Guitar Center's 24th Annual Drum-Off Winner, Juan Carlos Mendoza

Congratulations to Guitar Center's 24th Annual Drum-Off (2012) Winner, Juan Carlos Mendoza! Keep an eye out for more incredible performances from the other 4 competitors AND exclusive content from MUTEMATH, Steve Gadd, John Blackwell, Keith Carlock, Zigaboo, and Gerald Hayward!

[seakay]

The fact that he was keeping beat with an irregular ostinato ON HIS LEFT FOOT while also playing completely different irregular patterns at different tempos with his crazy fills up top is just absolutely insane. Only drummers can appreciate how fucking hard that is

[JuanCarlitoMendoza]

So here's why the snare sounded that way. In '08 when I was at the Grand Finals the theater was really boomy and you couldn't really hear all the ghost notes that I was playing. This year I said I'm going to dry up the snare and hopefully people will hear the ghost notes. Also we DID NOT get a sound check so we didn't really didn't know how dry the room was. So as soon as I started playing I was like oh boy this room is dry and this snare is too choked, but once you start you can't stop lol.

[jdion]

this guy's got more independence than the declaration. ya feel me?

[bcat]

When you're so good at drumming that you don't need anyone else to form a band.

[KCYON]

I have a feeling it will be a long time until anyone can top this Drum-Off. Just phenomenal. phenomenal. phenomenal. No words. Juan Carlos Mendoza, you killed it my friend. 

[SeanCox]

Who's still here watching this in 2020? Still up their as one of the best drum solos I've ever heard!

[aircooled]

I think every five years they should have a contest including the last five drum off winners, I would love to see that

[ManleyReviews]

This is easily the greatest drum offs to date. I have yet to see another drummer hold that (1 2, 1 2 3) ostinato starting at roughly 2:57, through so many variations, modulations, triplet and straight grove/fills and other over the bar patterns. That is NOT something you can just "chop out" on stage. That is not just some soulless wankery. There was serious preparation done here and having participated in the drum off, I can securely say this dude earned the title. There is always an overlying theme imbued in his solo, but there are also many different accompanying variations to groove and energy that bring out all of the different colors of sound in this EXTREMELY SHORT 5 minutes. A masterful blend of musicality, technicality, and above ALL else, originality. Carlos Mendoza I salute you!!!

[amandadumas]

He's my professor !!!! I take lessons with him !!! I was squealing it was such an honor to meet him !!!! He is so cool !!!! 😝✊🏾💯

[jakecooley]

That left foot on the cowbell oh my gosh . So much independence

[manofculture]

1:58 I've never seen such a creative use of the snare.

Pure genius.

[TheOGMillennial]

Probably the most musically balanced drum solo of GC drumoff history. Still dope in 2019!!!

[BBT]

Juan's snare may sound like junk to others but listening to the styles he played and the way he articulated the whole solo, the snare was just PERFECT for it. Muted, sharp and crisp.

[medleysa]

This is a great example of how to solo with an Octopad as a part of your kit. Too many drummers these days turn their solos into Octopad solos feat. drum set. Why to go, Mr. Mendoza. Fantastic technique, clean drumming, and great musicality. Well deserved!

[zan]

Did he just do DJ scratches on the bottom of a snare drum fr?

[stevewilliams]

In a world with lots of drummers just hitting as hard as they can, the musicality and armony of this guy is really appreciated

[HunterParkermusic]

Still my favorite Drum-Off champ performance. Solid all the way around and the only really constructive and enjoyable use of the octopad that I've seen.

[brendanmcg]

This is why drumming is the most bad ass thing you can do with your life.

[djoc]

See the difference between this solo of Juan using the Octapad vs everybody else was that the Octapad was a nice compliment to the solo instead of what he revolved around.
This was really a dope solo, i nearly fainted at the part where he flips the snare upside down with the little cymbal. sheesh that had to be like dopest part.

[barad-dur]

More than just a drummer, but a true artist; an amazing blend of the dual aspect around music, which is science(numbers/time), and art(feeling/emotion). 
I wish you great success, you truly deserve it, sir