Guitar Center Drum Off Grand Finals 2010

Guitar Center Drum Off Grand Finals
The Music Box, January 8, 2011

Guitar Center Drums threw yet another outsize and first-rate party to culminate the 2010 “World’s Largest Drum Competition.” From the cleverly-themed old-timey carnival video presentations opening the evening; to the world-class artist performances; to the contest itself; to the storied VIP after-party, the Grand Finals delivered on both its hype and its status as anticipated annual mainstay among L.A. drummers. Congratulations to organizer Maria Brown, Glenn Noyes and the GC Drum team, and especially to each of the five contestants—it was about them after all.

Photos by Alex Kluft

rsz_803The Music Box at Henry Ford Theatre, Hollywood

rsz_806The Brothers Appice

rsz_1638And it begins…

rsz_924Cora Coleman

rsz_1017Simon Phillips

rsz_1078Gavin Harrison

rsz_1259Luis Burgos Jr., Brooklyn, NY

rsz_1364Anthony Burns, Bridgeport, MI

rsz_1432Winner: Isaias Gil, Houston, TX

rsz_1544Clyde Frazier, Orangeburg, SC

rsz_1599D-Mile, Los Angeles, CA

rsz_1724Dave Lombardo

rsz_1660Elitch, Sutter, Aronoff, Tempesta & Latham

rsz_124Our favorite moment: Steve Smith & Jeff Hamilton

rsz_236Steve Smith

rsz_315Smith & Jojo Mayer

rsz_666Smith & friends

rsz_743Appice & Aronoff

rsz_767Mayer & Jonathan Moffett

rsz_754Appice, Sutter, Aronoff, Appice & the evening’s host, Stephen Perkins

rsz_788Danny Seraphine

rsz_789Joey Heredia & Mayer

Read our Q&A with Glenn Noyes.

rsz_800Alex “Drumparazzi” Kluft (pictured at right with Steve Smith) is a music lover, drum fanatic, and concert photographer based in Los Angeles. You may find more of Alex’s photos here.



All photos © 2011 Alex Kluft Photography