at Drum Connection in Sherman Oaks. I was talking with him on the phone when he was driving back down to NAMM...

Any details?

Hey guys, thanks for the reports. [img]cool.gif[/img]

Anything new at Gretsch and Sonor?

Anyone play that DW titanium snare?

Oh...forgot to mention. At the Sabian booth, Dave was spending a lot of time tuning this new prototype Sabian snare. It was made out of what looked like a Sabian cymbal. I was told it was a one-of-a-kind and there would be no market for it?at least for now. Now that is one product I?d like to have for the Antiques Roadshow! Sorry, battery ran out by that time or I?d take a pic for sure.