DRUM with Mike & Eddy

Welcome to Episode 211 of DRUM with Mike & Eddy! This week, we are looking back at the exact turning points that shaped our careers as professional drummers. We’re skipping the "hustle culture" buzzwords and getting straight into the reality of what it actually takes to build a life around the kit.
Here is what we get into this week:
Grail Gear Guilt: Eddy scores a legendary pair of Joey Jordison sticks, and I break down why I couldn't resist dropping my own cash on a 1970s stop-sign badge Gretsch bop kit.
The Return of NAMM: Why the drum industry is finally getting its pre-pandemic vibe back and the magic of experiencing gear in person.
The Year That Changed Everything: We break down the specific years we had to go all-in. Eddy talks about his intense 2017–2018 transition, and I take it back to 2005–2006—late-night coding, the "two-shake rule" with Amber, and building a 99-cent online lesson site from the ground up.
Staying Authentic: Why doubling down on real, honest connection is the only way forward in an AI-heavy world.
Enjoy - Mike J
www.mikeslessons.com
Support the show

In this episode, we get into what it really takes to prepare to record, and why “jamming to a song” and tracking a song for an artist are two totally different worlds. Eddy shares how he practices and preps parts (often without writing anything down), why e-kits can be a secret weapon for learning technical material, and how to identify the non-negotiables in a drum part when a demo already has programmed drums.
We also talk about fighting muscle memory, why simple pop parts can be harder than complex chops, the “less is more” mindset, listening back with ruthless honesty, and the ultimate litmus test: did your drumming make the song better, or did it pull the listener out of it? Plus: the courage to “dare to suck” during the process… because that’s where the magic shows up.

Enjoy - Mike J
Support the show

In this episode, Eddy and I realized that without physical drum magazines sitting around our studios, we’ve totally lost touch with what the major brands, besides our endorsements, are doing. So, we decided to fix that by taking a deep dive into companies that we are not sponsored by, starting with Pearl Drums!
We answer the internet's most googled questions about the brand (Is Pearl actually good? Pearl vs. Tama?), and then—with an unlimited imaginary budget—we build our absolute dream Pearl kits from scratch.
In this episode, we cover:
The Dream Builds: I go with a Reference One and the Matt Halpern Signature Snare, while Eddy leans into nostalgia with a Maple/Gum kit and the Joey Jordison Signature Snare.
The "Magazine Problem": Why it’s so much harder to understand gear specs and innovation in the age of Instagram reels.
Studio Update: I share the unfortunate news that my studio flooded on Christmas Day and that renovations are currently underway.
Mentioned in this Episode:
Pearl Reference One Series
Pearl Masters Maple/Gum
Matt Halpern Signature Snare
Joey Jordison Signature Snare
Support the show

Happy Monday, EVERYONE! This week, Eddy and I are geeking out on one of our favorite topics: drum fills. But we aren’t just talking about the fastest or choppiest fills; we’re talking about the ones that involve PRO-level choices. We break down some absolute genius moments from Aaron Sterling, The RH Factor, Paramore, and Mark Guiliana to figure out exactly why those specific choices elevated the music so perfectly.
We also decided to put ourselves in the hot seat. We each brought in a track from our own discographies. Eddy with a Busted track and me with a vintage Simon Says track, to analyze our own decision-making processes in the studio. We realized that whether it’s a simple snare hit or a complex linear chop, the best drum fills are rarely about the drumming; they’re about the choices. Hope you guys enjoy this deep dive!
Enjoy - Mike J
Support the show

Every year, Eddy and I do a Christmas episode, but this one turned into something way bigger than we expected. We ended up going deep on what we’re calling our grail gear. The sticks, cymbals, snares, and full drum kits that shaped us, inspired us, and flat-out made us fall in love with the drums in the first place. From Joey Jordison's blood-red sticks and Dave Weckl hero worship, to wild discontinued cymbals, one-of-a-kind snares, and the drum kits that literally made us want to play, this episode is pure nostalgia mixed with real perspective on how gear influences creativity.
Along the way, we talk about why change feels uncomfortable (even when it’s good), how our brains resist new ideas, and why, when it’s healthy, obsession often pushes us to practice more, play more, and grow. This episode is for anyone who remembers staring at drum catalogs, trusting the drum shop guy, saving every dollar, and dreaming big. It’s a Christmas special, a gear episode, and a reminder of why we started doing this in the first place. A Merry Happy Christmas to you all - Mike J

Support the show