RECORD STORE TALES MkII: Getting More Tale
#388: Air Drums
Last week I was driving to work, travelling down King St, flash drive in mp3 player, filling the car with Roky Erickson and the Aliens. I consider myself a safe and aware driver (so does my driving record), and I’m always paying attention to what’s around me. I caught a glimpse in the rearview mirror of a guy who looked familiar, so at the next red lights, I checked to see if he was my friend Kyle.
No, it wasn’t Kyle…but what I saw was a guy who, in an alternate reality, may have been my soul mate.
There he was in the front seat of his blue Hyundai, so filthy that it initially appeared black, air drumming up a storm!
I couldn’t stop staring for the duration of that red light. He was laying the beat down! He was playing some big fills. I imagined he might have been rocking out to Rush. He was also clearly singing lead vocals as he drummed. His cymbal work was quite good, superior to mine in fact. I admired his technique for a while, before the light turned green.
The gentleman turned off on the westboard 401, while I headed east. I wondered who he was, and if we may have been friends in another lifetime.
I sure have some work to do on my air drumming to get up to his level!
mikeladano.com 
Speaking of air musicians… You ever notice there aren’t many air bassists around?
Or that for classical music you only see air conducting? (Where is the damn air oboist?!).
Do you think natives in the dark jungles of Africa play air drums? I bet they do…😎
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I play air violin from time to time, especially when listening to an awesome movie soundtrack!
I think the drummers in Africa would think air drummers are out of their minds!
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Haha that reminds of that dude rapping up a storm in the car behind us near Yorkdale on last year’s Taranna trip.
Air drums… I think the better question is who DOESN’T play air drums? AC/DC, man, that’s my go-to. And even your grandma would play ’em on In The Air Tonight…
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You don’t know his grandma!!
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This is true. More of a Metallica fan, is she? ;)
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Ha,ha. She doesn’t understand anything more recent than Frank Sinatra.
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No drummer (air or otherwise) is a Metallica fan.
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Fair enough! You know, whenever I play Frank, he’s all I wanna hear for a week at minimum. I totally get it.
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Haha Mike, Lars is next level air drumming – air drumming, playing while standing up at your kit AND chewing your gum like you’re a cow in a barn. TRICKY STUFF!
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That guy was both awesome and scary at the same time! I wanted to film him, he was so exaggerated in his motions, but I didn’t want to die.
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Haha your life was not in danger… although we were a little lost on all those stupid side streets… Hm…
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It’s been a long time since I’ve tested my air drumming chops. I’m probably a bit rusty but I feel like I should dust off the sticks next weekend for a jam session.
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I have actual drum sticks specifically for use when air drumming. True story.
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Nice! I need to get some.
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Highly recommended. And I used to play drums in a band, so mine have authentic battle damage on them too. ;)
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That helps. Actual drummers make better air drummers. (Fact)
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If you’re ever in the area, we could find this guy and form an awesome air-drum trio.
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Sounds awesome. Though I should warn you that I would likely be the weakest link in the trio.
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I doubt that, you haven’t seen me air drum. I have poor pedal work.
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I’ve just swapped my air guitar to take up air drumming as it happens. It’s more difficult than it looks.
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It sure is. Everybody thinks it’s easy! Then you start listening to the cymbals.
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Maybe you and this Neil Peart of the air drums will meet again. And Tim, I do know someone who used to play air bass.
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Great story – I’m more of an air singer myself, a black belt at the ancient art of caraoke – you should hear my ‘Fulsom Prison Blues’, you wouldn’t need music again after that. True story.
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I’m sure! I’m quite an air-singer too. My biggest influences visually are Ronnie James Dio and Paul Stanley. I would be a great air-frontman.
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I get that totally, I’m more of an air female backing singer type – should hear me on ‘Hotel Illness’.
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GO TELL THE CONGREGATION, 1537!! :)
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