MEINL DRUM FESTIVAL 2015 - Matt Garstka (Animals As Leaders) - Freestyle 

LOVE how the crowd reacts whenever Matt makes a mistake, it's almost as if they're clapping to the fact that he comes back down to mere mortal level for a second LOL

Seriously at 7:05, it's the best part. It proves 4 things: 1) he is improvising 2) he is being creative 3) he is pushing himself 4) he is a bad ass As a drummer I usually don't listen to drummers because most aren't very musical, conceptual or thoughtful, Mr. Garstka this performance is all those things. Keep up the good work.

His sense of rhythm is out of this world.

Pushing his limits. No fear. Total honesty. He's one of a kind. I love it.

After watching numerous Matt Garstka solo vids and listening to Animals As Leaders trying to break their songs down, I have concluded only one thing: My brain hurts

Improvising as a drummer at this skill level takes a lot of heavy thinking and quick thinking. If you notice, he is concentrating super hard when he is playing groove on the hats and snare. He doesn't even break concentration to look up when he hits the crash most times because he is already thinking about we he is going to do next. This is more respectable than written parts that are practiced over and over.

Someone please call the ghost busters. Those ghost notes, for god's sake.

I love it when famous musicians that are ACTUALLY talented can laugh and actually acknowledge that they made a mistake. It was hilarious when he groaned after losing the beat! XD Matt Garstka is awesome.

Those dynamics, forever my favourite drummer

I love that he made a few errors. 1, it shows he is a human after all. but 2, he's pushing his own limits. That's admirable.

The thing I love about Matt is that you think he's doing something crazy, and then you look at his left hand! He puts ghost notes in places that 95% of drummers would never think of / couldn't pull off. Amazing

Guess this is how he exercise. Those odd-time signatures we're powerful. Complex timings + fast hands. Tho' it may sound boring to some(those who don't know shit/just hatin), but, for drummers who wanna learn more, this is so helpful.

he could have easily just played licks he has down pat and impressed people like +heylook but he wanted to really treat the people there and play some super complex shit and I appreciate the shit out of that! Matt is such a good drummer. Inspirational.

That was seriously amazing. He totally redefined what a drum solo can be, he did not play according to the traditional standards of what a solo should be, he played mostly snare hi hats and kick. He was just jamming, testing his boundaries. You can tell he really enjoys it. And he's super open with the crowd. You can tell this wasn't rehearsed. I really love his drumming, but him as a drummer too. Didn't care about playing something cool or popular.

Best part: 0:00 - 12:20

Everything about this is great. He definitely OWNED his mistakes. Playing to perfection is never easy and the fact that this was a freestyle session made it all the better. ALL HAIL MATT GARSTKA!

This is a great solo and I love seeing the drummer grooving through the mistakes. I like that he's improvising and pushing his limits on stage. Great dynamics and stick control.

Challenging himself on stage.. you need some balls for that!

80% of the time was on hi hat, snare, n bass drum. If this dude played in the streets he'd be the only drummer on the streets lmao nobody would fuck with that

The amount of ghost notes and dynamics that are played by Matt is literally mind bending. I can not mentally attempt to wrap my brain around what he plays. Truly spectacular.

Work of art. Undeniable power and control. Definitely in my top favourite drummers, pleasure to listen to

that little tom tom fill he throws in at 9:40 to 9:46 is wonderful

That poor hi hat. Just when he thought Matt forgot about him he hits him with some sub division he didn't even see coming.

Matt, you're a true inspiration. I've got nothing more to add. A contemporary drummer showing the true limits of excercise. A real master. Thank you.

11:57 and 10:26 - That's what I do/sound like every fifth second when I'm trying out some AAL songs behind my kit...

his snare sounds great!!

I can barely do doubles with a DBP... He is doing triples with a single pedal. This dude is my favorite drummer tied with Matt Halpern and Benny Greb.

Matt is the future of drums in the present. This dude is just absolutely mind blowing, seriously. Aside from my three idols (Vinnie, Dave and Steve) he's my favorite drummer. Pure Madness, those dynamics are just....I'm done! -HP

I swear, this man will still be talked about 100 years from now.

Amazing drummer, and a cool dude. I hung out with him after they played in Oklahoma City.

This man is one of the primary reasons I took an interest in learning hoe to drum and is one of the most talented drummers of all time, in my opinion. The best part, he is making mistakes which means that he is stepping out of his comfort zone and trying to be dynamic and utilizing this kit to the fullest extent. I pove progressive metal, and this man and the band Animals As Leaders that he's part of is the main reason why: the style is in constant motion, ever changing and mixing things up but still sounding just astoundingly awesome. Matt and Tosin is probably the best combo of guitarist and drummer I've heard in a very long time, and no matter the band, this band and this man are unique and irreplaceable. Keep doing what you do, guys. You're the best at it!

I could never wonder a drummer giving Tosin Abasi a hard 'time'

This video simply does not get old... So much talent.

It’s nice to see phenomenal drummers miss every once in a while. It shows they are human after all. Good work, man!!

this man is so inspiring. the way he continues after he misses a beat or two and gives a little shout of frustration then continues on with his killer beats is amazing! and dont even get me started on those ghost notes! He's got ghost notes in places that ghost notes have never been before! ALL HAIL MATT GARSTKA! :)

One of the most impressive things with Matt is the way there's no power loss while he fills. ( 7:58 ) Sharp, fast and powerful, being creative in an uncommon way, we can see he's not used to that kind of exercise, but he's doing his best and play by the rules, improvising and giving his heart. If you don't know him and only stepped by this video, check out Animals as Leaders, and you'll see, everything will make sense.

For some reason, Matt garstka's performance at the Meinl festival is the best mixed performance out of any Meinl festival video ive ever seen and heard. It's prolly just a combination of everything, the Tama star kit, the beautiful slp dynamic bronze snare, the selection of Meinl cymbal, garstka's amazing playing, and the mixer and how they recorded this performance. Benny greb's performance this year was very good quality also. Overall, this Meinl festival was the best quality out of all of them IMO. His playthrough of kascade sounds so damn good.

Grooves > Chops. Nope. Im perfectly happy to be honest. This is the sorta stuff that gets you moving and grooving and keeps the hair on your arms up on end for the longest period of time. Brilliant.

Every now and then I come back to this video to steal his grooves or fill patterns and concepts. My left hand has gotten way more comfortable with ghost notes haha thank you Matt Garstka!!! And RU-vid for show motion

Now that's something you can appreciate regardless of your knowledge of drums or your skill level. My little sister would love this, and i'm sure Mike Mangini and Thomas Lang would as well.

I never miss anything from Matt. The dude is incredible!

I could listen to this forever.

Being able to solo just kind of playing grooves of increasing complexity and creativity is in many ways a lot more impressive and a greater show of skill/musicanship than the solos with lots of huge chops and insane explosivity and speed, however I do love hearing that sometimes well

10:27 Superman has been stabbed by kryptonite

Seriously jaw-dropping. The effort he displays is amazing!

Damnnn them cymbals sound sooooo beautifullll. And that dynamic slp bronze snare sounds toooo good. Imma buy that shit right NOWW. ( dead serious ).

That china !! It's one of the best I've ever heard

Matt Garstka - very honest drummer :)

matt, you're not only a drummer, you're an inspiration!!!

I can't believe that this guy keeps getting better!! holy crap what a groove monster

I'm glad it's not against the law to play so well.

What a Ka$cade of notes... Another Year goes by and I’m still amazed by this video... looks like a lot of Physical Education that makes The Brain Dance...

Every snare hit is right on point. Sounds great.

9 mins onwards...holy shit! serious control and what a groove! mind blown.

i accidentally hit the refresh button, it started playing, and i had to watch it again

This solo is just the ultimate Matt Gartska compilation!

I watch youtube drumming vids and they make me want to go and practice - i watch Garstka drumming vids and they make me wish i never started drumming

he seriously is one of the best drummers in the world!

Damn his whole kit looks like it's about to fall over lol

Always pushing his limits. One of the best.

That groove ....... Oh my gooooood

Dudes out of this world, just like his band..

Awesome cymbals! But that snare sound.... Just godly

this is just riddiculous...this is so tight...what a great drum skill Matt...unbeliavable..

Oh man! The sound of that KIT!! THE FREAKING SOUND!!

Matt in a nutshell: he puts things no-one ever knew existed in places no-one ever knew existed and makes it sound good

Such POWER! you Matt are a BEAST!

He's so good... And he has an amazing drum face!

Please stop saying « error « . This is not error . This , is happemmimg just when your brain is not agree with your body just a few seconds , this is not error as this guy knows where he wants to go . This just is a proof that this solo is truly an improvised solo , and every solo should be improvised like that. I think the best solo of this drummer

Really great cymbals! All the set sound amazing, the china is the best and the crashes!

one the most complex but memorable drummer ever !!!!

07:04 10:27 11:55 11:59 AAAAAAAAAAHHHH

11:32 feels so Benny Greb-ish to me. And that fill at 11:43 is glorious.

Somehow all my math homework got completed while I watched this video

The amount of permutations he accomplishes in such short time is incredible.

Killer Hi Hat, Snare and Kick Combo's !!!

man I totally agree. what a legend. ..

This is what I'd call intelligent drumming! ;) He's got a great thinking and creative mind.

Jesus Christ his drums sound perfect

he is pushin his skills to the best he can that's why there are some "pauses"

This is so groovy it's slightly ridiculous.. THIS is how a solo should sound!

I love that Chyna ooooooo weeeeee

matt g doesn't mess up.. even during intense algorithmic phasing-polyrhythms.. and when he does, it's perfectly acceptable since time was about to be ripped apart and we were about to be sucked into a blackhole anyways.

124 thumbs down... why would anyone not like this video? I love it.

I LOVE how the camera shakes on the bass drum hits.

insane doubles!

This makes me warm and fuzzy inside.

UHHHMHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH the 18'' jazz crashes best meinl cymbals i think:D sounds amazing

Just wait, Matt is getting better and better beyond belief!!!

I love that he is just jamming out and trying hard things which he sometimes messes up a little. He just zones out and does his thing

The more I learn about music and come to better understand time and subdivisions, the crazier this solo seems to get....

In most other videos with that china it sounds so stale. But in this mix you can really hear how its SUPPOSED to sound. Fantastic

That kit is all over the damn place! Its beautiful, would annoy the crap out of me having the toms dancing around like that.

The hihat work that starts on 1:10 ish is fucking beautiful.

11:22 had me shook cause those are the kinds of ideas i have going on sometimes but my execution just isn't there yet

This mix is GREAT

Admirable.

You know you're a good drummer when the crowd applauds you even when you fuck up haha

It’s really hard to keep a consistent drumming improvisation going without losing focus or losing the crowd, you can just beat on shit for 12 mins and 20 secs you gotta keep rhythm, beat, and change shit up, and matt does a fantastic job! This guy kills the drums even if he just sits down on the drum throne, he’s already killing it

fearless player, what a crazy kid!