Kinky Boots - Sammy Merendino

Sammy Merendino's setup for the Broadway production of Kinky Boots at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.

Sammy's write-up and gear list below photos.

“This kit evolved over nine months during rehearsals and previews. I am responsible for running the click and backing sequences (percussion, arpeggiators, effects, etc).

The bulk of the show is played on my Sonor Kit, but I need to be able to switch quickly between acoustic and electronic. The electronic kick pedals are located to the right of my acoustic kick. I can turn slightly to my left to play the Roland V-Drums while still in position to play acoustic drums. There are various pedals on the ground to allow me to trigger sounds and/or click tracks with my heels. Other loops (located within Ableton Live) are triggered via a Roland SPD-SX Sample Pad.

My drum booth is on the 5th floor of the theater (100 steps) and the rest of the band is in the pit. I have a conductor and stage monitor to take cues from and the conductor has a ‘Sam Cam’ so he can see me.”

Drums: Sonor ProLite

• 22"x17" Bass Drum (Evans EQ3 Batter, Front head removed)
• 12"x8" Rack Tom (Evans Onyx top, Clear G1 bottom)
• 15"x15" Floor Tom (Evans Onyx top, Clear G1 bottom)
• 18"x16" Floor Tom (Evans Onyx top, Clear G1 bottom)

Snare:

• Sonor 14"x6" Artist Bronze Series Snare (Evans EC1 Reverse Dot top, Hazy 300 bottom)

Hardware:

• Sonor Giant Step Double Pedal
• Porter & Davies BC Gigster Throne and Engine
• Auralex HoverMat
• Kelly SHU Kick-Miking System
• Snare Weight and Drum Wallet Mufflers
• DrumDial Drum Tuner
• GK Isolation Headphones
• Kitchen Sink

Cymbals: Paiste

• 15" 602 Medium Hats
• 19" Signature Full Crash
• 20" Signature Full Crash
• 22" Dark Energy Ride Mark II with 2 Brass Rivets
• 20" Rude Novo China

Electronics:

• Roland TD-30 V-Drums
• Roland SPD-SX Sample Pad
• Apple Mac Mini and two RME Fireface interfaces and Ableton Live software
• Radial SW8 Backing-Track Auto-Switcher
• Roland KT10 Kick Pedal
• Custom M.A.R.C. Footswitch Triggers (courtesy of Vincent Gutman)
• Miktek and Neumann Mics
• Drum Tech Pole Pad Pro

Percussion:

• Grover Spectrasound Mark Tree
• RhythmTech Tambourine

Sticks:

• Vic Firth 3A drumsticks
• Various Mallets

Sammy is a proud endorser of Sonor Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, Evans Drumheads, Porter and Davies, Miktek Audio, Roland US, Auralex, Kelly SHU Kick-Miking System, Snareweight, Drum Wallet, DrumDial Drum Tuner, Drum-Tec, and Prologix Practice Pads.

Kinky Boots - Broadway - Sammy Merendino
April 2013 thru April 2019