Devon Taylor -- Guitar Center Drum Off 2011 Finalist

[@agdrummer2610]

his foot is incredibly impressive and if you are a "single pedal" drummer then you have to respect how talented this dude is!!

[@alexeygood4867]

Ok bro, tell it to Thomas Pridgen ;) See ya!

[@agdrummer2610]

+ALexey Good Ya Pridgen is a monster dude no doubt about that shit

[@tyeverette20]

AG Drummer I'm a single pedal drummer I it easier for me to play with a single pedal

[@jakecooley7603]

And now he's on Purpose World Tour

[@alejandroovalle7585]

The real winner of the 2011 guitar center drum off!

[@joedessauer]

JP Bouvet's solo was a technical masterpiece, a fantastic showing of independence and coordination, but this is a much more musical and exciting solo, deserved 1st place

[@jigsaw924]

Yo! where is all this hate coming from? We're drummers, man! We've built up a reputation for being one of the most humble, friendly, and supporting groups of musicians to ever walk this earth. Don't ruin the rep man. JP deserved to win. And, Devon Taylor is a sick drummer. He could win any year.

[@NewMocofanel]

Riku Katana Yup :) Both are great drummers.

[@ChrisBonneau]

Let this be a testament to ALL drummers looking to make it big: You DO NOT need the GCDC to make it. This dude lost to JP but now is on a WORLD TOUR with Justin Bieber. Let that sink in. He LOST........only to won in ways that the GCDC couldn't even guarantee. Not everyone who wins these competitions makes it with major artists. He literally auditioned for JB after hearing that the original drummer wasn't gonna be able to make the tour, and BAGGED IT. I tried out for the GCDC and didn't make it but went on my 1st tour shortly after and made it in DRUM! Magazine. My point? Don't limit your abilities to this competition because when on stage with a real artist, NONE of this matters. It's pocket all day. THAT'S what gets you hired! The knowledge of this business is everything. EVERY. SINGLE. THING. Y'all be blessed and stay safe! 💪🏾🔥

[@emmanuelsanchez6712]

Thanks for the inspiring words

[@Dope999]

I'm absolute sucker for solo's which are based on groove's and not just pure speed and crazy fills! This guy is a genius! Liked!

[@Century10-s7q]

I have a huge respect for solos like this! It doesn't just start as loud obnoxious noise, but it is like the player is trying to tell a story!

[@drumandball]

No matter how good a solo is, there will always be people that complain about something in it. This guy is amazing!

[@artamis6167]

Man this guy killed it that year! How did he not winn?

[@pjjp3862]

over time i guess. it was score deduction if you exceeded the given time

[@RaisedByWolvesMedia]

Music isnt about competition. Who cares who won, lots of amazing musicians came to do the thing they love and share with others and learn. Everyone wins.

[@robertchambers369]

Griffin Hann I agree

[@rickyharrisdrums]

JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU DONT NEED TO WIN A DRUM OFF TO PLAY WITH THE BIGGEST NAME IN MUSIC AND PLAY WORLD TOURS

[@soulbrotha13]

That snare sounds absolutely beautiful

[@SStarwind]

WTF, this dude is so much.....'better' than all the champions vidoes I've watched. His dynamics ae everywhere, but still dead consistent, he's dead on the beat, his time-keeping is amazing, he can groove like you never see these days, his chops are on part with anyone els but he makes them groove, and he doesn't spend time playing around with nonsense like a splash on the snare. I think a lot of drummer can learn from this guy.

[@gusmanalexandrer580]

one of the most versatile drummers of today!!!

[@hyperdriven08]

Really?

[@deliciousjammusic]

Dude, YES. You summed up my thoughts precisely. I think a large percentage of the people who use the "didn't tell a story" argument don't know what they're talking about. Another thing that sets this above JP's solo is the flow. My Lord, it is soooo good. JP's solo had very awkward choppy transitions when compared to this.

[@LMGF89]

really great performance! i love it cause there are no stupid stick tricks, just amazing drumming!

[@iLLWiLL5]

Crazy how long his dreads got since then

[@borntoball15x]

Wow if it were a different year and this guy probably would have won... Devon and JP possibly my two favorite guitar center drum off competitors.

[@XxStrongDrums1996xX]

No matter who the judges deem as the winner, people always complain that somebody else should have won. JP's solo accomplished more than this guy's solo did. He displayed more versatility, his sections flowed better, and his playing was deeper and more dynamic. There's a reason that he won.

[@jeremiahseilhymer]

A little before 0:30........best fill composition ever! And excellent rim integration on the fill at 3:36!! Great solo over all man, it kept me watching! jeremiahseilhymer

[@travinhorton]

this dude should have won. hands down he's an amazing drummer

[@nexuslp3200]

I think the fact that I rewinded the first thirty seconds of the video speaks for itself

[@RobErt-zs4pd]

this guys chops are unreal. holy fuck. mad respect.

[@gallen3205]

Can’t believe I haven’t saw this until now

[@joshuahalla.k.a.controlla6333]

Great video. ☺️

[@BigRyGuy04]

this dude should have won ALL DAY LONG! He killed this! Nothing about JP's performance "wows" me like this dude. He's the next Tony Royster, Jr.

[@jigsaw924]

This year and the next year were the last ones with good EQ on the drums.

[@KillasaurusArcade01]

i agree JP is waaayyy more creative than alot of the drummers in the past and had amazing stage presence

[@Muzikmaker77]

Devon played in 7 at the 1:06 mark though so how can you say he only played in 4/4. he also played with much more feel and the solo flowed very naturally.

[@orbayakdoganG7]

Im watching you from Turkey Taylor!!!

[@BimTalch]

out of all the finalists, I would've chosen this guy

[@x4030_tay]

no, he says "who runs the world?" ever heard the Beyonce song "Run the World?" the snare part he played is the intro to that song. go listen to it

[@Jesuslivesinwaco]

Absolutely love those toms

[@julianmartinez2130]

anyone know what that freestyle song he's quoting is @ 1:45??

[@ocbfdog]

Julian Martinez When doves cry-Prince.

[@eternallyminded7]

Wow, this guy is blazing!! How did he NOT win?!

[@drmrdude04]

I think everyone is missing the point. If youve entered the drum-off or even attended one. you'd you what they're judged on. one being showmanship, two being creativity, and three being originality. people can be creative but not original. using the left foot cowbell was something i hadn't anyone else really do at the drum off. as far as who's better? they're all different drummers with different styles and strengths. apples and oranges. this is about #s in a column that add up to the highest #

[@drumandball]

JP is a beast. Devon is a beast. I preferred Devon Taylor's solo more, but i am sure that if he won, there would people saying that JP's solo made Devon's look like a joke. They are both great drummers. Check out some of JP's other stuff besides solos. It is hard to judge a drummer by a solo. Still, both solos were pretty sick in my opinion!

[@PyroShredder982]

Can someone tell me the name of the Latin rhythm around 1:19, it sounds a little like a Guaguanco pattern

[@sanderbosdrumhero]

Does anywone know what kind of rythm he's playing in the first 40 seconds? It's sounds awesome!

[@doneyazzaro2945]

He is not a finalist, he is The Winner

[@calebamoore]

This guy actually give a better performance in the winter

[@PyroShredder982]

thanks

[@timothydrums91]

Can somebody tell me what snare that is?

[@Muzikmaker77]

He made it back to the finals again this year so he will have another shot at it in January.

[@gengisdon]

he should have won! hands down the best overall performance!

[@ichisusuki3]

If I'm not wrong is a salsa clave but the cowbell sounds like the shell part of the timbales.

[@rbertog4]

Wait sorry did you go to berklee? Thought so

[@genevaidk4774]

Love that snare sound

[@purtis99]

Single bass drum pedal..Thats way better than the eventual winner.. I like this kid alot

[@JayPhat112590]

you was smashin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Outloud444]

You should of won......you are totally amazing.......

[@drumandball]

JP's was great musically. Devon's was unreal chop-wise. They both were amazing but I guess JP knew what the judges were looking for better.

[@tyeverette20]

He did when doves cry by Prince

[@drmrdude04]

if you back the last few years and watch all of the solos, the majority are just like this. JPs solo was different, maybe thats what they are looking for. these things come down to what the judges want to see. and you can say its about showmanship, but the judges arent local hacks like at the store level competitions, these judges are legit, accomplished musicians. the person they choose as the winner is like putting your stamp of approval on it.

[@brodieyake7735]

The real winner is the drum tech who tuned that snare drum. Lawd have mercy.

[@lockedinnn]

Brodie Yake yea but he fucked up the floor tom

[@metalmilitia890]

at 3:44 you can see JP Bouvet in front of the drum set

[@JoeyvanLeeuwen]

Damn. I'm not a JP hater because I've seen him on the Berklee Chops videos and the Roland contest, but this guy really did have a better solo. This is really amazing drumming.

[@TVSPEClAL]

this guy has some real playing abilities, how did it not win?

[@martduchatteau7982]

GROOVE GROOVE GROOVE GROOVE, THIS IS SOOOO GROOVY

[@milesmetkodrums27]

Groove at 3:28 is unbelievable.

[@borntoball15x]

Well put! This all goes to show that things can get a little ugly when some subjective and artistic is made into a contest. Since no one can prove someone else's opinion wrong people will feel cheated.

[@ianhaan]

snap crackle and POP!!!! great playing!

[@13drummerman]

what sticks is he using

[@seadric21]

KILLED IT BRO

[@mcookie14]

Both are great drummers. At this level of the Drum Off, it's not really up for debate that any of them are necessarily better than the others because every drummer in the championship is obviously incredible.

[@eliborg]

But Devon is a better drummer than JP

[@Poulmy]

Music isn't about comparing musicians... The judges must have had a hard time choosing the winner and i'm sure they had some specific criterias to choose who will win. And JP Bouvet matched with those. It's as simple as that. You can't really say that any of the finalists are "better" than JP or Devon, you can say you prefer one in particular but that doesn't mean this one should have won. I think it was fair that JP won, but that doesn't mean he is better than Devon (and the other way around)

[@ronied125]

yup I agree. I had both this guy and Fred Boswell above JP.

[@TheBrickCraftsman]

The half time shuffle intro won my vote.

[@Muzikmaker77]

nah bro its only based off of this current solo. once you move forward the previous round does not matter anymore. My buddy made it to the Grand finals 3 years ago and i made it to districts this yr. Previous rounds have nothing to do with the next. They are all individual.

[@johnysocal]

This dude should've won hands down!!

[@nahshonstanley7612]

that's my cousin he is from the ATL

[@SimbaDrumz]

How old is he now?

[@seadric21]

He won tonight in Hallandale Fl so he is headed back to LA!!! check out ramon sampson performance on my channel 2012!!!

[@Demetriwalker]

That's a long time to play......

[@ferndawg665]

THIS GUY SHOULD HAVE WON!!!!

[@twev30theprince]

same thing i said!!!!!

[@bjstix]

wow! gr8 drumming my dude!

[@borntoball15x]

I'm glad that you found his independence impressive yet i am disappointed you didn't see all the other aspects of the solo that made him come out as winner.

[@braggyreyes]

i dl devon taylors solo instead of jp's, if it helps with the argument upstairs, lol!

[@scruffygdrums3670]

extremely good drummer!!!

[@dracdrum]

Great solo.

[@FLETCHERandlittlemiss]

Step aside, Dave Weckl. . .I think I know have a competitor for Dave Weckl as my favorite. I totally feel his style - I love it.

[@ronied125]

Nope never heard of it. But now that I re listened to it, you're probably right haha

[@Dark0neone]

Which snare part? XD

[@SpicyCheeze23]

he was smooth as hell

[@x4030_tay]

2:10 "who run the world?" ... 2:14 you do Devon Taylor. you do

[@bjstix]

I feel you on that one!!!

[@jessicaanderson750]

Good god, this needs to be canonized as a logical fallacy. Just because someone isn't as good as someone else doesn't mean they're not qualified to criticize them.

[@TheXrythmicXtongue]

Looks like a Tama Starclassic snare.

[@Heyvon32]

i can't believe this devon didn't win, he Bouvets solo look like childs play

[@cowzilla8]

Agreed 100%.

[@TheMetallicaGods]

His snare :O

[@BigRyGuy04]

why the hell didn't this guy win? WAY better than the guy who won. This guy's skills are off the hook!

[@LTdrumma]

DUDE what a lot of people commenting on these vids dont understand is that its not about the best DRUMMER winning what wins the comp is the best SOLO even if u suck if ur solo is better than a crappy ass solo played by steve gadd ur gonna win the drum-off period

[@drummerinbmore]

dude is killer

[@JonEastling23]

Omg I can really tell how hard that snare head is tightened :D

[@drumandball]

2:14...Chris Bosh?

[@JakeShields09]

Competition aside, that snare drum is killin

[@milesmetkodrums27]

You can't determine who the better drummer is after 5 minutes, but this is definitely a better solo than JP Bouvet's.

[@princessrite]

should have won without a doubt....thats all right we all know who the best is

[@kleanupguy11]

Is it just me or are black people really gold drummers?

[@calebamoore]

kleanupguy11 Black people are just really good drummers

[@KM-px8cs]

It started in the motherland.