Drum Candy

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Hosted by Drum Factory Direct chief creative officer Mike Dawson, Drum Candy is the definitive podcast for gear-obsessed drummers with an insatiable hunger for non-stop shop talk. Each episode will include product demos and interviews with the world's top drummers, builders, producers, and product designers. Shell types, bearing edges, snare wires, hoop shootouts, tuning, muffling... every component of the drumset and drum sounds gets dissected, discussed, tested, and reviewed here on Drum Candy.

Recent Episodes
  • 10 Reasons to Love Paul Motian
    Jun 12, 2025 – 01:10:08
  • 10 Reasons to Love Al Foster
    Jun 4, 2025 – 01:03:04
  • UK Drummer/Producer Malcolm Catto (Little Barrie, Heliocentrics, DJ Shadow, etc.)
    Mar 6, 2025 – 01:12:50
  • Special Episode! Portraits in Jazz: Big Sid Catlett with Thomas Wendt and Kenny Washington
    Feb 27, 2025 – 39:23
  • 10 Reasons to LOVE Ed BLACKWELL
    Feb 21, 2025 – 01:04:27
  • 10 Reasons to LOVE Philly Joe Jones
    Feb 13, 2025 – 52:29
  • Which Snare Hoops Are Best for Jazz? A Pro Drummer’s Take
    Feb 6, 2025 – 37:52
  • What's the BEST Snare Drum Hoop for the GIGGING Drummer?
    Jan 31, 2025 – 46:42
  • Alt Hoop Shoot-Out: Quick-Cut Comparison
    Jan 24, 2025 – 21:52
  • Snare Hoop Shootout 2: Exploring the Sounds of Single-Flange, Stick Chopper, Die-Cast, and Wood
    Jan 17, 2025 – 56:42
  • Side-by-Side: Comparing Every Triple-Flange Drum Hoop
    Jan 10, 2025 – 21:52
  • Every Triple-Flange Hoop Compared: The Ultimate Snare Drum Guide
    Jan 3, 2025 – 01:05:58
  • Part 2: Peter Erskine (10 Reasons to Love)
    Oct 25, 2024 – 31:45
  • 10 Reason to Love Jazz/Pop/Fusion Great PETER ERSKINE (Part 1)
    Oct 18, 2024 – 40:55
  • Special Mini Episode! Portraits in Jazz: Baby Dodds with Thomas Wendt and Kenny Washington
    Oct 2, 2024 – 09:20
  • 10 Reasons to Love MAX ROACH (Part 2)
    Sep 13, 2024 – 37:50
  • 10 Reason to Love MAX ROACH (Part 1)
    Aug 20, 2024 – 39:02
  • 10 Reasons to Love JEFF "TAIN" WATTS (Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Kenny Garrett)
    Jun 7, 2024 – 01:11:29
  • How to Tune Toms
    Apr 5, 2024 – 33:36
  • Practical Independence Lesson, Part 1: One-Limb Ostinatos and Melodies
    Mar 29, 2024 – 39:04
  • Doc Sweeney's Steven Stecher on the Focus Series Snare Drum
    Mar 22, 2024 – 42:37
  • 10 Reasons to Love BILLY HIGGINS
    Mar 14, 2024 – 01:03:10
  • Product Design and More With Sahir Hanif (Masters of Maple)
    Feb 15, 2024 – 01:16:56
  • Byron Landham (Frankie Valli, Bobby Hutcherson, Joey DeFrancesco, Pat Martino, Temple University)
    Feb 7, 2024 – 01:04:21
  • Special Episode! The Bass and Drum Hook-Up With Paul Thompson, Tom Wendt, and Dave Throckmorton
    Jan 26, 2024 – 01:21:33
  • Deep-Dive Into Exotic Snare Drums and More
    Jan 17, 2024 – 01:07:59
  • How to Play Ghost-Note Grooves in 7/8, More With Hutch, Seamless Aluminum Snare, and More
    Jan 10, 2024 – 40:11
  • "Da Bang" With Modern Jazz Great Greg Hutchinson, Odd-Time Fluency Part 3, and Much More
    Jan 3, 2024 – 49:39
  • More With Seb Thomson (Baroness, Trans Am, Publicist), Odd-Time Fluency Part 2, and More
    Dec 27, 2023 – 49:24
  • Baroness's Sebastian Thomson, Odd-Time Fluency Lesson, and More
    Dec 20, 2023 – 46:41
  • More With Kenny Washington, Melodic Flam Taps, Ash Snare Drums, and More
    Dec 1, 2023 – 01:08:21
  • Kenny Washington Returns!, Sticking Dexterity Lesson, and Much More
    Nov 17, 2023 – 01:02:46
  • Elvin Jones (Part 2), Triplet Licks, Practice Pad Special, and More
    Nov 3, 2023 – 53:10
  • 10 Reasons to Love Elvin Jones (Pt 1), "My Favorite Things" Beat, and Much More
    Oct 27, 2023 – 01:08:33
  • Rudy Royston (Bill Frisell, Dave Douglas, Flatbed Buggy)
    Aug 25, 2023 – 01:06:23
  • Beartooth's Connor Denis on Touring, Practicing, and Collecting Gretsch Drums
    Aug 18, 2023 – 01:09:06
  • The Wallflowers' Mark Stepro on Ludwig Drums, Practicing Time, and More
    Aug 11, 2023 – 01:09:01
  • Modern Jazz Drummer Willie Jones III
    Aug 4, 2023 – 56:43
  • Exploring the World of Percussion with Dr. David Glover of Slippery Rock University
    Jul 28, 2023 – 01:24:39
  • SPECIAL EPISODE! 10 Reasons to Love...Post-Bop Great Joe Chambers
    Jul 21, 2023 – 01:08:53
  • More With John McBride (Blackbird Studio and Academy)
    Jul 14, 2023 – 57:36
  • Blackbird Studio and Academy's John McBride, Part 1
    Jul 7, 2023 – 48:44
  • Mike Melito (Eastman School of Music)
    Jun 23, 2023 – 01:06:50
  • The Hooters' David Uosikkinen
    Jun 16, 2023 – 01:04:27
  • How to Tune a Snare Drum and More
    Jun 9, 2023 – 01:09:34
  • 10 Reasons to Love...Funk/Jazz/Fusion Great Dennis Chambers
    Jun 2, 2023 – 01:01:58
  • What Does a Tour Manager Really Do? Chris Popadak of Hawthorne Heights
    May 12, 2023 – 01:12:50
  • What's a Shuitar? Building Instruments, Playing Drums and Keys at Once, and Tracking Live to Tape With Wood Brothers' Jano Rix
    Apr 28, 2023 – 01:04:33
  • Reviewing Deep Ludwig-Style Metal Snare Drums and More With Jonathan Ulman (Berklee College of Music, Boston Sessions)
    Apr 21, 2023 – 01:06:50
  • Primus and Sound Cipher's Tim Alexander
    Apr 14, 2023 – 01:12:13
Recent Reviews
  • kabperc
    Friends on drums
    I really enjoy the friends discussing one drummer at a time while listening to recordings. Thank you for this format.
  • etm1952
    One Mike…
    … is better than two!
  • zildjianzack
    LOVE
    THE best gear head/ “Not” gear head show ever. Mike’s interview flow is so casual without sacrificing the quality of the interview. Keep it up Mike, and I LOVE the trip we are going on with the snare drum.
  • Drumbo Limbo
    Fun for Us Drum Nerds
    It’s so great to have Mike Dawson back, and this time with a format that is about gear on the surface but is really about two drummers connecting over their shared experiences with the instrument. Like a lot of folks, I was really bummed when the MD Podcast with Mike & Mike folded (kinda abruptly!), but if you liked that one, you’ll definitely dig this one. Subscribe!
  • Jonny Klausmeyer
    Very nice!
    I’m glad to see Mike Dawson with his own podcast! Very cool to have a podcast where we can nerd out over drum gear.
  • Jhc1978
    Great to see Mike Dawson back!
    Loved the vibe of the old MD Podcast, and was sad to see it go. Glad Mike is back sharing his wealth of knowledge!
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork on this page are property of the podcast owner, and not endorsed by UP.audio.