A drum shop with large windows and a lit sign is pictured at night in Nashville. Several people sit at outdoor tables in the parking lot, with cars parked nearby.

Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas, Darren King, and Cory Hale Williams at Nelson Drum Shop

Published On : March 6, 2025 | Last Updated : March 29, 2025

Nashville, Tennessee, USA

When we heard Roy Mitchell-Cardenas, Darren King, and Cory Hale Williams were doing a clinic and show at Nelson Drum Shop, we couldn’t contain our excitement. As huge Mutemath fans, getting tickets was a no-brainer. This wasn’t just any drum clinic. This was going to be special.

Day One: The Perfect Start

We hit the road in the afternoon, making our first stop at Hunter’s Station on Nashville’s East side. This food hall is exactly what you want when everyone’s hungry but can’t agree on what to eat. With spots like Vui’s Kitchen, Everbowl, and Music City Gyros, there are plenty of options. We landed on Hugh-Baby’s BBQ & Burger Shop, and let me tell you – if you’re craving that perfect nostalgic greasy burger, this is your spot.

Darren King and Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas at Nelson Drum Shop

We arrived at Nelson Drum Shop way early (because, of course we did) and immediately fell into conversations with other fans and friends. The energy was high. Night one focused on the rhythmic foundation between drums and bass, with Darren and Roy demonstrating how these two instruments work in harmony to create the backbone of their songs.

A dimly lit Nashville music studio with drums, guitars, amplifiers, shelves of equipment, and multiple effects pedals on a patterned rug.

Two musicians perform in a Nashville room filled with drums; one plays bass guitar while the other is on drums, with shelves of snares behind them.

A person playing an electric bass guitar stands on a patterned rug in a Nashville studio, surrounded by amplifiers, audio equipment, and shelves filled with drums.

A man with a beard in an orange shirt stands in front of shelves with drums, holding a tambourine over his head and wearing headphones, capturing the vibrant spirit of Nashville.

A band performs live in a dimly lit Nashville room filled with shelves of drums and musical equipment, featuring a drummer and a bassist.

Two electronic keyboards on a stand, surrounded by cables, drums, and percussion instruments in a dimly lit Nashville studio.

The coolest part? Roy, who’s become a friend since we connected at a Sucre and Darren show, slipped out before the clinic to say hey. He’s just one of those genuinely great people with an awesome family. When the doors finally opened, it felt like a family reunion. Lots of hugs and smiles before finding our seats.

Front and center for the clinic, we had no idea we were about to witness them playing parts of Mutemath songs right in front of us. The vintage drums in the shop would rattle along as they played, creating this perfect synchronization between the drum patterns and bass lines. The Q&A was fantastic, the conversations were flowing, and the music was unreal.

Day Two: Making the Most of Nashville

After crashing at the Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville North Skyline (pro tip: great budget option away from the downtown chaos), we kicked off day two with brunch at Biscuit Love. If you know about the Bonuts and East Nasty, you know what’s up. Yes, it’s a tourist spot, but sometimes the hype is real.

Two white plates with six small frosted cupcakes each and a cappuccino with latte art on a wooden table, perfect for a cozy Nashville café experience.

Two white plates each holding four round pastries topped with swirls of white frosting, placed on a wooden table in a cozy Nashville café with a metal chair in the background.

A plate with a biscuit topped with Nashville-style fried chicken, sausage gravy, and a folded scrambled egg, with a plastic cup of water in the background.

A Nashville biscuit sandwich with fried chicken, egg, and gravy on a plate, served alongside a cup of water and a dessert topped with cream in the background.

Nature Break and Evening Show

We balanced out all that food with a peaceful walk at Radnor Lake State Park, followed by a healthier dinner choice at Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe in Brentwood. Then it was back to Nelson Drum Shop for the main event – watching Darren King, Cory Hale Williams, and Roy absolutely kill it on stage.

A woman in a light blue jacket stands on a rusty wooden bridge over water, surrounded by leafless trees and rocks, capturing the rustic charm of Nashville.

A calm river near Nashville reflects leafless trees and a cloudy sky, with distant hills visible in the background.

Cloudy sky over a calm Nashville lake with hills and bare trees in the background, a fallen tree in the water, and a wooden platform in the foreground.

Overcast sky reflected in a calm Nashville lake, surrounded by leafless trees and dry grass, viewed from a wooden deck.

A person with long hair and glasses plays an electric guitar in a Nashville room filled with snare drums.

Two men wearing headphones play drums in a Nashville studio lined with shelves of snare drums. One plays a snare and hi-hat, while the other uses a snare with a blue drumhead.

A person playing an electric guitar with a colorful, abstract design on its body, channeling Nashville vibes. The background contains miscellaneous equipment.

A man and woman smiling for a selfie in a warmly lit Nashville venue, with a band performing in the background and shelves filled with drums.

Six people pose together and smile in front of shelves filled with drums and drum equipment in a warmly lit Nashville room.

Before heading home, we made one last stop at Bongo Java East for road trip fuel. (Side note: their bathrooms are surprisingly cool!)

This Nashville trip was everything we hoped for and more. It’s amazing how music can bring people together like this, creating these perfect little moments of community and connection. We’re already looking forward to our next Nashville adventure. From exploring the vibrant streets filled with live performances to sampling the delicious local cuisine, every moment was unforgettable. The Nashville Eras Tour highlights were a particular favorite, showcasing the rich tapestry of musical history that permeates the city. We can’t wait to dive deeper into the sounds and stories that make Nashville so special on our next visit.