It’s hard to swing a dead chicken at the NAMM Show and not hit a super star. Our gallery (below) has just a few of the bright lights on stage and off!
A couple musicians attending the show give us their impressions of what’s hot!
Matt Sorum at the NAMM Show 2015. Currently the drummer for Kings Of Chaos (formerly with Guns N’ Roses, The Cult, Velvet Revolver, Camp Freddy).
Phil Sykes, Bassist for The fahr.west Sessions (9/2013 – current) provides his insight on the NAMM Show 2015.
AutoDesignO: Who is your favorite artist at NAMM 2015?
Phil Sykes: John Popper (Harmonica for Blues Traveler), with a second place going to a local L.A band called Vintage Trouble at the Taylor Guitar booth. They were a huge surprise. I’ve never heard of them before, and they rocked the house!
ADO: What did you enjoy about the performances either at the exhibit booths, or up on the big stages?
Sykes: John Popper – the fact it was kind of impromptu and not on any schedule, it just happened while at the Fender booth with his guitarist.
ADO: What do you like most about NAMM?
Sykes: The opportunity to see new gear and new bands. I was taken by a boutique guitar company called Asher Guitars and Lap Steels. Their handmade lap steels (caught my attention) because of their use of natural materials and beautiful tones, and Wood Electric Violins just because of the cool designs and finishes.
Professional singer/songwriter/recording artist Tamara Gabriel gives us the highlights of her day at the NAMM Show.
Tamara Gabriel: “I feel like a kid in a candy shop. There’s so much to see, and never gets old. The show has so many musical instruments, some of which you’re familiar with, and others you’ve never seen before. Chinese string and Indian musical instruments featuring carved and painted bodies capture the flavors of their homelands and really stand out from the crowd.
A few of the many things that caught my eye at the show, aside from friends and fellow musicians, include the clear acrylic Blüthner piano. The edge lighting provides definition and accents the shape while illuminating the actual parts within.
Ludwig is displaying an impressive, big red drum kit, which is hard to miss.
Audiocenter speakers and amplifiers knows how to turn it up by having seven-year old DJ “Dextrous One” performing for guests. At just six he was the Worlds Youngest Performance DJ. Now this kid knows how to play it like a pro!
Master Builder Dale Wilson of the Fender Custom Shop shows his talent with the Tree Siren Stratocaster complete with maidens. The Custom Shop is also the new home of the former Soviet Union native Yuriy Shishkov. The Fender exhibit displays his exquisite one-of-a kind Cardinal Esquire Crimson Trans, and a Peacock Telecaster that’s really a piece of art from this Master Builder.
Of course, it’s hard to resist the bejeweled microphones from MicFX. I’m looking forward to using those myself!
George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic on stage at the NAMM Show 2015
Professional Drummer Scotty Porter of the Fabulous Nomads sheds some light on his day at the NAMM Show.
The NAMM show is always the highlight of the year for me, and my fellow musician friends here in Orange County. I always see and find something new that blows my mind!
This year it was what I did not see that affected me the most. Although there is great music throughout the show and on the big stages, there is so much more music going on outside and around the convention center that many don’t get a chance to see.
I was fortunate to attend the Howard Roberts Tribute and The All American Guitar Jam. Both were spectacular.
One of my favorite artists who is always at NAMM is Jay Roberts from the Roberts Music Institute in Bellevue, Washington. Jay has been working on a tribute project for his late, great father, Howard Roberts. He put together an amazing night of music and tribute off-site at one of the local hotels on the Thursday night of the show. Howard Roberts is attributed with writing and performing most of the great theme songs of our time including “Twilight Zone”, “Batman”, and “I Dream Of Jennie”, just to name a few.
The night of tribute during NAMM also featured some of the best jazz musicians alive including; Mark Seales – Piano, Mark Ivester – Drums, Chuck Deardorf – Bass, and Don Mock – Guitar. Truly jaw dropping talent!
As for Best New Instrument, well there were two favorites for me. Gaai Drums make the most beautiful custom, one-off drums sets I’ve ever seen or played. After 3 years at NAMM, I broke down and ordered a Gaai kit of my very own. It’s being built for me and I cant wait to get it.
My second favorite was again something I didn’t see – Aerodrums! Entering the Aerodrums booth there’s a drummer playing airdrums without a physical drum kit. He’s using a virtual kit, software, and the cameras are triggering synthetic drums by sensing his hands and feet. These are the coolest drums I never seen!
[Not a valid template]
Related Images:
