Support your local Independent Drum Shop
Recently I had the opportunity to complete a cross-country road trip - something I have been thinking about since I first got my license at 17 years old.
Coast to coast, windows down, getting my kicks, on Route 66 and for the most part that is exactly what my wife Kathy and I this past February thru Mid-April 2018. Officially, Route 66 does not exist any longer given the Federal Government decommissioned it as an official highway in June 1985, but large stretches of "Historic Route 66" will still take you from Santa Monica to Chicago.
By motoring across the great 'ole USA I had a chance to drop in and visit a number of great independent drum shops and music stores. During these visits I was impressed at every stop with the store owners and/or staff business acumen and the key areas of focus they are using to keep their business both attractive to the general public and economically viable.
First Stop: Revival Drum Shop, Portland OR
What can I say? It's the Vintage Drum Shop you would open if you opened a drum shop. Amazing inventory, parts and sales which are changing on a daily basis. An amazing team led by Owner Jose Medeles and a wonderful repair shop as well. Spent a half day there with the team playing and talking drums. They also have an amazing rental business, most famously supplying all the kits for the recent Fred Armisen Netflix special: Standup for Drummers. Bottom line, if you are within150 miles, make the trip to see the shop and the team at Revival.
The Drum Shop, Tulsa OK
Bringing keen marketing, sales and and a fantastic store layout with amazing customer service to Tulsa OK is owner Roger Nottestad a working drummer performing in the Tulsa area over 200 dates annually. The store itself is beautiful with a great selection of Sakae and Dixon drums on the floor and fantastic accessories and parts from Gibraltar among others —beautiful store, well stocked with sets and snares including some gorgeous Pork Pie snares.
Stop in and say hello as Roger and his team are awesome, very knowledgeable and he knows how to make an independent drum shop successful.
Horn Trader Music, Oklahoma City, OK
I did a little snare shopping at Horn Trader Music and spent some time with Scott Friedman who has been at this location for over 30 years. Not just drums but band instruments of all types. Wow what an amazing inventory and a number of historical percussion pieces, sets, snares and much much more. Hard to describe how much vintage and history is contained in this store, it is incredible. An example is he has lent museum pieces to PASIC in the past - what he has in percussion is similar to a museum and some one of a kind pieces.
A must stop if you are near Oklahoma City to stop in and say hi to Steve and trade a few stories and pick up a souvenir or two (aka snare drums!)
Deak's Mississippi Blues & Saxophone Emporium, Clarksdale MS
The real home of the blues - Clarksdale, MS, where Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the Crossroads in order to play blues guitar. Not a drum store, but wow a place with a craftsman Harmonica player (aka Mississippi Saxophone) and master craftsmen and custom 'harp' builder.
The music in Clarksdale is unbelievable and the real deal. "Reds" is by far the coolest dive bar I have been to in my life and one of the last remaining original "Juke Joints" in the Mississippi Delta.
Reds looks like it has been closed for years on the outside. Don't worry - it looks worse inside!
At Reds the music is hot and the beer is cold. No refrigeration inside and everything comes out from behind the bar stocked in a fishing cooler. Easy to decide what to get as they only serve one thing: Beer! -- cash only.
On day 1 in Clarksdale, I found myself hanging with a "Jersey" guy, master blues harmonica player Deak Harp. Between local gigs, tours around the world, a new CD and his store - Deak’s Mississippi Saxophone & Blues emporium he’s got a lot of good music and positive vibes going on. Want to know what harmonica Mick Jagger and Ozzy Osbourne play? Deak's! For a Jersey City boy he looks right at home in the Mississippi Delta!
BluesTown Music, Clarksdale, MS
Meeting owner Ronnie Drew is immediately like hanging out with an old friend. That is, if you have an old friend who hangs out with people like Robert Plant, Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones.
The store is a guitar and bass player's dream with rooms of vintage instruments and a story to go with every one! Ronnie himself is an accomplished blues guitar player and also has a significant PA/sound system rental business as well. He is a multi-entrepreneur who is making a good life in the Delta.
Memphis Drum Shop, Memphis, TN
What can I say about the legendary shop in Memphis - wow what an incredible collection of new, vintage and unique drums, snares, parts and accessories. Their cymbal room alone is worth the trip and check out their YouTube channel for an incredible daily upload of the cymbals in stock. Most surprising for me was the spectacular personal snare collection of Owner Jim Pettit on display. I have never seen so many engraved Ludwig Black Beauty’s in one place before. Thanks for Carl and Jamieson for showing me around the store and talking drums and Memphis music.
Nelson Drum Company, Nashville, TN
I had previously purchased a 1964 Gretsch 4 x 14 Progressive Jazz Snare online (which sat in a closet since it was purchased - email me for pix, it is incredible) and glad to meet in person and hang at the store for a few hours. It is a very cool store, open for only a few years and been selling Vintage drums in a retail setting for just under one year. The place has a great vibe and awesome partnership with Andy Foote from Drum Supply. Loved trying out a few snares and talking drums. Great guy. Great shop. A MUST stop if you are in Nashville as the inventory changes daily and Bryson has incredible sources for really cool snares and kits.
Drum Supply Shop, Nashville, TN
The master builder Andy Foote runs a very unique shop here an is partnered in the same building with Bryson Nelson (above). Andy is a great guy, super flexible and superior design, support services and custom drum services. Looking for a custom drum, vintage part or need something fabricated? Andy and his team of craftsmen is the place to go.
Forks Drum Closet, Nashville, TN
Awesome hang with Nick Lauritano, Drums & percussion teacher at Forks Drum Closet. Nick is another ‘Jersey guy’ in Nashville and we traded some fun stories and memories about the beach and bands growing up. Forks is an amazing store and is HUGE and a must stop when in the Nashville area. The drum kit room and snare room are unlike anything I have seen before with mostly new but some gorgeous vintage snares as well.
There is also a spectacular stock of vintage Slingerland and Ludwig snares in the store which are not for sale as they are the personal collection of owner Gary Forkum.
Gary Forum's personal snare collection - not for sale (I asked).
Yes this means you!
Sweetwater Music, Fort Wayne, IN
It’s difficult to describe this only as the worlds largest music store - which it is, as it is more like a small city. Rooms and sections for all pro-level gear, a restaurant, medical center, free Game Center, a gorgeous concert hall, state of the art recording studio and much more. It’s incredible and quite exciting and overwhelming as you walk in the door as it has become a destination site just outside downtown. Super nice people including drum guru and first call session drummer Nick D’Virgilio. Incredible what founder Chuck Surack has accomplished!
From the innovation of Revival to the largess of Sweetwater, these are just some of the stops I made and of course there are a lot of other amazing drum and music stores across the country who need our support as they supply the skills, experience and amazing services to our drumming community.
Support your local Independent Drum Shop!