Following the success of its first Drummer’s Lunch and Gear Preview in 2016, Pearl once again invited all members of the Nashville Drummers’ Facebook group to the Hard Rock Café’s Reverb Room to eat, play, and be inspired.
The event, hosted by Pearl artist and Nashville drummer Tom Hurst, gave more than 125 local players in attendance the chance to preview and test all five of Pearl’s Sonic-Select Shell Recipe kits, which are recent additions to Pearl’s custom Masterworks high-end drum series, before each set could be seen by the general public.
“We are grateful to the drummers in this remarkable community,” says Pearl Director of Marketing Steve Armstrong. “By networking with them at the monthly Nashville Drummers’ Lunch, we’ve gotten a lot of input on what they look for in gear for every playing environment, which has had a direct effect on the products we have introduced this year.”
In addition to providing lunch, Pearl gave away snare drums from its new Modern Utility line to four lucky attendees. Plus, Pearl drum set artist Will Kennedy (The Yellowjackets) made a surprise appearance.
Will Kennedy
Kennedy showcased Masters Maple Reserve drums, a new addition to Pearl’s Music City Custom offering, with a dazzling array of chops and groove in a variety of styles. He then engaged players with a “Drum Set Circle,” trading fours and playing time with drummers across alll five drum kits in the testing area.
“The Nashville Drummers’ Lunch has been part of this community since the ’80s,” states group moderator George Lawrence, who helped organize the event. “Everyone is welcome, regardless of the size of your gig. We meet the first Wednesday of every month just to talk shop, eat, and network. We are grateful that Pearl has not only become a regular part of our crew, but went to the trouble and expense of recognizing us with these events.”
Product testing continued well into the afternoon, with Pearl staff and management on-hand to answer questions from each drummer.
Visit Pearl at pearldrum.com/home.