They're obviously both great drummers, but from two different eras. Yes, Louis Hayes (not Haynes) makes it appear effortless, not just because of his talent, but because his kit is so much more compact, with fewer targets. Mike is obviously very talented also, but his kit is much bigger and more diverse, and he has to reach more distances and directions to play everything in his kit. Drum kits have gone through so many changes over the years that it's hard to compare drummers from earlier eras to today.

That being said, I prefer a good performance like Louis Hayes' (or Joe Morello, or Buddy, etc.) on a smaller kit, to one on a monster kit any day.

:2Cents:

I get that, Mike has more drums to hit, but still, at times he looks like he's passing a stone.

One other thing I noticed, there are no chicks in the audience at the Dream Theatre show, or maybe they all went to the ladies room during the drum solo.DOH

Funny, 'cause that was one of the reasons I started playing drums...girls seemed to be attracted to them. :D

I swear to Ghod I think long drum solos, no matter how great the chops are just boring. I'd rather listen to a Steve Gadd groove, or a Joe Morello groove than a thousand chop-fest drum solos. I think people clap during drum solos in hopes that it will end.

Don't get mad at me I feel the same way about bass solos...

John

Wow...I thought I was the only one;)

I like some solo's, it depends on who it is.

I can watch Buddy and most jazz drum solo's all day. One of my favorite newer guys is Bernie Dresel, this dude can really swing a solo.

[ame]https://youtu.be/aqxI-jyNwFY[/ame]

John,

I sort of agree with you. Some solos definitely go on too long and become tedious. I thoroughly enjoy watching a good, succinct solo from a skilled drummer because, as a drummer myself, I can fully appreciate the skill, creativity, or technicality of the player, but I really don't think the average audience understands or fully appreciates what's going on in a drum solo.

Example: Watch Buddy solo to a live audience... he'll be quietly executing a perfect, single-hand roll with his left hand to nothing but silence from the audience. Then he'll deliberately pander to the audience by ending the solo with a volley of loud, random crashes on all the cymbals (like any kid can do) and the audience goes nuts like it's the most impressive display of drumming they've ever seen.

So are solos boring? Not to me if they're done well. I enjoy learning new tricks by watching the old masters solo. Keep the videos coming.

Mike

Here's a good one from Buddy in his later years, listen to the crowd respond through out his solo.

[ame]https://youtu.be/2tZir9ji8o8[/ame]

As my wife says..... "chicks dig drummers!"

When we started to date she went gaga when I told her I played and even more so when she finally came to see me play !

Michael