The Bottom of the Glass Podcast

One of the most in-demand session drummers in history! You've heard his drumming for years with his work with Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, James Taylor, Chick Corea, Steely Dan and so many others! Grammy winner, Hall of Fame inductee...and all around great guy who LOVES to talk about drumming...especially rudimental drumming, and we dig into traditional rudimental drumming in a big way on this ep...

The gents are having a general chat to get us all thinking about the 2026 Muster and Event Season! 2026 is a watershed year for many fife and drum corps. Many corps are doing very well, some are struggling and some are going on hiatus. Let's keep the discussion alive and continue to talk about ways to support our fellow fife and drum corps in what is a difficult time for many.

What a great discussion with four leaders of the West Point Band...the famous Hellcats! We chat about what it's like to be a part of this pretigious band and what they're looking for in their upcoming auditions! A remarkable talk about a truly remarkable organization! Enjoy!

As we move to the back side of the muster season, this fun and lively episode talks about musters and some of our favorite corps. We'll give you a Deep River recap, what we're anticipating about Westbrook..and the boys give you their "Mt. Rushmore" of fife and drum corps. So as you make your way to the 2025 Westbrook Muster give this one a listen on the way!

It has been a good part of a year since the Bottom of the Glass boys have had a discussion. There is good reason for that and this episode talks about that candidly. This episode also addresses some very recent and very painful losses to the Fife and Drum Family. But as we all get ready to travel to the Deep River Muster (if that's what you're planning to do) there are plenty of lighter topics wit...

With the muster season in full swing, the boys talk musters. Deep River is upon us, the Swiss Mariners are in the Northeast...so let's talk about the changes at DRAM with Berta Armstead and let's talk about the Swiss and Ancient Mariners reunion with PJ and Gus! Enjoy!

Join us as we continue our discussions on the "State of the Artform". This episode features a discussion between three of the best bass drummers in the business. Colin Mason, Jo Nazro and our very own Dave Loyal. A great chat whether you're a seasoned bass drummer or have never picked up a mallet. And our friend Mollyanne Harding stops by to discuss the upcoming National Muster! She&...

Join us as we continue our discussions on the "State of the Artform". In this episode we speak with a fabulous group of junior fife and drum corps directors. The discussion is lively. We cover a lot of ground talking about how junior corps survive and thrive in the current State of Fife and Drum. Enjoy! This episode will feature music from a number of junior fife and drum corps along wit...

Join us as we continue our discussions on the "State of the Artform". In this episode we speak with the great Markus Estermann about fife and drum in Switzerland, how American fife and drum has influenced Swiss fife and drum...and vice versa. Markus is a treat to talk to and you're really going to enjoy this program! This episode will feature music from the Swiss Junior Drum Show, Tr...

Welcome to the Bottom of the Glass for the first episode of 2024 - our FIFTH SEASON! In this St. Patrick’s Day themed podcast we’ll discuss the State of our Artform.  How does the current state of fife and drum compare to preceding generations, and what should we focus on for the future of our hobby. And enjoy some great music from Greg Bacon, The Bothy Band, Planxty, Silly Wizard and Peter Hollen...

Take a trip with us as we dig into the drumming life of Bill Bachman. From his books to his sticks to his pads and all the award winning percussion groups he's worked with in between, Bill takes on the ride of HIS life! What a life it's been with SO MUCH MORE to go. This is a fascinating chat with the Drummers' Drummer...the Great Bill Bachman!

Our chat with Chet is a journey into the experiences, stories and anecdotes with one of the coolest rudimental drummers on the scene. He's played with some of the greats, because he IS a great! His mark on percussion is big and his work using drumming as a vehicle to make a difference in the lives of young people is even BIGGER! Enjoy this talk with Chet Doboe. You're gonna LOVE IT!

We’re all amped, ramped and vamped for the 64th Annual Westbrook Muster.  If you’re making your way to the Connecticut Shoreline, or if you can’t make it this year and plan on the future…enjoy this discussion with a fife and drum friend who has attended SO MANY Westbrook Musters.  Kathy Brennan has been our friend, colleague, corps mate, and inspiration for decades.  She has also been highly invol...

This is a tough one. A dear friend and important member of our community has left us. Pete Emerick was a musician, teacher, educator, historian and friend to so many of us in ancient, historical and military fife and drum. His knowledge was unsurpassed and although he shared so much with so many of us over so many years, we'll never again be able to access that depth of knowledge and history t...

With the USARD Convention right around the corner, we're chatting with three essential and indispensable members of the convention that will be held in Seekonk, MA on April 14th and 15th! Gary Covitz, Artie Shannon and Larry Finn have had uniquely independent and different journeys in rudimental drumming. But like many drumming compadres, they have a bonding connection. This chat covers their...

“Great Day in the Mornin’ To Ya!” (You have to imagine all this with an Irish accent.) You’ll feel the Luck ‘O the Irish when you listen to our St. Patrick’s Day Episode of the Bottom of the Glass. Today your hosts “Dirty” Dave O’Loyal, Brendan McMason and Brian “Blarney Stone” Watkinson will be sittin’ down over a pint or two with Jeff Prosperie, currently Group Leader of the United State’s Army’...

Dr. John Wooton...Dr. Throwdown...whatever you want to call him, just know he's a rudimental specialist.  Funny as hell with so much talent, and a blast to talk to. John even brought along his friend Clarence Boudreaux.  We chatted with both of them and had some fun.  You will too!  Just give this a listen.  An interview with the great John Wooton!

How do you nail an Old Guard vacancy?  Let's hear it from the men and women who decide whether you're in or out.  We did it with the fifes in Part 1 of this podcast and here on Part 2 we're talking to the drummers.  This should give you what you need to know to get into the Old Guard drum line.

You ever wonder about the audition process to get in to the Old Guard?  We did too!  So we asked them.  This is the first of a two-part podcast about how to nail an Old Guard vacancy.  This one's for fife.  Drum will be Part 2.  Enjoy!

As you’re heading to the National Muster this weekend, spend some time with this crazy podcast! It features the great snare drumming champion, composer and drum instructor Paul Cormier in an in-person chat inside the legendary Old Bar at Longfellow’s Wayside Inn in Sudbury, MA! We talked to Paul about EVERYTHING! His life, his drumming, the corps he’s played in, the great drummers he’s known. It’s...

Hey folks, pack your cars and trucks with your fifes, drums and all your crap for the Deep River Muster, and as you head to DRAM listen to this great talk with Jim and Sarah MacConduibh and Michael Godin of the Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes and Drums.  It is some fascinating discussion.  Have a great Deep River! Sincerely, Brendan, Dave and Brian

Welcome to our Junior Fife and Drum Camp Edition of the Bottom of the Glass. Today we’ll speak with ALL the Directors, past and present, of the Junior Fife and Drum Camp. The Camp has come a long way since its early days and this podcast will take you through those years with the people who helped make it happen. Robin Niemitz, Cap Corduan and Tanya Morrisett! A great listen for Memorial Day Weeke...

Welcome to our 3rd Season of the Bottom of the Glass! AMAZING! This first episode of Season 3 is our St. Patrick’s Day PLUS Episode. The PLUS means we’re talking about a lot more than just St. Patrick’s Day. Sure, we have a great discussion with Derek Mulcahy, Bandmaster of St. Mary’s Fife and Drum Band from Limerick, Ireland as he goes deep about fife and drum in Ireland and how that all relates...

Have a great holiday...whatever you're doing.

What a treat to hear the years of stories and experiences first hand from the great John Moon.  John is very important to the history and the legacy of not just American Fife and Drum, but British Martial, and Military music everywhere.  And John doesn't hold back in this discussion.  His years in Colonial Williamsburg.  His years in post-war Britain.  His years molding go...