Welcome Arkansas native and Nashville mainstay Kirby Bland! Kirby is best known as the drummer for country rock artist JD Clayton and has become a familiar face in the Nashville music scene over the past decade. Kirby shares his unique perspective on life as a “professional traveler,” reflecting on his musical journey, the importance of community, and the lessons learned from both the stage and the road.

From his early days growing up in Arkansas and discovering his love for drumming, to building a career in Nashville’s vibrant music community, Kirby opens up about the realities of balancing day jobs with gigging, the camaraderie of long-term bandmates, and the joy of performing live. He discusses his passion for travel, photography, and the creative process behind recording and reviewing live shows—plus, he shares memorable stories from the road, including the impact of the Route 91 Harvest Festival tragedy that took place in Las Vegas in 2017.

Kirby discusses overcoming self-doubt, finding his lane, and the value of authenticity in both music and life. The episode wraps with Kirby’s favorite Nashville food spots, his love of tattoos, and a reminder to embrace gratitude and community. We hope you enjoy!

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
2:58 Welcome, Kirby! 
6:45 Flexible Day Jobs for Musicians 
8:22 Kirby's Early Days in Nashville 
12:35 Drumming for JD Clayton 
15:16 The Joy of Playing Live 
19:03 The Game Footage 
28:08 Challenges of Playing to Click Tracks 
33:33 New York City Adventures 
35:05 Turning 30 and Embracing Change 
35:46 Finding Identity in Music 
39:01 Drum Box (Sponsor) 
39:43 Professional Traveler 
46:53 Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor) 
47:34 Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas 
59:36 Drum Supply (Sponsor) 
1:00:35 Photography - Behind the Lens 
1:05:06 Groove MPL (Sponsor) 
1:06:16 Early Musical Inspirations 
1:18:47 Nashville Gig Scene 
1:23:00 Balancing Social Life and Music 
1:28:20 Tattoo Stories and Personal Expression 
1:32:50 Favorite Nashville Spots 
1:38:30 Outro

Thank you to our Episode Sponsors:

Drum Box
https://drumbox.space

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Groove MPL
https://www.groovempl.com

Sonique Drums
https://soniquedrums.com

Connect with Kirby:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirbybland

Music Featured in this Episode:
"Arkansas Kid" - JD Clayton
"American Millionaire" - JD Clayton

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

ⓒ 2025 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC