Nashville Drummers Podcast

Ever wondered what it really takes to play Lower Broadway in Nashville? This live roundtable discussion pulls back the curtain on one of the most competitive and fast-paced live music scenes in the country.

Featuring Nashville’s most in-demand drummers — both in-town and out on tour — join us for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about breaking into the Broadway scene and building a sustainable career.

Moderated by NDP Co-Hosts Dan Ainspan and Nate Sletner, this interactive session gives attendees the chance to ask questions in real time and learn directly from the players who have been there, done that, and still doing it…

Panelists:
Nico Medina (Ep. 7)
Ethan Harb (Ep. 5)
Molly Rose (Ep. 53)
Kevin Keith (Ep. 20)
Kyle Law (Ep. 59)

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Rezo Custom Drum Heads
https://rezoheads.com

WFL III Drums
https://wfliiidrums.com

Groove MPL
https://www.groovempl.com

Music City Audiology
https://www.musiccityaudiology.com

Chapters:
0:00 Intro & Welcome
0:21 Meet the Panelists
4:25 First Broadway Shift Stories
20:42 Drum Box (Sponsor)
21:24 What Makes a Drummer Broadway Ready?
23:37 Charting vs Memorizing
30:25 Playing Like the Record
33:06 WFL III (Sponsor)
34:03 How to Get Gigs
35:25 What Not To Do
39:19 Respecting The Gig
45:07 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor)
45:49 A Day In The Life
48:29 The Gear You Need
50:31 Get A Cart
1:00:56 Play The Room
1:04:44 Avoiding Burnout
1:08:10 Gig Triangle Mindset
1:13:08 Skills On Tour
1:19:04 Sub Out the Right Way
1:26:00 Music City Audiology (Sponsor)
1:26:42 Recording Gigs For Content
1:31:33 Wild Broadway Stories
1:39:19 From Covers To Originals
1:42:46 Broadway Pay Reality
1:44:53 Requests vs Setlists
1:47:15 Rezo Custom Drum Heads (Sponsor)
1:48:17 Q&A
1:48:24 Breaking into the Scene
1:50:15 Broadway Circuits Explained
1:51:37 Cajon Gigs and Auditions
1:53:48 The Future of Broadway
2:01:50 Singing Drummer Advantage
2:05:44 Clicks and Open Mics
2:12:47 Arranging Modern Tracks
2:16:38 Wrap Up and Thanks
2:17:48 Outro

Music Featured in this Episode:
"Beef Stew" - Too Hot For Leather
Support the show
Connect with us:
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Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2026 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Welcome Philly-native Tom Kinka! Tom is currently the touring drummer for up-and-coming country artist Lecade. Growing up in a music-heavy family shaped by Rock Band, Blink-182, and country music in his mom’s car, Tom's passion for music and the drums was developed at an early age. Tom shares how a serious car accident and coma at 17 sharpened his focus on music, leading to a fearless, “persistence and idiocy” approach. He discusses leaving a jazz program at Temple for media production, navigating Philly’s DIY pop-punk scene, moving to Nashville during COVID, learning country on the fly for Broadway, seeking lessons directly from his heroes like Josh Manuel and Luke Holland, and landing the Lecade gig—plus touring highlights, onstage gear fails, evolving drum setups, and his obsession with stick tricks and community. We hope you enjoy!
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:09 Welcome, Tom!
4:34 Music Family Roots
10:57 Blink-182 and Green Day Obsession
12:29 Near-Death Accident
17:27 Broadway Rookie Mistakes
18:15 Rezo Custom Drum Heads (Sponsor)
19:18 Quitting Jazz at Temple
20:44 Philly DIY Pop-Punk Scene
23:57 The Move to Nashville
30:46 Studying w/ Luke Holland
32:32 Drum Box (Sponsor)
33:13 Broadway vs Touring Life
36:58 Meeting Lecade
50:00 Rig Rundown and Gear Changes
53:27 Stage Style and Band Vibes
57:32 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor)
58:14 Moments from Tour
1:03:36 Drum Supply (Sponsor)
1:04:35 Mastering Stick Tricks
1:15:19 Music City Audiology (Sponsor)
1:16:01 Nashville Drum Community
1:25:47 Rapid Fire Questions
 1:30:10 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Rezo Custom Drum Heads
https://rezoheads.com

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Music City Audiology
http://musiccityaudiology.com

Connect with Tom:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tom_kinka
Music Featured in this Episode:
"Blind" - Lecade
"LET U GO" - JaxsonFree
Support the show
Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2026 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Welcome Billy Joe Freeman! Billy is the touring drummer and music director for country artist Dustin Lynch. A Garland, Texas native, Billy began his professional career at just 12 years old, playing in Texas' longest-running Opry House. In 2012, he landed a spot at the Guitar Center Drum Off grand finals, leading to a tour with country legend Neil McCoy. Billy moved to Nashville in 2013, and has been with Dustin Lynch ever since. In this candid conversation, Billy discusses professionalism on and off stage, how to best serve the song and the artist, the value of expanding your setup, the 'gig triangle' - when to say yes or no to a gig, how to balance home recording with live performance, and the ever-changing Nashville music scene. Billy also shares some fascinating stories and insights from his career, including his encounter with Virgil Donati at PASIC. We hope you enjoy!
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
2:15 Welcome, Billy!
6:31 Is Nashville Still a 10-Year Town?
18:49 The Evolution of Touring
24:23 Growing Up in the Texas Opry Scene
34:28 Rezo Custom Drum Heads (Sponsor)
36:38 Expanding the Kit, Industry Trends
47:42 The Role of Electronics in Live Shows
51:05 Drum Box (Sponsor)
51:57 Becoming MD for Dustin Lynch
56:43 Value of Taking Broadway Gigs
1:00:57 Social Media's Impact on Musicians
1:01:22 Early Career and Influences
1:23:23 The Dallas Music Scene and Snarky Puppy
1:33:14 Home Recording
1:37:44 Balancing Family and Music
1:43:46 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor)
1:51:18 Drum Supply (Sponsor)
1:52:18 Career Highlights and GC Drum-Off
1:58:04 Music City Audiology (Sponsor)
1:58:47 Career Outlook
2:06:08 Bacon, BBQ, & Coffee
2:14:00 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Rezo Custom Drum Heads
https://rezoheads.com

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Music City Audiology
http://musiccityaudiology.com

Connect with Billy:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billyjoefreeman
Music Featured in this Episode:
"Red Alert" - Billy Freeman, Doug Bossi, David Garfield, John Pena
Support the show
Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2026 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Welcome Cleveland-native Jordan Carter! A conversation full of laughter, good hangs, and true words of wisdom, join us for Ep. 80 as we dive deep into Jordan's unique journey to Nashville as a professional drummer and music director. Hailing from small-town Cleveland, Jordan followed his passion for the drums from a young age, pursuing higher education at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he would live and work for the next 12 years playing with artists such as Oompa, Sing, Lisa Bello, Louie Bello, Marcela Cruz, among others. Jordan moved to Nashville in 2022 and currently plays for artists such as Kaylee Rose, Slim Gambill, and Aveva. Jordan reminisces about influential figures from his time at Berklee and discusses the importance of community, patience, and self-discovery. Jordan offers insights into the role of a music director, the importance of effective communication, and the challenges of adapting to Nashville's diverse and talented pool of musicians. We hope you enjoy!

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:13 Welcome, Jordan!
2:46 From Cleveland to Nashville
3:26 Relearning the Drums: Challenges and Growth
23:11 Drum Box (Sponsor)
23:53 Boston Days at Berklee
40:15 Discovering Nashville's Music Scene
57:08 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor)
57:53 Finding the Right Gig
1:03:43 Drum Supply (Sponsor)
1:04:43 Memorable Shows and Venues
1:12:16 Drumming Influences
1:24:08 The Role of a Music Director
1:33:32 Therapy and Self-Improvement
1:40:19 Music City Audiology (Sponsor)
1:41:02 Madden, Harry Potter, Closing Questions
1:51:23 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Music City Audiology
http://musiccityaudiology.com

Connect with Jordan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordancarter.music
Website: https://www.jordancartermusic.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JordanCarter
Music Featured in this Episode:
"Sade" - Sing
"Joy Back" - Oompa
Support the show
Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2026 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Welcome Georgia-native Collin Dobbs! Collin is the touring drummer for legendary country duo, The Bellamy Brothers. We delve into Collin's fascinating journey to Nashville - starting from his Georgia roots and Florida upbringing, Collin shares his quick rise in the music industry, the importance of being prepared and professional, tips on tuning and technique, and the value of networking and social media in landing a dream gig. The episode touches on the importance of diversifying skills, embracing various music genres, staying humble, and using AI to your benefit. We hope you enjoy!

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
2:37 Welcome, Collin!
11:44 Early Life and Musical Beginnings
23:08 How to Prepare Like a Pro
27:06 Drum Box (Sponsor)
27:48 Love Your Sound Engineers
34:33 Tuning Techniques and Tips
40:18 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor)
41:00 Joining the Bellamy Brothers
43:15 Influences and Early Inspirations
48:35 Mountain Biking 51:07 Gig Security
55:03 Drum Supply (Sponsor)
56:02 Drumming Identity
59:03 Social Media & Content Creation
1:09:17 Lucky Drums (Sponsor)
1:10:16 Endorsements and Gear
1:15:38 Using AI to Your Benefit
1:18:18 Groove MPL (Sponsor)
1:19:29 Closing Questions
1:24:27 Memorable Gigs and Touring Experiences
1:27:11 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Lucky Drums
https://www.instagram.com/luckydrumsco

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Groove MPL
https://www.groovempl.com

Connect with Collin:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collindobbsdrums
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/collindobbsdrums
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@collindobbsdrums
Website: https://www.collindobbs.com
Music Featured in this Episode:
"Redneck Girl" - The Bellamy Brothers
"Let Your Love Flow" - The Bellamy Brothers
Support the show
Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2026 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC