I've been home for a week and a half from my first and majorly anticipated NAMM show...and still don't have all my video and photos uploaded. I've interviewed dozens of manufacturers, players, and music gods themselves, as well as some fellow media representatives.
NAMM = National Association of Music Merchants.
Leaving the snow of Buffalo behind, I arrived in Anaheim on the eve of Media Preview day and that was followed by four over-stuffed days and nights packed with musical heaven!
Highlights included meeting Hartley and Mary Peavey, Orianthi, Victor Wooten, band members from Whitesnake, Ozzie, Alice Cooper, Megadeth, Alice in Chains, the Rolling Stones; watching Pete Townshend receive his Les Paul Award with videos of well wishes and congratulations from Paul McCartney, special appearance by Eric Burdon, events such as Brian Tichy's Bonzo Bash NAMM JAMM and the All Star Showcase Jam meeting Guitar Shorty. Thanks to a fellow Examiner I attended the first She Rocks awards and also met Laura Whitmore, Holly Knight and Orianthi. It was amazing.
Rockers graced the hallways and were generally friendly and happy to chat. Many were very pleasant and interactive with patrons who had to be approved to attend this event, not open to the public. Many times I thought I saw some favorite rockers and questioned in my head, thinking, 'Nah, that's not them..' until I put this thing in perspective, indeed, yes it is them, all of them. They are all here.
I hope you can enjoy and appreciate this enormous event that takes place on a million square feet of space at the Anaheim Convention Center and extends to the Hyat and Hilton hotels on either side of the main entrance. Here is where the latest gear and technology is debuted. Its a huge test to predict what the hot items and trends will be for the year, and sets the bar for what buyers choose to showcase in their music stores and outlets.
At any given time there are NAMM U educational sessions for everything you can imagine from DJing to Strategic Marketing for buyers/outlets. This was the first year apps were allowed to present.
Music is art, music is emotion, where words fail, music speaks. NAMM is music, and a tremendous global industry. I hope you enjoy my coverage of the 2013 NAMM.
Special thanks to Jay Medynski of Regal Tip drumsticks for the Bonzo Bash and Showcase jam passes and to Brian Tichy, Noelle and Joe who comprise the Bonzo Bash team for the coverage and interviews.
Comments