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BackStage Pass Article
It was a Tuesday night just like any Tuesday night, and I was hungry. Hungry for nourishment of my soul and belly. I knew the belly part would be covered with a basket of buffalo wings from Durty Nellie's, but would the entertainment there on this weeknight be fulfilling? I was on a mission. I was to interview the big gun at Nellie's on Tuesday nights, Matthew McBride. After putting in an order for a double helping of wings, I butted in on Matthew's sound check. I came to find a fellow that greatly resembled the guy that mows my Mom's lawn testing Matthew's guitar and mic levels. "This guy must really be a pro", I thought, "he's got a crew!" As the sound check ended, Matthew's roadie, noticing me in the room, yelled, "Backstage Pass?" I gave a confirming nod and he approached. "I'm Matthew", he said.
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It turns out that Matthew McBride is an everyman. He is a singer/guitarist/songwriter that makes no bones about what he believes is entertaining. "I don't take myself too seriously", he states as we sit in the dressing room just thirty minutes before he's to hit the stage. "I think people like that". McBride has been wowing audiences throughout the Chicagoland area for a little over a year and doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon. After parting from local favorites The Dirt Poets, Matthew ventured out on his own. He started as a solo acoustic act and has generated a substantial following. His popularity has justified the addition of a bass player and drummer. "We have over one thousand people on our mailing Iist", he adds. His three-piece band plays regularly enough that playing music is all he does. Day gig? "No, this is all I do", he responds.
Matthew has generated such a positive reputation by forging an original sound and stage show and by scripting his set Iist to appease even the most dastardly dudes at Durty Nellie's. He explains that he tries to "personalize" his shows to include the audience and to keep them guessing as to what he'll do next. "We'll play swing, Prince, country and then Pearl Jam right in a row", he confesses. And judging from the response I witnessed from the young folks, while peering over the basket of my drip-down-your arm heavenly poultry parts, I would have to say that McBride is a crowd-pleaser. He doesn't plan on resting upon his laurels, either. Matthew plans on expanding his repertoire to get "a strong swing thing happening" (leave the rhyming to me, Matt). I may even be adding horns", he quips. He also wants to extend his market to include most of the Midwest.
Adding to his presentation isn't really necessary, however, since Matthew and his band, Danny Weymouth on bass guitar (also a member of 7th Heaven) and Peter Baushke on drums, can amuse any bunch of music Iisteners well into the night. I was probably only half way through devouring my delightful chicken before I realized I had been mesmerized by Matthew McBride and his band for almost two hours.
October of this year will bring the debut of some original music from McBride and his band. In fact, he feels his live performance is so much a part of what he's about that he is considering putting out a live CD. He's looking to capture his stage show energy on tape. "I'll put performance over production quality if it rneans getting that certain feel", he adds. Although Matthew does acknowledge that he is in the business of "bringing people into the bars", he also has a "personal" side to him that he feels is where his original material finds a home. After patiently searching the library of taken musical descriptions that crowds his brain, he defines his sound as "acoustic, pop alternative".
After hearing his standout single "Why", I was asking the same question. Why only describe yourself as pop alternative when your sound is so unique and catchy? Let's put it this way, if you're a fan of Dave Matthews Band and enjoy that acoustic, melodic style of performance and delivery, then you'll like what you'll hear on Matthew's upcoming disc. He does liken his attitude about music to that of Barenaked Ladies and feels "the depressing thing is over". "Goofiness" is something he is comfortable with in his on-stage persona and in the creation of his own works. Although the disc is untitled at this time, it will definitely be something to look forward to.
When asked how he views the Windy City music scene, McBride had one word: "disjointed". He feels that although the bands in Chicago are plenty and of high quality, the overall support system among bands is limited. How does he feel that he fits in? "I don't try to plug in", he responds. "I'm building an island and if people want to visit my island that's great!" Can we order out on this island? I'lI be there.
As I popped my last Turns, the band was just wrapping up a heavy-metal version of that Titanic song by Celine Dion (He warned you they didn't take themselves seriously). And, as I approached Matthew McBride to let him know that I enjoyed the set, he pointed to my chin where some hot sauce had setup camp. I thanked him and realized at that moment that my soul and belly could rest assured that they had come to the right place on this Tuesday night
By Chris Bonney |
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