Exactly! The 10 downvotes on this video 11 years later are the same 10 people in the audience who are sitting there, looking bored and uninterested and thinking to themselves, "OMG. Why couldn't he have picked a three-minute song! Ugh!" This 14-year-old kid is the coolest thing in that school. Wonder what he's up to now, in 2021.
No rush, no drag. Timing was dead on. Nailing all the fills and the tone and everything was sick, but man nailing the timing without rushing was one of the most impressive parts. Bravo
wow...tough crowd. not many 14 year olds can play gadd as well as him...that was way too weak for the craziness that he just blew into their faces...great drummer, shit crowd!
Tackled a giant and came up Goliath! He is well on his way to being a severely accomplished drummer. Excellent job young lad. Keep plugging away. Would love to hear you reprise this today.
Just ran across this by chance.. I'm a drummer of 50 plus years and it brought me to tears watching this young man tackle a song all of us Dan fans love. The future of God music is in good hands. Keep them sticks high young gun!
That's the most accurate cover of this song on here....i probably speak for most drummers who know this album when i say that you Really hit Steve Gadds fill ideas!!!let's be honest...that's what we are all looking to see here...you own it dude...thank you...if you don't mind me asking you to do so could you please comment on how you, as a young player,got these ideas together...i teach drums so I'm curious about your musical training...cheers
The kids playing is fantastic but those drums sound MISERABLE. I don;t know if the drums are just lousy drums poorly tuned of if the mix is that bad. Regardless, kudos to the drummer!
I saw Steely Dan play the entire Aja album live third row, grateful! You should have been on stage! What a stunning performance 🙏. Absolutely made my day 👏
For a 14 year old kid to be able to handle a complex piece of music that is Aja so well is incredible. I think even Steve Gadd would be impressed. The kid would be about 21 now. Hope he’s still pursuing his craft.
The kid did an awesome job! What a bizarre visual and auditory experience it was though. 1977 Steely Dan being played through speakers that sounded like they were pulled out of the dash of a 1964 Ford Fairlane, for a drum recital in the equipment closet at the hight school. The family is bored out of their everlovin minds, and the kid is chewing a wad of gum as he does his doing his thing. What a crack up...it doesn't get any better than that folks.
That’s a very accurate drum cover of a pretty difficult song to play. I’ve played it on my drum set just messing around for years and I would say that this was better than my best! Bravo, young man! You did Steve Gadd good!
10 years of drumming and I would have to study long to get this song, so many phrases and you have to know them in out to play them descent. Fucking Pro!
Wow! I didn't hear him miss a single beat of one of the most sophisticated drum tracks ever! I wonder what that prodigy is doing now? Let's Google him and find out!
The drumming on this track is riveting. They should have been on the edge of their seats. Some people just don't appreciate music, that's all. A fine achievement, young man!
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE FOR SUCH A YOUNG MAN....Needs seasoning that only life and time will reveal. Steve Gadd is known for dwelling on 4.....no rush to the next phrase. I think when this drummer refines his rhythm, he has a shot at cutting a groove as deep as Steve Gadd. Can we get this prodigy to attempt 50 ways to Leave your Lover? God Speed to this Skins Dude, hes close to earning his Chops😉!
Wow. That part is almost perfect I’d guess. Hope he’s still playing. I bet a bit matured now his Feel Is all set. If so, please share. Great young drummer.
This video is from 11 years ago. Tommy is now 25 years old. I wanna know what Tommy is doing today, hoping that the answer would have the words “music”, “drumming” and “success” written on it. Sometimes the RU-vid algorithim is quite exquisite.
Beautiful! I don't think these folks know how hard this is. Them: He's just hitting some drums, so what. Baby, Steve Gadd Level is waaayy more than that!
Oh the crowd was bored to death, incredible! They just witnessed a greatness rare in this world, a young drummer that dared to play "Aja" in front of them, and played it perfectly. That is truly incredible!!!
Outstanding. Woow. This is a very complex song. The Samba at the end was amazing and you got the stick click. Man made my night. I’m going to fall asleep with a smile on my face. 😊
All of the coordination in that crowd put together could not preform what this young man just did. I know this song well. Great job kiddo... If I could suggest a little resonance damping on the toms. KUTGW
This little dude is Keith Carlock Jeff Porcaro and Steve Gadd all in one !!Absolutely stunning job little dude you are mega-talented someday you will be up with the legends
A quick word on the audience; being in the room is a different experience. Cymbals sound clashy and discordant and the toms and snare can overpower the ears… and if they’re unfamiliar with Aja their ears won’t fill in the messy bits like your ears will if you are. Also, it’s recital etiquette to sit quietly until done and then applaud politely. I don’t fault this audience for anything. That said, this was magnificent. Great Job on a tough piece by a young man. Kudos to him and his teacher!
Lol the parents are just like, "he's drumming so what? When can we get outta here?" He was pretty on point though. Did I see him do the Steve Gadd stick click on purpose?
Did anyone notice Larry David behind the high cymbal in the background? He thought he was going to a Steely Dan concert and he ends up here. He did say, "Pretty. Pretty good kid."
I really enjoyed this. I know the track well and he really got it right throughout. My YT videos keep going off for a second or 2 [white screen]. Does anyone else get this?
Can someone explain why 15 people (or even one) would give this a thumbs down. This kid was great and he nails some of the hardest drumming imaginable.
Fantastic drumming made all the more difficult by a bunch of zombies staring at him. Great concentration though so the ‘audience’ might actually have done him a favour.
*How can't any of the audience not be bobbing their heads and swaying with this groove?... I still do..., and I have since I was a kid when the Dan first released it...*
Wow, Thanks for this, The parents sit stone faced while Tommy nails Steve Gadds licks. All time classic song, Future all time classic performer. Thanks Tommy for your dedication to one of the most legendary drum fills ever.
I want that ride cymbal! This video was posted 11 years ago, but please tell me what brand and model that ride is. The bell sound at the end was magnificent!
Well done young man. This is one of those special pieces for drummers. Steve Gadd is a good one to study, even better Steely Dan. #goodteacher Now, let's see you do The Black Page ;)
what a wonderful feeling you have given yourself! fantastic! i play the flute and do "oido-ing" on tunes that i like...but you YOU'RE DIFFERENT man. a fourteen year old at that and giving homage to your father's music...keep it up
The nice looking woman with black hair I'm guessing might be his mother in any case she's the only one who shows any kind of affect at all at least you see her smile once in a while but the other gentleman is right they have no idea what their witnessing
Well done Tommy! You did a really great job covering this song, and it is not an easy song. Keep growing as a person and a drummer, you have a good start on things. :-)
