BIOGRAPHY + MUSICOGRAPHY
“MEDELES STEPS BEYOND BEAT-MAKING, HE’S AN ALCHEMIST OF RHYTHM” - Backseat Mafia
José is an undeniable pillar of the drum community. His passion for drums has helped establish an amazing community cherished around the world. As a working drummer, he has created beats and sounds with The Breeders, 1939 Ensemble, Modest Mouse, Ben Harper, Joey Ramone, Kim Deal (solo), She & Him, Donavon Frankenreiter, Rocco Deluca, Marisa Anderson, M. Ward, Chris Funk, Scout Niblett, CJ Ramone, Face to Face, 22 Jacks, Chris Shiflet (Foo Fighters), Steve Soto (Adolescents) and many others. Created sounds for HBO, TedX and Nike. He’s also released several drum-centric solo albums.
In 2009 eager to get off the road to be a more present husband and father, José opened Revival Drum Shop (Portland, OR.) with a single inspiration: create a place for drummers to find unique, inspiring pieces in a curated and inviting environment. Revival Drum Shop has inspired many boutique shops to follow this model.
José since then has gone to curate and host The Drummers Den series and Deep Happening, write and publish The Stoic Drummer, a collection of axioms and philosophy of stoicism relating to the practice and art of drumming, A Drummers Ethos, a book that celebrates the characteristic spirit of the drumming community and an collage art book celebrating drums and drummers of yesteryear Who Will Play My Drums When I’m Gone? Served as Vintage Drum Specialist for Fred Armisen’s Netflix Special Standup For Drummers, guest drummed on Late Night With Seth Meyers and recently co-produced Revival Drum Sample Library Vol. 1 (Snare Drums) and Vol. 2 (Bass Drums).
He is endorsed by Ludwig Drums, Vater Percussion and EarthQuaker Devices.
Also proudly uses Cymbal & Gong, Istanbul Agop, Upcycled Percussion, Roots EQ, Tackle Instruments and various Morfbeat, Gregg Keplinger, Pete Englehart metal pieces.
*Portions written by Uli Salazar
RECORDINGS
ANOTHER GLORY: Debut - Drums, Percussion
THE BREEDERS : Title TK - Drums
THE BREEDERS : Mountain Battles - Drums
THE BREEDERS : Fate to Fatal EP - Drums
THE BREEDERS : All Nerve - Drums “Waiting With A Killer”/“Wait In The Car”
KIM DEAL : Solo 7” Series - Drums
MODEST MOUSE : Strangers to Ourselves - Vibraphone, Drums
BEN HARPER : Both Sides of the Gun - Drums “The Way You Found Me”
SHE&HIM : Melt Away: A Tribute To Brian Wilson - Drums, Percussion
HBO : Q…INTO THE STORM - Drums
1939 ENSEMBLE : Howl & Bite - Drums, Vibraphone, Percussion, Noise
1939 ENSEMBLE : Live from the Banana Stand - Drums, Vibraphone, Noise
1939 ENSEMBLE : Black Diamond Pearl - Drums, Vibraphone, Percussion, Noise
1939 ENSEMBLE : Beats & Saints EP - Drums, Noise
1939 ENSEMBLE : New Cinema - Drums, Synth, Percussion, Noise
JOHN DAVIS : Spare Parts - Drums, Percussion
SCOUT NIBLETT : It’s Up To Emma - Drums
ROCCO DELUCA : I Trust You to Kill Me - Drums, Percussion
CJ RAMONE : Reconquista - Drums, Percussion
SECRET DRUM BAND : Dynamics - Vibraphone
22 JACKS : Overserved - Drums, Percussion
22 JACKS : Going North - Drums, Percussion
FACE TO FACE: Standards & Practices Vol.II - Drums “Tommy Gun”
JOSÉ MEDELES : The Art of Slowness - Electravibe
JOSÉ MEDELES : Railroad Cadences & Melancholic Anthems - Drums, Ambient Clatter
JOSÉ MEDELES : Tale of a Dysfunctional Drummer - Drums
JOSÉ MEDELES : Random Underdog Stories - Drums, Percussion
JOSÉ MEDELES : Reception - Electravibe
JOSÉ MEDELES : Cabin Tapes - Electravibe
STEVE SOTO : An Exercise in Blue - Drums, Percussion
REVIVAL DRUM SHOP : Sample Library Vol. 1 & 2 - Drums
THE HOLLOYS : Art Wars - Drums
IO PERRY : Greybay - Drums, Percussion
CUSTOM MADE SCARE : Greatest Show on Dirt - Drums
NIKE : Questlove & Kylie Irving Commercial Demo - Drums
CURATION
NETFLIX “FRED ARMISEN STAND UP FOR DRUMMERS”- Vintage Drums Specialist/Curator/Tech
DEEP HAPPENING : Creator/Co-Curator
THE DRUMMERS DEN : Host/Curator
LIVE
*ANOTHER GLORY (Current)
*1939 ENSEMBLE (2010-2021)
*THE BREEDERS (2001-2010)
VARIOUS SOLO PERFORMANCES (2002-Current)
**LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS 8G BAND SIT-IN (2021 & 2024)
**THE MOUNTAIN GOATS (2024)
**SCOUT NIBLETT (2012)
**STEVE SOTO (2008)
**MIKE WATT & MONEY MARK (2006)
**CHRIS SHIFLETT/JACKSON UNITED (2006)
**ROCCO DELUCA (2004-2005)
**TITO & TARANTULA (2005)
**DONAVON FRANKENREITER (2003-2005)
**THE WHITE BUFFALO (2004)
**YELLOW #5 (2004)
**THE HOLLOYS (2002)
*22 JACKS (1997-2001)
**FACE TO FACE (1998)
**JOEY RAMONE (1997)
**LOS INFERNOS (1996)
*CUSTOM MADE SCARE (1995-1998)
**Hired Gun *Member
OTHER
AUXART “HIGH WATER”: Performance (2023)
AUXART “TO THE RIVER”: Performance (2022)
MARMOSET: Guest Speaker (2022)
ENTREPRENEURS ORGANIZATION: Guest Speaker & Solo Performance (2020)
DEEP HAPPENING: Solo Performance (2021)
SUTTLE LODGE ARTIST IN RESIDENCY: Solo Performance (2018)
LIVE WIRE #231: 1939 Ensemble (2015)
OPB MUSIC: 1939 Ensemble (2015)
TEDX BEND: 1939 Ensemble Live Original Score Performance- (2014)
PORTLAND ART MUSEUM: 1925 “Pleasure Garden”- 1939 Ensemble Live Original Score Performance (2014)
FILMUSIK: 1926 “Faust”- 1939 Ensemble Live Original Film Score Performance (2012)
TV
SETH MEYERS Guest Drummer 7/2024
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER “HIM” with The Breeders
CONAN O’BRIEN with The Breeders
CARSON DALY with The Breeders
CRAIG KILBORN with The Breeders
JIMMY KIMMEL with Jack Johnson/G. Love/Donavon Frankenreiter
CARSON DALY with Donavon Frankenreiter
SETH MEYERS Guest Drummer 9/2021
FRED ARMISEN “STAND UP FOR DRUMMERS” Door Guy