STEVE MILLER BAND'S Drummer Reacts to KAI HAHTO Drum Playthrough!

This is Ron Wikso's reaction to watching Kai Hahto performing Wintersun - Sons Of Winter And Stars (Drum Playthrough) for the first time.
Ron Wikso is a drummer who has toured with Cher, Foreigner, Richie Sambora, David Lee Roth, the Steve Miller Band, the Storm, CCR, Eddie Money, Gregg Rolie, & Player (w/ Peter Beckett & Ron Moss)
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#wintersun #nightwish #drummer

[@hextatik_sound]

Kai started as a jazz drummer. Then he played grind core for long time. Then Wintersun and now Nightwish.

[@kievitz]

Also black and death metal.

[@DoomTobi]

And Swallow the Sun for two albums or so

[@jii-ro7083]

And Doom metal. He is the most versatile metal drummer i know

[@recentisland1513]

I met Kai in green room after the show in Munich in Dec 2022 ( super long story on how I got invited ) .. Said I loved the drums in the opening from the song ‘Noise.. he said he screwed up a bit .. No, I didn’t notice .. Kai Hahto is such a nice and genuinely true gentleman..

[@kimmikke_]

Beginning of Kai Hahto's career in early 20 year old he moved to New York and got/bought Drumming lessons from some of the best USA's Jazz Drummers and he also played in NY non-famous Jazz bands for a 3 years or so, so the basis of Kai Hahto's drumming comes from Jazz music - So Ron spotted quite correctly the Jazz stuff in the playing :)

[@ssc00p]

Yeah... Kai himself considers himself as a jazz drummer first in his heart... (said in an interview once)

[@e.j.2279]

Yes, Freddie Gruber taught Kai (Freddie also taught Neil Peart...)

[@kimmikke_]

@@e.j.2279 Thanks for that info, so Kai have had the best of the best teacher in very early years then!

[@parrotheadlasvegas]

Kai is a jazz drummer first 😉 Thanks for a fabulous video 😎

[@EricManktelow]

Kai is a human machine behind the kit, seriously talented and skilled. Criminally underrated outside Wintersun/Nightwish circles. He's also by all accounts, a top bloke who's down to earth.

[@elisakallokoski801]

His son is awesome too with drums! Cannot wait to see what he will be in the future.

[@jii-ro7083]

Nightwish fans dont really appreciate him as much as they should tho. They truly believe that Jukka was actually better drummer than Kai which is insane but each to their own

[@ssc00p]

@@jii-ro7083 I have seen comments in which they prefer Jukka Nevalainen over Kai Hahto only for his showmanship talents. Don´t remember a notion from a NW fan that Jukka would be technically more advanced than Kai. Some people´s personal preferences saying Jukka is better for NW I guess yeah... and they can be all that. Me: Kai Hahto immense supremacy through and through

[@Pterodactylus548]

@@jii-ro7083 Oh, do beliewe that Nightwish Community holds the torch for Kai. He has been in NW 2013 as a nominated drummer since Jukks had to to drop his playing to minimum, tinnitus in his ears caused severe sleeping deprivacy. Jukka was not "to let go" as some empoyees tell it to you. He's is still sitting behind taböe (not sure how much he loves it, LOL)

[@Z_TPI]

In an interview, Kai was explaining a situation during a Nightwish concert where in one song the whole band, including himself, got a couple counts ahead of the backing track. Since the band sticks with the timing of the drummer, it was up to him to slowly bring the timing of everyone back in synch with the backing track. I find it amazing that while playing a song live, not only is he concentrating on playing the song itself, but he was able to realize they all got ahead of the backing track, then figure out a way to drop the count back into sync mid song where it still sounds natural and also so that the band will notice what he is doing and follow his lead. Im sure this is an issue drummers face now and then playing live, but I had never thought about it until Kai spoke about it..

[@intergalacticspacecanoe4659]

few bands do this as well. Folks of Bruce Springsteen use two lights. if the drummer drops the other light, it means "follow me" and the click is tapped onto his beat. if theres a drag or rush, the drummer catches it and signals the light. something like that, there is a video out somewhere where that was explained.

[@phils866]

I feel exhausted just watching Kai. Mesmerising. And a trait he shares with his Nightwish family....he smiles! It's always uplifting to see artisits enjoying what they do, and engaging with the fans.

[@Aenea-de9vy]

Kai is a machine! Smiles and then drumms some more. 😂

[@zbygniewprlwytzkofsky6614]

Joel is the greatest! Who else ever reacts with a drummer to a drum cam? And now you know why Kai is known as the human metronome or the gentle beast❤

[@rolandkarlsson7072]

Kai is fantastic and so is Wintersun!

[@mangroval]

It's not technicality that is the most amazing part of his dumming, but the fact that he still manages to have great swing even in the super fast parts.

[@jpdemer5]

This is why Tuomas can write any damned thing he can imagine: he has Kai to drum it, and Floor to sing it.

[@Kaupunkiporo]

Not to be forgotten: He has also played big band stuff and even played a lot of classical music in Vaasa City Orchestra.

[@toma6164]

One of my friends is lucky enough to be one of his students as a drummer.

[@juhavaris2144]

Kai is a beast 💪💪🙏🙏🔥🔥💯💯🇫🇮🇫🇮

[@thomasorn8009]

Kai is actually also an excellent jazz drummer, stayed half a year in New York studying jazz being part of drummers collective

[@stephenhood1516]

HI, I saw both the Nightwish shows in Finland during June and will be returning to Helsinki in February from Scotland to see a special solo show by this amazing drummer. I don't know what exactly Kai has in store for us but we do know he will be playing song's from throughout his career which will obviously include Nightwish, Wintersun and Auri. To see this, 'master of his craft' up close and personal will I'm sure be a wonderful and unique experience, I for one can't wait!

[@anuisotalo9467]

I'm going to see his soloshow too! What a blast it'll be, can't wait 🤩

[@kievitz]

Some people seem to think Kai Hahto is unknown outside Wintersun/Nightwish, the guy has played stuff from jazz to black metal. Here in Finland if you are serious about drumming, you know who he is.

[@MrAatami]

Yeah, you probably paid 60€ to meet him- ..I mean get lessons from him.

[@Rackelhane]

This was real fun!! Thank you!!👍👍👍

[@Tapio86]

He trains boths his hands separate and also his feat, to keep a fantastic balance and blurring the "border" of their duties.

[@TomTomson81]

Great reaction, great guest.

[@duncanwyer2460]

Just a warm up for our human metronome 😊

[@ecbftl]

I think his kit for Nightwish is even bigger, particularly for the last Album & tour. He may want to hear him drumming in Weak Fantasy at Tampere or recent concert intro for Music lead into Noise and also Tribal. Perhaps consider introducing him to a good drum song from Wacken with Jukka for a contrast in style.

[@amygoodson-catlady]

I hope your friend checks out some of Kai's clinics... he's amazing! He can switch lead hand from right to left and back in the middle of a fill...just for fun.

[@arikoivukoski4497]

This is what you get, when you combine an octopus, metronome and macinegun.

[@Tarkus_]

That was a lot of fun. I bet he'd love Gavin Harrison of Porcupine Tree and Pineapple Thief fame. He's also ridiculously talented, and has a lot of jazz elements in his style.

[@kolaghan2807]

Being casual when it comes to extreme techniques on drumming I was very much convinced Austin Archey from Lorna Shore was most impressive drummer I have seen, but after this one Im not sure anymore. Kai is like a human metronome with insane technique. Nightwish concerts must feel chill after Wintersun ones :P

[@Gibbetoo]

he said that NW was hard for him in the beginning because it is so different and had to use different muscles.

[@user-vm9hy7qx7c]

Yall should do a podcast interview with Kai

[@j0hnn13K]

He'll like Jukka as well, but i personally would like to see him react to Estepario Siberiano (Jorge Garrido), because he's a total mad-lad on drums.(edit, hindsight.. wait till end of video.. lol) But besides that, it is great seeing Ron pick up on everything Kai does and show his appreciation by basically going into "awe-face" for 15 minutes straight hehehe. I just love when a highly skilled musician get's so into the work on another musician and can geek out on little things we "common folk" won't even notice, love love LOVE it! Thnx for another fun video Joel, keep em coming ;)

[@roykliffen9674]

Kai is a freaking machine. There are few drummers that can match his skill. Yet when it comes to Nightwish, I still miss Jukka. As a drummer he was much more expressive and entertaining.

[@Kodiak660]

I agree, Jukkas style flowed perfectly with Nightwish.

[@user-tf2wd1eh3g]

Jukka is a performer. He has the chops, obviously, but watching him is a show in itself.

[@tuijakarttunen9164]

He`s like an octopus behind the drums with eight arms. He plays in Nightwish now.

[@bocatampere]

Kai 🔥🤘❤️🇫🇮

[@loulagro2315]

Beast! ...... Kai is the GOAT!

[@jaskau2462]

🤩👍💥💯🎼 AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME 🤘😎 🇫🇮 💙

[@ericbraun4652]

Kai has been called the most technical drummer in metal. I'm so glad Nightwish was able to snap him up when Jukka (very sadly) had to give it up.

[@pekkakarppinen1608]

Haha, Kai is an atomic clock! ⏰🕛

[@evilii]

For me Kai Hahto is know for his drumming on grindcore band calld Rotten Sound. I even got to see them live about 18 years ago.

[@niffingig5143]

To me, his best drumming is on Exit and Murderworks. Definitely one of my absolute favorites.

[@ro0140]

Kai Hahto the Human Metronome :)

[@etienneonasch7415]

Guys, just must listen to "Ape´s Planet -Jazzmestari LIve in Juttutupa 19th oct.2011". That's Kai with a Jazz Band. :D His versatility is absolutely through the roof.

[@1982jeepcj8]

The Human Metronome, I miss the Passion that Jukka played sometimes, but Kia is just unbelievably proficient.

[@samishiikihaku]

HOW HAVE YOU NOT HEARD OF EL ESTAPARIO SIBERIANO!?!?! 🤣 Love seeing all the old school American band players getting a taste of European metal!!!

[@peterbockholm3176]

Kai is humble, he still tries to practice at least one hour per day, never being content with just being great and always trying to improve.

[@mhh7544]

Hahto was original Rotten Sound drummer. The fastest grind core there was .

[@k.l.7788]

Another drum night coming. Alone with Kai Hahto. Source Nightwish insta: Show featuring Nightwish's own Kai Hahto! Witness his mesmerizing drumming skills at Apollo in Helsinki on Feb 3, 2024. "Alone" brings you unique renditions from Nightwish, Wintersun, Swallow the Sun, and more.

[@jarnosavikko5093]

There tomorrow. Already have tickets. 👍

[@k.l.7788]

@@jarnosavikko5093 Oh, nice. Have fun! 😊

[@spencerbutterbaugh6104]

Kai is great. Let him hear Senri

[@ToTheWolves]

Do Jukkas drum cam with Weak Fantasy or something like that

[@ionitydso5744]

there is a video where Kai plays Escape From Oakland if Ron wants to hear Kai play some jazz ;)

[@R---66---R]

We found the 8th World Wonder!

[@Tamm1965]

The Human metronome

[@yorkaturr]

Grindcore is the fastest and most difficult music style to play and Kai excelled in that.

[@PittDaddy]

For his Nightwish work, the performance of Devil and the Deep Dark Ocean in Buenos Aries is a great one to watch, along with Floor and Marco's vocals of course.

[@iamrickrock]

You haven't seen a drummer until you have seen El Estepario Siberiano. Your next rabbit hole.

[@helli0n824]

and again, show him some Austin Archey Drum-Cams ;) you don´t need to know Lorna Shore, or like their music ... but the drumming is over the top for sure ...

[@Mars-is4un]

🤗🍒🤘🏻

[@laurasunday5986]

Ozzy is 75 today!

[@Martin-re8ei]

The part between 9.40 and 13.00 is improvised. It's not a part of the original track

[@birrextio6544]

Yeah and he messed it up a bit :-)

[@birrextio6544]

Kai started with jazz so he can do it. edit: ok, it was said already, must flog myself for writing before reading.

[@SargonnasIncarnate]

Legends claim that Kai was actucally born within a bass drum. That his parents were mister and missus Blastbeat.

[@camsnow9822]

I liked Kai in Nightwish, then I heard his work in Wintersun and was like "I wonder if he gets bored playing Nightwish songs, bc they seem like a walk in the park, in comparison" Not a diss on Nightwish I love Nightwish. As a drummer though, this song is just way harder to play than anything in the Nightwish catalog.

[@Alicatt1]

Needs more cowbell 🤣

[@jsmoor4988]

Lol already having thoughts what he thinks about the small atomic bomb of Lovebites.

[@rolandkarlsson7072]

Haruna is a special case. I have not heard anyone drumming like her. She has her own style. And the idea behind her style is to keep the machine going and decorate it with cymbal splashes and rolls. Her feet and arms are constantly moving, doing something, for the entire song. There is really no grove. Now, this is how she keeps the machine going for Lovebites heavy metal songs. But, I have heard her play much more conventional. And she is a monster even then. She is FAST! And she is a drum nerd.

[@RedLine0069]

you should see and show el estepario siberiano playing drums with one hand he is nuts

[@harrisonj0679]

Needs more practice 😂😂😂😂😂❤❤❤

[@user-vm9hy7qx7c]

It can be done just practice and push ro the music.

[@rolandkarlsson7072]

WOW Joel, you have not heard about El Estepario Siberiano? I thought he was big among all reactors. That guy has TONS of material on KZbin. 90% of it in the form of Shorts where he shows his skills. And that guy is supernatural. Need to be some Greek God just coming down to earth to troll us. He is also a bit impish, likes to be fun. He has (as Steve said) lots of shorts where he drum with one hand while doing other stuff with the other one, playing the hardest covers you can think of. He is, in a way cheating though, he has the fastest feet I ever have seen. And he plays rolls where he alters feet with hand. Make it sound like more hand work than there is. But, yeah ... when he starts to play with both ends of the stick, then that makes up for that cheating.

[@PatrickVanDijk_NL]

I concur!

[@alancarter41]

Excellent reaction. It is always a pleasure to see one master artist discover another master artist. Personally, I think Kai's talent is wasted in NW since they have devolved into a folk band. One of Ron's comments is exactly why I rarely listen to bland American music, it is far too focused on the singer at the expense of a more expansive interpretation of the music.

[@MrDijaru]

Kai not from this World Holy Smoke.

[@PsD14JR]

Kai is not neal peart.. but he is progressive on his playing like Neal.. getting better all the time.

[@penaarja]

Wtf amazing wtf. Humanoidi or.. Not possible

[@koff41]

This is ridicilous i knew drummersa are bad ass but this was for real. Look at the arms and his feets, all is vibrating. No pot here!

[@Marco-Conner]

as if he had four arms

[@noneofyerbeeswax8194]

I like how you say "out of Europe" as if it were a country.😂 Kai is a good drummer, but g@wddamn, do I hate blast beats!

[@rolandkarlsson7072]

To US Europe is a "country". More or less like South America is a "country" to Europeans.

[@NightwishArena]

@@rolandkarlsson7072 I'm pretty sure very rare European people (Finnish at least) thinks South America as a country. Or Africa. But I can understand that Americans know just about as much about European countries, than most Europeans know about states. Guys who follow NHL, NBA, NFL, etc probably know those better than those who are not interested in any American professional leagues.

[@Evil_Peter]

@@rolandkarlsson7072 I naturally can't speak for all Europeans but I am one and I pretty much never hear people refer to something happening in, or coming from, South America unless it's something that actually relates to the continent (like talking about Copa América). Otherwise people tend to refer to the countries.

[@rolandkarlsson7072]

@@Evil_Peter My point was only - the farther away the more course precision. And I think that is universal. That said, US citizens are well known for having zero clues about countries 😊.

[@makke_macro]

most silent reaction ever xD

[@MyDeceptionOfficial]

nop

[@richardmead5969]

who cares, Jukka was alot better

[@joelroadie]

"a lot"

[@Gibbetoo]

lol@@joelroadie

[@outwest1014]

Show him Nemophila's cover of X Japan's Kurenai. Sorry I'm not impressed with this guy.

[@rolandkarlsson7072]

Tamu is very good. Kai is very good. Different styles and skills. But sure, I like Tamu to. Actually one of my favorites.

[@delightbydelusion]

sorry, what? you're not impressed with Kai, fair enough, but you are impressed with someone doing less and doing it worse?

[@rolandkarlsson7072]

@@delightbydelusion Worse is a very negative word I would not put on Tamu's drumming. She is very skilled. Kurenai is a quite simple drum song, you mainly need stamina with your feet. Not much Tamu could do to impress, except stamina then. She did play this song when she was very young and there are impressive and fun videos with her doing it. There are three things that are impressive with Tamu. 1. She can play very complicated stuff very nicely and have shown that. 2. She is a session drummer and can play anything, often then using a score. 3. She is sharing her knowledge. Tamu is considered one of Japan's better and more versatile drummers.

[@outwest1014]

To all - My list of great drummers start with Keith Moon, Ginger Baker, John Bonham and Neil Peart. Current great drummers the obvious ones. Still not impressed with this guy.

[@delightbydelusion]

@@rolandkarlsson7072 fair enough, I didn't know that. All I know is the song I was told to check out was a bad example of her skills in that case.

[@user-nb7po6jo9l]

What a who is steve miler? Lol americans