Greyson Nekrutman Vs. Brandon Toews (Epic Drum Battle)

Remember the good ol' days of drum battles? Where legendary drummers like Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa duked it out in the best way they knew how.
Art Blakey vs. Ginger Baker.
Louie Bellson vs. Simon Phillips.
Buddy Rich vs. Animal (the muppet).
Steve Gadd vs. Dave Weckl vs. Vinnie Colaiuta.
For a time, the mighty drum-off was a hot commodity in musical entertainment. Two drummers face to face, kit to kit, throwing down in a friendly competition.
We're bringing the drum battle back. In this video, Big Band/Jazz phenom Greyson Nekrutman challenges Drumeo's Brandon Toews to a showdown. And it gets heated.
Who do you think won? Whose socks were knocked off?
Watch this video - and then check out Greyson's course on "Big Band Drumming" with a free 7-day trial to Drumeo so you can learn how to play like him (and maybe even outperform your opponents in a drum-off): www.drumeo.com/trial/
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►Learn Drums Here: drumeo.com/
►Free Lessons: drumeo.com/free-lessons
►Our Favorite Music Products: www.drumeo.com/jared-recommends/
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Follow Greyson:
►Website: www.greysonnekrutman.com/
►Facebook: / greynekrutman
►Instagram: / greyson_nekrutman
►KZbin: / @greysonnekrutmandrums
►TikTok: / greyson_nekrutman
Follow Brandon:
►Facebook: / brandon.toews.drums
►Instagram: / brandon.toews
►KZbin: / brandontoews
►TikTok: / brandon.toews
Follow us:
►The Drumeo Beat: www.drumeo.com/beat/
►Facebook: / drumeo
►Instagram: / drumeoofficial
►TikTok: / drumeoofficial
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#greysonnekrutman #drumsolo #drumbattle #drumeo

[@DrumeoOfficial]

If you want to learn how to solo like Greyson and Brandon, get a free 7-day trial to Drumeo here: www.Drumeo.com/trial

[@chrissanchez6992]

Inspirational¡!

[@85sauron]

7 days is enough, for sure. 😆

[@duckduckgoose1337]

​@@85sauron lol, thought exactly the same

[@nickneeley8798]

Dude you're a damn good drummer I had no idea 😀

[@KenAldrich1958]

no thanks i can sound like im falling down a flight of stairs with believe it or not? no help at all

[@DavidOakesMusic]

The winner is KZbin.

[@manosliapakisthestormrider8099]

😹

[@superpug666]

Absolutly

[@sean4439]

😂😂😂

[@BrandonToews]

😂

[@markbahouth2713]

The winner is YourTies !

[@ericbouler7758]

With both drummers playing at such a high level it's more like a duet than a drum battle.

[@justinprizant1980]

I like that outlook

[@jamescurry4628]

I have to say we are definitely the winners here. being able to hear this awesome epic battle take place great job..

[@niko7903]

Really was an awesome battle. Reminds me of the soundtrack to my hangovers. Though it sounds markedly better not being hungover.

[@shelbybowden9064]

Two things: 1) this is the first time I’ve ever heard Grayson hit sticks together on a transition. Gives me hope. 2) they are both incredible, but the most insane thing here is that they are both just doing Buddy Rich licks from what, 60 years ago? Dude remains the GOAT.

[@jbcolson1027]

On number 2. Yes, they were playing Buddy licks, but they are both nice guys, and Buddy was a dick. So, Big Band drummers have evolved. lol

[@gardj456]

@@jbcolson1027 Buddy's last name was really Richie 😂

[@BrandonToews]

Thanks for watching! Hope you enjoy this one!😁

[@cvn6555]

This made my day. The level of talent and the obvious work put in to develop those skills is quite apparent. Heard a little Peart in there a few times and loved that.

[@BrandonToews]

@@cvn6555 - thanks a lot! Appreciate it!

[@ARDrummer]

Awesome job man!

[@benjaminhellert8531]

REALLY AWESOME!! Both stunning musicians! Could you tell us what snare you're using? I love its sound!

[@charlespotts3995]

Without a doubt I'm calling it a tie.👍😎✌️

[@SteveDyeDrummer]

We were definitely the winners! You both are incredible drummers. Much respect to both of you. As a Drumeo lifetime member… it just keeps getting better and better. Thank you guys for filming this video. Can’t wait to see what is next from both of you

[@BrandonToews]

❤

[@remander3873]

Was going to post the same! Incredible performances by both!

[@frankreis1444]

Great technical drumming from both of you.

[@bracket0398]

True statement. Different players playing in the same realm in different ways. Which sometimes=meh, but this was a wonderful experience to watch! Coordination between you two was spot on. Thanks kindly!

[@chewgumer]

G.N. Was the winner of that one, the other guy was a close second.

[@NickLight28]

I have working in the music business form 30 years and that was one of the most enjoyable 6 minutes I have had in a long time. Both of the guys are off the chart

[@traderquinn]

6 minutes?! It took me about 20 min to get through it, including awestruck playbacks.

[@MikeBanger]

That's how shitty the music business is. 30 years to see real drums on youtube

[@dustyowl99]

lmao settle down.

[@machtnichtsseimann]

So, better than sex!

[@ernvy1983]

@@machtnichtsseimannidk bout that

[@screw_tape]

my first time seeing brandon go batshit on the kit and he did it alongside an absolute monster of a musician. great stuff from both of these guys.

[@ThomasMetal75]

Dammit Brandon. You held your own! This isn't a battle however. This is a jam session. I can't wait to see what big artists want to have Brandon on stage or in the studio with them!

[@BrandonToews]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@charliefarrugia]

Yes, very true.

[@jonwhite549]

well put

[@eurotrash5610]

yeah, reminded me more of a jazzy LTE jam session as well. Absolutely +++

[@thesye1014]

Brandon's A BEAST

[@thespacebee1210]

I love his rock feel that he added into the jazz

[@NikkLiberos]

Totally agree. Brandon is well versed in jazz, but you can hear the rock n roll in his playing.

[@BrandonToews]

@@NikkLiberos - 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@danitodrums]

01:54 Wooooow, Brandon's speed moving around the kit! Amazing job! Both are awesome drummers

[@user-ox4zl1in4l]

Mangini

[@drummer11665]

It’s New Years Eve and what a way to end it with an awesome and I mean awesome drum battle. We are definitely the winners… you guys are both amazing and awesome drummers. Thanks so much and Happy New Year to you guys!!! God bless

[@96AI]

Greyson’s raw power and speed is unbelievable.

[@7yph0onXno0hpy7]

He's such a beast!!

[@rogelioduran971]

Brandon only need practice time to get the speed of Grayson

[@sebastian6121]

he's too tryhard

[@96AI]

@@sebastian6121gamma alert

[@DropkickNation]

He is right tho. There is technical and then there is overly technical. @@96AI

[@vukjovanovicofficial]

I'm confused whether to keep practicing or just sell my drums? I'm just kidding, this was an amazing performance by both of you and I can only say one thing for sure and that is that we as the viewers are the actual winners for getting to see some amazing drumming!

[@BrandonToews]

Definitely keep your drums!! And thank you so much!😁

[@Painking59]

Lol right? I just gave mine away 😂

[@vukjovanovicofficial]

@@BrandonToews You're most welcome my man. That was an amazing performance! You two inspired a lot of us with this!

[@BrandonToews]

@@vukjovanovicofficial 😁

[@paulparker4463]

Both great players but personally I prefer Brandon.

[@XRePete]

Greyson is on a whole other level in terms of handles, control, speed and technique, but this came out great as both of you guys riffed off each other very well. I'm very curious how Greyson develops as a drummer in the next couple decades. The kid has the talent to reach Buddy Rich levels of greatness if he continues drumming into his senior years

[@zFurious]

He's surpassed him already

[@sherlock4791]

@@zFurious in terms of skill or achievement?

[@zFurious]

@@sherlock4791 skill

[@redrick8900]

You are praising the guy that made the obvious mistake.

[@gregterkanian5158]

The kid is good, but he doesn't belong in the same conversation as Buddy Rich. Not by a long measure.

[@bulgarincho]

that was DOOOOPE, great friendly battle guys, I simply loved it!

[@RandyGoogle]

The fact that we have a fresh video with two drummers showcasing explosive big band solo variations in a groove together, is something to celebrate man! Six minutes well spent and worth revisiting! 🥁👏

[@BrandonToews]

❤

[@christopherg9806]

Not a challenge I would want to take, but Brandon really held his own against the prodigious talent that is Greyson Nekrutman. Two of my favorite young drummers... classy guys with a wealth of chops, but also musical knowledge and compositional ability.

[@BrandonToews]

Thanks a lot!😁

[@ugniusnumas8434]

this is sick! battle turned jam sesh you both sounded so damn good

[@Robert.Novack]

It’s fun to watch these kids go at it. I liked the way Brandon incorporated the kick drum more and I liked the overall sound of his kit more as well. Grayson’s hand speed and agility is impressive. Loved them both. Thanks for posting. ❤

[@franciscoleyva6674]

Brandon you more than held your own...well done sir! That's how you Rep for drumeo

[@BrandonToews]

❤

[@charliefarrugia]

Yes. Very true.

[@eurotrash5610]

I have no idea about drumming. at all. but it is good (in a "faith in humanity restored" sense) to see people on yt not just talking about skincare, but actually making the fucking skin themselves. kudos.

[@AdvancedLiving]

Greyson is easily on my “Best of 2022” list. Hopefully he’s inspiring future young drummers.

[@morbidmanmusic]

Do you know him many drummers there are...? Grayson is not the best at anything drums... he's jus the another. Lots of "better", no best.

[@AdvancedLiving]

@@morbidmanmusic who pissed in your cheerios, Jackie?

[@cainodonnell4613]

@@AdvancedLiving this dude @morbid man music is on a mission to bad mouth Greyson every chance he can I have seen him before… pretty sad

[@M-A-Y-H-E-M]

@@morbidmanmusic : I am way more "BETTER" than them you mentioned! . . . ✅️ 👍🏽 👌🏽

[@hamtatoes]

@@morbidmanmusic idk bruh greyson has a certain ethos when he plays, it's very entertaining and you can feel the energy he's putting in to it. He also plays a lot with his dynamics and keeps shit interesting

[@ninjabassonline]

This was incredibly musical ... there is no winner, it was a total jam session between 2 amazing drummers/musicians/artists/entertainers/youtubers

[@ramajaya811]

Thank you so much for this video.. very inspiring from both of you

[@kdw735]

WOW!!! I am 65 and have been fortunate to have seen and met some of the the greats.Two young guys at the top of game in an epic battle. Beautiful!!! I suggest you both go on a tour together and show 'em how its done. Thank you for this post and great job to both of you.

[@paulshack3166]

WOW! I'm new to drumming and that was just incredible. When you can play like that there definitely isn't a loser. Thanks guys, I'll be watching that over and over again.

[@MrSonordrumr]

No winners here except us viewers! That was great! We never see drum battles anymore like back in the day with Krupa and Rich and this one stood up with them. Thanks to both of you! Cheers!

[@Conduta092Oficial]

Greyson is really on a whole another level with the jazz thing, but Brandon battled with dignity

[@stevenlee9259]

You are both amazing and I can't decide. I was blown away!!!

[@chuckerfaceit]

I have never seen you play drums and I was pleasantly shook on how well yall played together.

[@stevenguyen8161]

The fundamental skills and creativity showcase was incredible! Calm, calculating, brash, exuberant and technical to the nines! Well done, both!

[@dylanmartin3123]

Brilliant stuff guys 👏 I think we are the winners really getting to hear this 😀

[@muchopomposo.6394]

Both extremely accomplished and brilliant drummers I do enjoy a "musical" drum solo, as apposed to the "look at me, look at how fast I can play and juggle the sticks" kind of soloing so rife these days.

[@npg68]

Be nice to throw Mark Guiliana into the mix.

[@muchopomposo.6394]

@@npg68 Yes, and Gavin Harrison, too!

[@NVGTO]

Amazing!! And I love the sound of the sticks hitting each other, sounds familiar (even though it happens to me while doing stuff that is NO WAY NEAR any of this)!! Thank you so much!

[@drumbum.ireland]

That was just ridiculous! Hanging up my sticks! Bravo both! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🥁🥁

[@leelittsenjr2953]

That was spectacular! You both were amazing and a should be proud of you're skillsets. Your an inspiration to your peers regardless of skill level. Thank you for this at 66 it inspires me to get back to my grade school/ middle school drum rolls and fills with the precision and flexibility you both have. 😀

[@toddgaster5905]

I've played for 30 years, this might be some best I've ever seen. You both are phenomenal. Thank you...

[@BrandonToews]

🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@andrewmccormack4295]

I've been playing for 50yrs and half way through this...I fainted through forgetting to breathe. 😳😳😳

[@philwelch9218]

Both of you were the winners! Both of you showed of your chops flavored with you own personal sound and flair! Congratulations!

[@WeaselsInSpace]

Holy cow! Who won? You both did!!! Thanks for the fun battle and a world of inspiration!!

[@thedarkenergist]

I’m almost speechless. This is absolutely incredible. You guys are masters. More intensity in this playing than most metal drummers out there.

[@BrandonToews]

❤

[@BinLondon670]

this makes me feel like im trash at drumming

[@bobbysdrumlab4453]

BOTH are AMAZING!! Such different styles 🙏🙏 great job, guys. Smile on my face the whole video.

[@nestortomaselli6372]

This was like watching a young Dave Weckl do a battle royale against a young Vinnie Colaiuta. Absolutely speechless - it feels historic. I’ll be re-watching this 20 years later for sure.

[@jornthedrummer]

I loved that. None of you stood out at the lesser drummer, just different with your own chops. I have not heard Brandon play before - what a drummer he is!

[@BrandonToews]

Thanks Jorn!

Holy cow! This was like listening to 4-hands piano except with drums :o You both are insane drummers, thank you for this!

[@andrewipp426]

OMFG.... you two are phenomenal, it was like watching a conversation, and you can see the respect and admiration for each other’s skill from both of you! Just the hand speed, stamina and improvisational technique is mind boggling! I can’t even fathom being able to pick a winner, I watched this a few times and still can’t say who won it, the only observational point I can make is that Grayson at his age is a bit of an enigma... maybe gives him a slight edge, but Brandon your musicality is truly epic, and btw dressed in suits while shredding kicked it up a notch! Keep up these battles!

[@intradibles]

It's Buddy vs Gene all over again! 🥁😂🥁

[@Pfsif]

I heard that too.

[@gonzalochavarry]

Both great drummers with their own style. The audience won.

[@jonashellborg8320]

I love the thunder from a big band drum setup! It was a pleasure to watch both drummers sway between a jam and a duel.

[@acdc0481]

Woaw guys!! That was an awesome jazz drum battle! Thank you so much for this video! I'll try to keep some parts to include them in my solos 😅

[@sharksdelight]

I initially thought that Greyson would win, hands down, after multiple views of his Caravan solo. However, in this drum off, I would declare the battle to be a very solid tie. Great drumming from you both.

[@BrandonToews]

🔥🔥

[@GraveDohl666]

Nice one! Greyson definitely wins the sweating-column…😅

[@BrandonToews]

Agreed 😂

[@144Donn]

You definitely held your own!!! Much admiration. I did not think anyone could even stand next Greyson! Sir you accomplished the impossible!

[@vinniegorman8321]

Very nice! Pleasure to watch this mastery from two great drummers!

[@johnrobinson8323]

Wow! You both play great! 🥁❤️

[@stevehlabse5537]

You both have some incredible moves

[@bendersbrain]

Solid session!! Both were great, and you set up the beat and the mood with that ffing beat around 1:00 !! Wow

[@richarderiksen5210]

You I love your feel. It's not just speed, it's just IT. You have IT. Great job thanks

[@mako757]

I give it to Brandon, both killed it, chops, expressions, creativity, visual, so when you get two people as equal as they are it becomes hard to decide who won. You need to dig deeper now and judge small things like Greyson hesitated twice coming back after Brandon's rip. To me that means Greyson was intimidate by Brandson's last rip and needed to come up with something better, but it took a second and didn't flow. Other than that mad respect to my fellow NY'er Greyson, mad respect to Brandon, add this to the classic drum battle. peace

[@Christopher-md7tf]

I don't agree. I don't see hesitation, more like a pause for effect. While both are much better drummers than me, IMO Greyson is on another level than Brandon, at least when it comes to jazz.

[@mako757]

@@Christopher-md7tf yes a pause that happen twice, once for effect maybe, twice just a brain fart because he was impressed by Brandon and had to change the riff he was going to do. At the end of the day, it was classic, I grew up with the drum battles, best story Louis, Rich getting served by Chic Webb, thanks for the lesson! Keep play drums brother wish the world knew what we know, peace

[@mako757]

@@Christopher-md7tf He shops at the "Good Hands Drum Shop, in NYC, former Steve Maxwell drum shop, and my cousin who works there knows him and he goes in the to shop and try out old vintage drums, and yes they tell me, he is good. I'll ask him to ask Greyson, lol.

[@redrick8900]

@@Christopher-md7tf Grayson accidently smacked his sticks together. That's a major foul.

[@thedumbmusicchannel909]

Greyson is definitely one of my inspirations behind my jazz drumming along with Buddy Rich.

[@stickybuds05]

This was incredibly awesome, thanks Drumeo! I grew up listening to Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Art Blakey, Bellson, etc. and I think Greyson has the real traditional big band sound down pat, with the accents and timing. Brandon gave it a more of a modern swing feel, a little 'straighter' and easier to digest, but also very musical. Just my opinion tho, very hard to pick a winner as in all things drumming you can't just compare two different styles

[@antiverse0]

Words cannot express how much I love this!

[@BrandonToews]

❤

[@FernandoCuadro]

to be honest i think that brandon should do a course on how to practice all of this stuff (and i mean everything that he has done all over the years on drumeo), like all the covers, fills, this drum battle, rhythm for bands like tool or genesis. I would really love to see an insight on how he approaches this challenges. And also a look back on how much his playing has changed over the years.

[@ValiunDH]

Fantastic. Sounded more like a colab than a battle, you guys played really well off of each other.

[@sharkykahn]

Two amazing drummers!! I really enjoy this video.

[@barlypop]

Bloody fantastic 🥁👍

[@DrumHd4Evr]

Holy crap.... both you guys laid it down hard, both had some fierce fills as well as very tasty and musical fills. Bravo to both of you...I call it a tie.

[@chillywilly9611]

You are both too great to call one or the other. You’re both winners! That was awesome!

[@michaelbanks2303]

I'd say the viewers are the real winners here! Being able to watch this was awesome and both are amazing drummers. So nice to live in an era we can watch this kind of material.

[@aijoguinho9721]

The real winners are us, having the opportunity to see two real beasts like you both in your purest natural state destroying on drumming like this!! XD

[@danlc95]

Very evenly matched, but the clean playing, smooth musicality, controlled speed, and endless depth of creativity... It's gotta be Brandon for me!

[@tomfreeman3640]

Man I've been playing my whole life, self taught, but watching the two of you properly trained but bringing your own technique to the party was both entertaining and humbling!!!! Well done!!!

[@BrandonToews]

😁

[@kingrukus1234]

That was really great on many levels! Superb playing from both of you! I enjoyed Brandon just a slight bit more because of the crazy tom fills! Thanks for sharing!

[@mountburns4024]

I've got to tell you Brandon, you are an amazing drummer! It amazes me how you can play on such a variety of configured drum kits with equal facility. Don't get me wrong, Grayson is amazing also but versatility wise, I think my vote goes to you. Keep up the great work!

[@BrandonToews]

Thank you so much!🙏🏻

[@phillyboy8435]

This ain't no competition its a collab. And you guys should do more. Your both ridiculously talented from the hard work yous put in. And it was literally too hard to say who would win. If I had to choose im giving it to brandon, greyson still in the chop zone, which is cool but I see more musicality w Brandon.

[@BrandonToews]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@John-rw2zf]

WOW. What a joy it was to watch that. Two equally talented and incredibly gifted masters. Like watching Jet Li and Jackie Chan go at it on the drums. Absolutely amazing to watch. Not like magic. Just amazing skill. I am glad that I know just enough about drums to understand what they are doing technically and how hard they must have studied to get to that level. These two guys are professors. I am in 3rd grade. I am humbled. Thank you for making this great video.

[@jackhandy3776]

What a pleasure to watch both of you, wow!🤘

[@goonknox]

Killin it boys🎉 Salute!

[@gregjones861]

Okay, this is nuts but to me, you were the winner because your choices were, to my ears, more musical and more interesting. If it was based solely on technique, I do find him to have the edge - but not by a long way, to your extreme credit. Well done!

[@DerHerrMitR]

Brandon = Krupa Nekrutman = Buddy Rich (duh)

[@cuenco78]

The winner? The winners are us!! This was absolutely terrific! Magnificent! Amazing and all cool adjectives to describe this battle.

[@refractorhead]

I love both you.clowns! You can't see the distinct differences here in the video. As a drummer of over 45 years, I'm learning so much both you guys!

[@Pratt-zp5mr]

Greyson eyes told the entire story: he was looking to destroy you! I love the BUddy Rich inspired fill between the toms and snare at 1:55. No doubt we as the audience were the true victors here! Well done and very enjoyable!!

[@TheOneSoulMate_]

I’m with everyone else. This was just fantastic fun. Incredible skills and to be honest I lost interest in who was better and just got caught up with the fact it felt more like a collaboration. Both of you working against and together at the same time. Wow, that was a fun ride.

[@biltateojr8747]

You both are Awesome and Amazing!! Thank you.

[@mothermountain]

Both are amazing! It's just that Greyson is an up and coming drum legend and we get to watch it in real time.

[@Beerbatter1962]

Wow! That was awesome. Obviously you are both amazing drummers, so I don't want to take sides. But because Greyson is the guest, I do have to say that Greyson is an insane drummer. His mastery and speed using the traditional grip is on another level. And he puts 120% energy into his playing; so inspiring to watch. A couple of sections I particularly enjoyed was the single handed rip around the kit from 2:00 - 2:03, and the Wipe Out inspired rip from 4:46 - 4:50.

[@TheRayDog]

Both the sections you highlighted were indeed beyond belief. Best ever in my lifetime.

[@johnrobinson8323]

Overall maybe I give it to Greyson but Brandon, when you played those triplets around the drums I was definitely moved! 🥁❤️

[@johnnycash7474]

This is inspiration! I will play today! Sometimes we need people to grow and push.

[@LoveGr00ve]

This was amazing! There is no winner or loser here - just pure groove! ♥♥♥

[@rolandmiquiabas-kk3lz]

What a drum battle. both of you are insanely amazing.!!

[@gplegend1472]

I started to play the drums 5 weeks ago and i'm struggling on a simple paradiddle at 60 BPM. I think i can die now. 😂 This performance is stunning! Thx guys!

[@George102._.]

You still play the drums, if so how’s it going?

[@RicardoTuong]

@@George102._.i bet he can play the diddle at 160 bpm now 😂

[@JeffTullock-fs4de]

Especially starting out. Never compare yourself to others. Work hard and get improvement. Then confidence starts coming. If practice is fun you’re doing it right.

[@cvn6555]

Wow. Incredible energy levels. Thank you both so much. Both were amazing. Being a huge Peart fan, I give the nod to Brandon because I could hear him in there.

[@BrandonToews]

😁🙏🏻

[@2482jamie]

this made me so happy! both amazing players! so good !

[@peterpipe9015]

Absolutely amazing

[@billbigler1366]

Both outstanding. Drummers win. Cheers.

[@ryanmackie1084]

Brandon takes this one. Both have wicked hands, but Brandon's feet held down the backbeat through the whole thing. Well done!

[@youtuveunvideo]

That's what I thought, it was insane how he kept the Backbeat aaaaaaall the way through

[@BrandonToews]

Thanks Ryan!

[@BrandonToews]

@@youtuveunvideo 😁🙏🏻

[@mzrufi]

sooooo gnarly! nice for both of you!

[@lesedimotshumi5805]

The playing is so fluid it doesn't seem like you're challenging each other it sounds like an awesome jam session especially because you're both in a suit.

[@leoking1091]

Both great drummers💯...Grayson looks like " Animal " from the muppets...I I really admire Brandons approach to drumming... smooth... confident...not so erratic...I choose Brandon as winner 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@BrandonToews]

Than you!😁

[@leoking1091]

Oh ...I'm also a drummer. Over 40 yrs...Brandon you Rock my friend 💯🎉💞