My very first real drum set was purchased at Northern Kingdom Music, probably 1984 or so. For the last 35-ish years, I’ve done business with my local music shop. Northern Kingdom closed up a few years ago, but a couple of the employees picked up the mantle and opened K2 Music. Midcoast Maine continued to have a local music store through the line of NKM. Until yesterday. Yesterday K2 Music closed, and with it an era. I’m without a local music store. The closest one is now an hour away.
I’ve decided I want to highlight some stories, and show off some gear I purchased from NKM and K2 over the years. What musician doesn’t like talking gear?
This cymbal is a 16″ Zildjian thin crash. It’s the first professional cymbal I ever purchased, and I got it from NKM. I have a video of me playing a battle of the bands as a freshman in high school. In that video I was playing this cymbal. On a side note, in that video I’m playing a borrowed ride cymbal; I didn’t own my own ride at the time. Anyway, this crash is still in my possession, and currently is on a stand at my practice kit down in the teaching studio as I write.
My first bass was purchased at NKM on Bay View St in Camden. So was my next bass, when I upgraded to a Hondo II. I helped Matt, Ted, Tug, and Elwood move down into the Sharp’s Wharf building as a customer, then years later, helped move out to the Rte 1 building as an employee. So many memories of that shop in all its locations, so many musical friendships forged there … Thanks to all over the years that made it what it was: the best music store in the Pine Tree State.