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📢 Feature Your Drum Kit!
There's nothing I love more than seeing how drummers set up their space — so I want to see yours. Hit reply and send me a photo of your kit along with any details you'd like to share, whether that's the story behind a particular drum, a wild DIY mod, or just a proud "this is mine." Would love to feature it in the newsletter!
⚡ Quick Hits
🥁 Slipknot's "Psychosocial" played on a handpan is wild (1 min)
Some handpan? Why not! El Estepario Siberiano swaps his kit for a handpan and somehow makes Slipknot's "Psychosocial" work on the instrument. The short clip captures the riff's aggression translated into the handpan's resonant, almost meditative tones, creating a collision of textures that shouldn't work but absolutely does. It's a quick, genuinely surprising reframe of a song many drummers know by heart.
🎶 Tobines shows what Z Customs sound like in the right hands
@Zildjian Company
Drummer Tobines brings his signature intensity to a rapid-fire crossover pattern over Missy Elliott's "Get Your Freak On," and the control he maintains at that speed is genuinely hard to believe. Zildjian captured the performance to showcase their Z Custom cymbals, which cut through the track with a sharp, focused wash that suits the frenetic pace. If you follow Tobines for his power, this clip is a reminder that his precision is just as formidable. If you need more Tobines, check out this older clip, it'll make you want to get a double bass pedal.
🥁 Matt McGuire just did something unexpected with a Bieber beat
@Matt McGuire
Matt McGuire takes Justin Bieber's "As Long As You Love Me" and drags it somewhere Bieber never intended, locking into a heavy, Korn-influenced groove that reframes the pop hit entirely. The Chainsmokers drummer has a knack for these kinds of left-turn covers, and this one lands with enough conviction that the source material almost disappears. Worth a watch if you've ever wondered what early 2000s nu-metal drumming sounds like underneath a radio staple.
🌊 Deep Dives
🥁 Todd Sucherman reveals the hidden details inside "Renegade" (8 min)
Todd Sucherman has played "Renegade" live with Styx for over two decades, and in this eight-minute Drumeo breakdown he unpacks exactly what makes John Panozzo's original groove so deceptively tricky. The video zeroes in on three distinct sections, including the swung verse feel and the chorus bell pattern, showing how Sucherman honors the recorded part while keeping it his own. If you've ever tried to cop this groove and felt something slip through your fingers, this is where to look.
🥁 Jackson Walker's standout set at the 2026 UK Young Drummer of the Year (8 min)
At just 16 years old, Jackson Walker's standout set from the 2026 UK Young Drummer of the Year competition is worth a focused watch — his command of the K Sweet cymbal family, from the 17" crash to the 21" ride, shows a maturity well beyond his years. Competitions like this one, hosted by Mike Dolbear, are vital for surfacing the next generation of serious players. Give Jackson a follow at doublekick_21 on Instagram and watch someone early in what looks like a real career.
🥁 Jojo Mayer gets real about AI, inspiration, and bad habits (25 min)
Jojo Mayer sat down with Thomann at the Europe Drum Show in Friedrichshafen to talk through the ideas and tensions shaping his practice right now, from artificial intelligence to the bad habits that stick around longest. Mayer has always been a drummer who thinks as hard as he plays, and this interview gives that side of him room to breathe. Worth setting aside 25 minutes to watch in full.
🎓 Practice & Skills
📚 Jeff Randall's 13 layered grooves you need to try (2 min)
In just over two minutes, Jeff Randall runs through 13 layered beat variations, stacking kick, snare, and hi-hat patterns to show how small rhythmic additions shift the feel of a groove. It's a compact visual reference for drummers looking to move beyond a single go-to beat and start thinking in terms of texture and density. Pick one or two that challenge your current coordination and work them slowly before bringing them up to tempo.
🕰️Justin Scott breaks down 2:3 polyrhythm coordination in seconds (1 min)
In under a minute, Justin Scott breaks down the 2:3 polyrhythm, one of the most useful coordination challenges a drummer can internalize. The exercise trains your limbs to feel two pulses against three simultaneously, a skill that sharpens both your internal clock and your independence. If polyrhythms have felt abstract or slippery, this short clip offers a concrete starting point worth looping a few times.
🛒 Gear Picks
🎙️ Which kick out mic actually wins? (1 min)
Just Add Drums is back with part two of their kick mic shootout, putting several microphones head to head on the kick out position. The short clip cuts straight to the sonic comparisons, letting the differences in tone and attack speak for themselves. If you've been on the fence about which mic to place outside the shell, this is a quick and practical reference point. He showcases the Neuman U87, the Neumann KM184, the JZ V67, the Neumann TLM103 and others!
🥓 Meinl Cymbals Bacon Cymbal Sizzler Chain (Amazon)
The Meinl Cymbal Bacon is a stainless steel beaded chain that drapes over any ride, crash, or china to produce that classic sizzle sustain without drilling a single hole. A minimal metal washer secures it under your existing wing nut, so you keep your original felts and can swap the effect on or off in seconds. Currently on sale, and it's a genuinely practical alternative to permanent rivets for jazz players or anyone chasing that washy, sustained shimmer.
🌎 From The Community
Practiced 6 days a week for 6 months — then bombed the show (Reddit)
After six months of practicing an hour a day, six days a week, /u/StarGal0_0 walked offstage feeling like a fraud after a rough performance night where the click track failed and nerves took over the rest. The post is an honest, gut-punch account of the gap between the practice room and the stage, and the comments are filling up with drummers who have been exactly there. If you have advice on performing under pressure, this thread is worth your time.
That's it for today! Thank you for carving out time to read! This community means a lot to me, and I'm grateful you're here. 🙏
If you have feedback, a story, or something you'd love to see in the newsletter, just reply to this email. I read every message and respond to each one.
Happy drumming,
Matteo