Drum Dog Podcast

Send us Fan Mail I put on Chick Corea's My Spanish Heart this week, sat there marvelling at the drummer, and only then realised it was Steve Gadd. This week: Levon Helm's genius behind the kit and the mic, the Eezee Sticks throne holder, and a question about the bands we all underrate. 00:00 - Cold open / what's on this week 00:16 - Heavy Rotation: Chick Corea, My Spanish Heart (fea...

Send us Fan Mail This week, the case for the drummers who made the whole song by doing almost nothing, from Charlie Watts to Ringo. Plus Alex Acuña lighting up Montreux, Kenny Buttrey's touch all over Nashville Skyline, and the app we're actually using behind the scenes at Drum Dog. 00:00 - Cold open / what's on this week 00:29 - Heavy Rotation: Bob Dylan, Nashville Skyline (drums b...

Send us Fan Mail Geese are the band of the moment, so this week I'm into Max Bassin's snare-heavy groove on Bow Down. Plus the German fusion of Passport's Cross-Collateral and a nod to the late Klaus Doldinger, the Dr Liston's cymbal care range, and your best kit maintenance tips. 00:00 - Intro 00:16 - Passport - Cross-collateral 01:26- Max Bassin of Geese, 02:16 - Dr Liston&ap...

Send us Fan Mail Anika Nilles has stepped into Rush, and the drumming world is buzzing. This week I get into her first show, dig into Djo's synthpop record Decide, put you onto UK rod brand Ramrods, and ask the question that splits every drummer: does the click kill your feel? 00:00 - Intro 00:27 - Heavy Rotation: Djo - Decide 01:40 - Drummer Spotlight: Anika Nilles joins Rush 03:25 - New Gea...

Send us Fan Mail You can practise on your own for ten years and just get really good at doing it wrong. This week I'm asking whether learning drums alone is quietly holding you back. This week on The Back Beat: a Bad Bunny record that genuinely surprised me, Keith Carlock's vocabulary with the Wayne Krantz trio, and a drum carved from a single log. 00:00 - What's on this week  00:21...

Send us Fan Mail Steve Jordan stripped his kit back to four pieces and somehow made it the most talked-about groove of the year. This week on The Back Beat: a Japanese jazz album that's been on heavy rotation, Eloy Casagrande's new signature stick with Promark, and the grip debate that won't go away. 00:00 - What's on this week 00:56 - Heavy Rotation: Chihiro Yamanaka, Guilty P...

Send us Fan Mail We sat down with Ari for a remote conversation that came about after Bill Bruford name-dropped him in an earlier Drum Dog interview. What followed was a properly philosophical chat about music as a communication tool, how to practice creativity rather than chops, and why learning an instrument and learning music are two completely different things. Ari opens up about his solo drum...

Send us Fan Mail We sat down with Ra at the Europe Drum Show 2026 to talk about her journey from a musical household in northern Spain to touring with one of the country's biggest pop artists, Vanessa Martín. Entirely self-taught, Ra opens up about learning by ear, why she'll only take gigs she feels a genuine connection to, the role social media has played in every opportunity she'...

Send us Fan Mail We sat down with Jason at the Europe Drum Show 2026 to dig into 11 years behind the kit with Bullet for My Valentine, the reality of touring at that scale, and the lessons he's picked up writing and recording across eight albums. From honouring a song versus putting his own stamp on it, to the mindset shift of going full-time, to the underrated skills he thinks every drummer...

Send us Fan Mail We sat down with Vicky after her masterclass at UK Drum Show to dive into her incredible hybrid setup, touring life, and how drummers can start incorporating electronic and percussive elements into their kit. From live looping to trigger-based percussion, Vicky breaks down how she blends acoustic and electronic drumming into a powerful, creative setup - and shares practical advice...

Send us Fan Mail We sat down with one of the most forward-thinking drummers on the planet - Jojo Mayer. Jojo talks about Me/Machine, his generative music system built from two years of pandemic-era coding, inspired by a session with Brian Eno. He explains how the system responds to his playing in real time, the role of probability in making music feel alive rather than mechanical, and why he belie...

Send us Fan Mail We had the chance to speak to legendary drummer Gavin Harrison as discussed his incredible career, musical philosophy, and the realities of life behind the kit. Known for his work with Porcupine Tree, King Crimson, and countless session recordings, Gavin shares stories from decades in the music industry and offers thoughtful insight into groove, feel, and musicality. Gavin reflect...

Send us Fan Mail 🌟 Become a Drum Dog today! 👉 https://join.drum.dog/upgrade In this episode of the Drum Dog Podcast, we sit down with Mike Lowry (Future Islands) for a deep dive into groove, taste, and the long road of musical identity. From formative hip-hop shows in ’90s Baltimore to punk basements, funk clinics, and sharing festival stages with New Order, Devo, Beck, and Sparks, Mike traces h...

Send us Fan Mail We sat down with the iconic Mel Gaynor at the UK Drum Show 2025 to reflect on his storied 38-year tenure with Simple Minds. Mel dives into the unique challenge of drumming and singing simultaneously - a skill he embraced later in his career - and shares behind-the-scenes anecdotes from recording with Elton John, the effect 'Don't You (Forget About Me)' had on him an...

Send us Fan Mail Renowned drummer and composer Antonio Sanchez (Birdman, Pat Metheny Group) joins us to discuss his latest projects, including the original soundtrack for the Apple TV+ series The Studio and his unique trio album featuring harp and banjo. In this interview, Antonio breaks down his transition from touring drummer to film composer, sharing stories about the "constant struggle&qu...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we're joined by Audrey Tate , the incredibly talented drummer of the iconic band Franz Ferdinand . Recorded during their tour, Audrey shares fascinating stories from the road, including their recent high-energy performance at Glastonbury Festival . Audrey dives into the physical demands of drumming, discussing her pre-gig warm-up routines and her recent battl...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we're joined by Rob Brian, a veteran session drummer and honorary Drum Dog ambassador. Rob shares stories from his extensive career, from his musical upbringing to touring with iconic artists like Siouxsie Sioux and Simple Minds. Rob opens up about the intimidating experience of joining Siouxsie and the Banshees and the importance of respecting a band’s music...

Send us Fan Mail In this interview, we sit down with Ollie Usiskin, a well-regarded session drummer who's played across a huge range of genres. Ollie shares his experiences working on a wide variety of music projects, from a free-jazz duo with an electric cello player to a heavy metal album with actor Christopher Lee. Ollie discusses his career as a session musician, including his philosophy...

Send us Fan Mail Australian drummer, composer, conductor, and rhythmic explorer, Benjamin Shannon was kind enough to join us for an interview. Known for his work with Dropbear Lodge, Benjamin talks about his unique approach to experimental music and the art of conduction. We touch on everything from RuneScape to orchestral improvisation, personal fulfillment, and redefining what it means to be a m...

Send us Fan Mail Legendary drummer Bill Bruford reflects on everything from his drumming hiatus and short-haul European air travel to current projects and favourite tracks to play across his career. It was a real privilege to speak to Bill and hear him discuss his battles with drumming burnout,  earning a doctorate in musicology, and what it truly means to find your voice behind the drums. We, of...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Sam Jones, a leading drummer, producer, and DJ from London's vibrant jazz scene. Known for his work with artists like Sons of Kemet, Joe Armon-Jones, and Nubya Garcia, Sam shares an in-depth look at his musical journey and professional life. Sam opens up about his unconventional start—from playing the oboe to a "mashed-down kit" fro...