With this posting, HollywoodDrum.com—a-thank you—is adding reviews to our growing list of Features content. What this means for you: If you happen to miss an L.A. show of particular drum-related interest, and we happen to not miss it, then you can trust all we have to say about it as second-best only to being there yourself; if you happen to catch an L.A. show of particular drum-related interest that we happen to be reviewing, then you get to shake your fist and cuss at how wrong we got it. What it means for us: free shows.

Two Mints In One
Our coverage of The Meters Experience with Stanton Moore at the Mint on October 9, 2009, also marks our first double feature: a review of the show, and a Q&A with Stanton. So much for free shows. By the way, where were you people?! I know you’re not all gigging on a Friday night. I expected to see the drummers out for this one. It was pretty much me, Jonathan “Sugar Foot” Moffett, and a bunch of rhythmically-challenged crawfish aficionados. C’mon.

Stanton talks a bit about the show and his overflowing cardboard box-lid sized (ever been to a crawfish party?) plate of current projects. Bon Ton Roulet!

Meat snare drum raffles. Choice raffle-models, often the sole ambassadors of womankind within eyeshot. The manic buzzing and pinging and rumbling din of wood, brass, bronze, and…meat? Tech-geek jargon spewing from every direction. You half expect to see Mr. Cunningham in a Poobah hat, or someone shoot you the Vulcan greeting (?). But, this is not the local hardware store owners’ convention or sci-fi nerdfest. It’s time once again for the L.A. drumming community’s very own local convention and nerdfest: The Hollywood Drum Show. And we couldn’t be happier.

By Any Other Name
While the descriptors “Custom and Vintage” have recently been eliminated from the formal moniker, custom shop manufacturers and vintage collectors remain the anchors and spirit of the two-day event. Its soul, of course, comes from the L.A. drummers—pros and enthusiasts alike—who now habitually flock to the gathering to commune among their kind and indulge the nagging gear jones.

After 12 years, the Hollywood Drum Show returns to its very first home at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. This year’s incarnation will feature 35 exhibitors and 6 clinicians, including Bernie Dresel, Cindy Blackman, and Todd Sucherman.

Hail the Grand Poobah
For this, and the 11 previous productions, we have founder and organizer Kerry Crutchfield to thank. Indeed, appreciation and personal satisfaction are all he really ever asks for his efforts—the whole thing is truly a labor of passion. HollywoodDrum.com is pleased to present our Q&A with Crutch. We covered origin and direction, preparation, motivation, and good-humored humiliation. That’s plenty, you say, but I later wished I had asked him why we no longer get the customary Ford/Caputo Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa drum battle reenactment—that was always pretty cool, I thought. I’ll ask him at the show.

And if you happen to run into Crutch at the show, be sure to shake his hand and thank him for his effort and dedication as host of the L.A. drum community’s yearly celebration. A traditional non-Vulcan greeting will do.

The 2009 Hollywood Drum Show will be held Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18 at Raleigh Studios, 5300 Melrose Ave, Hollywood, CA 90038. Admission is $10 in advance or $14 at the door, per day. Visit the site for more information.