Day 1: Ron Totman’s Drum Channel

Websites like YouTube have become a hugely popular medium for performing music. One big trend in the YouTube music community is covers. Whether they are vocal, singular instrument, or full band. Drumming covers have become a big hit with drummers such as Luke Holland and Cobus. There are plenty of smaller drummers out there though, one extremely talented one in particular being Ron Totman.

“I’ve been drumming for about 9 years; I started playing in late elementary school, but really discovered a love for drumset and rudimental percussion in 8th grade. Everything started picking up and now I’m studying music in college,” Totman said.

Totman has been uploading YouTube drum covers for about two years now. He does covers of bands like Hail the Sun, A Lot Like Birds, The Sound of Animals Fighting, Circa Survive, and many more.

“For me, everything musical started with the band Circa Survive. They are one of my largest inspirations, and continue to inspire me as a musician, and as a person. Other major musical influences include A Lot Like Birds, Hail The Sun, The Dear Hunter, Animals As Leaders, Emarosa, The Mars Volta, HRVRD, The Reign Of Kindo, RX Bandits, Tides Of Man, and Periphery, to name a few. I could go on for days,” Totman said.

YouTube coverers have many reasons for posting videos. Some look for fame. Some post to get their band’s names out there. Totman has a different reason.

“To me, fame is not on the goal list, because to me, thats not where your mind should be centered in music, personally. My focus is on writing, playing, and just loving to drum. Networking and getting your name out is very important in the music scene, and while this is a very good way to get my work out in the world, popularity is not a critical aspect to me,” Totman said.

Recently, Totman has been getting many more page views. This has been contributed to A Lot Like Birds sharing two of his covers on their Facebook page.

“The fact that a group as incredible as A Lot Like Birds has shared two of my videos is incredibly flattering. Humbling, to say the least. I was caught off guard that they enjoyed them enough to share them with the world. It was an absolutely incredible feeling. It’s so cool that popular bands like them would take the time to support other musicians. Let alone someone as small as me,” Totman said, laughing.

The YouTube music community is growing daily, and smaller name pages like Totman’s deserve more views. To show support for Totman, check out the link below and subscribe!

A Lot Like Birds – Truly Random Code Drum Cover

Day 2: Our Last Night Covers Taylor Swift

Our Last Night is almost more known for their covers than their original music. They’ve covered Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, and many more. Their most recent cover is Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space”. Check it out below!

Taylor Swift – “Blank Space” Cover by Our Last Night

Day 3: Warped Tour Updates

This round of bands to play Warped Tour this summer is an interesting one. The bands that were just announced are Have Mercy, Slaves, Our Last Night, The Dirty Nil, and… Riff Raff? Riff Raff. Well this will be fun.

Vans Warped Tour

Day 4: Free Music Friday

This weeks installment of Free Music Friday is A Lot Like Birds’ “Plan B”. A Lot Like Birds has been one of my favorite (if not my absolute favorite) band for a few years now. “Plan B” is an album I hadn’t listened to until recently though. It’s their debut album and Kurt Travis is not the singer on it. After finally listening to it, I realize how incredible it is. It’s extremely progressive and features a lot of sound clips from old movies. It has a violinist and some really interesting musical parts. My favorite track is “Your Ex Marked My Spot”.

Plan B, by A Lot Like Birds