Anyone that takes chances -- Prince, Fugazi, Zeppelin, PE, Sinead, U2, Radiohead, Pearl Jam, Bjork, Miles Davis... or maybe Mr. Obama. We shall see. Are we ready? is he?
Sounds Like
Elliott Smith meets U2, or Sinead O'Connor as a boy, or like someone that loves Zeppelin but sounds nothing like them, or... “You may know singer-songwriter Jonah Matranga from his various group projects--Far Gratitude, New End Original and the anagrammatic onelinedrawing — but music made under his own name still sounds as sweet... Matranga may have done his best work while flying solo.”
-ALTERNATIVE PRESS
“A loose, free-roaming approach to songwriting that pushes his music beyond the normal sad-sack singer/songwriter cliches”
-PITCHFORK
“One of music’s most charismatic, tuneful, purist geeks...”
-ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
“It is this comfort level and humility that surrounds Matranga and makes you fall in love with him, despite the fact that you’ve never
met”
-CHATTANOOGAN.COM
“His intimate sets can last hours, when the lovable, neurotic rock geek interjects compelling and playful banter between - and sometimes during
- songs.” - MEANSTREET
“No Belle & Sebastian, New Pornographers, or Strokes for me last week, but I did see Jonah two nights in a row - he never disappoints (I actually sold my Saturday night Strokes tickets outside Hammerstein Ballroom before heading to Snitch).
BROOKLYN VEGAN
“I must say that Jonah is one of the most genuine, passionate, and
sincere people I’ve ever talked to in my life. Music is his life and
sharing that love with others is his major goal.”
ABSOLUTEPUNK.NET
“Jonah Matranga has played hundreds of shows and met thousands of people, but he still remains one of the most human and accessible people in rock today. That his quirky, self-referential style of performance works in so many venues: big, intimate, recorded and
processed, is testament to the appeal of the man himself .”–
PUNKBANDS.COM
“Is there a more hardworking and
veracious guy in rock music?” – ANGRYAPE.COM
“One of the most influential artists
out there.” – INTERPUNK.COM
Hi - Quite a bit of news this time; new shows, new Ts, some other stuff I'm sure. Let's see: Got a new T and hoodie up at http://jonahmatranga.com This UK artist called Neil made this clever design with a tree frog (the animal that most reminds me of me, incidentally). He has since started a company called Green Tees Apparel ( http://greenteesapparel.co.uk ) Have a look at that as well, if you like. Gonna be adding some vinyl, buttons and stickers in the next weeks too... Lots of shows added in the past few days. Most exciting and soon (Oct 18) is a show up in Portland with a great songwriter and incredibly sweet person called Kimya Dawson. I'd love to rock a daytime Seattle house show or somethin on Sunday the 19th as well, so anyone with ideas/offers, let's rock. Just finished filling up the UK dates (still a couple open over in Germany-ish, please send ideas or offers for those too). Near the end of this run is a show that is already my favorite show ever, simply because of the story that has led to it. In (semi-)short: A woman in Linz, Austria was making a good living doing something she really wasn't enjoying. A friend of hers played her a song I wrote called Livin' Small, which came out several years ago as I was thinking over what was important and interesting to me about doing what I do. Apparently, it helped inspire her to quit her job and start a little shop that will sell artwork, Fair-Trade stuff, just things she loves and wants to support. She got in touch with me and is flying me over there to play the opening of the store, which is pretty amazing. What's even cooler than that, though, is that she's calling the store...(drumroll, please)... Living Small. Also, her friend that played the song for her is starting a little annual Arts Festival of the same name. This is the stuff that gets me. We have no idea where our ideas (be they songs or anything else) will end up. Let's keep making. Then, later in November, a few really nice things popped up: My first show ever in an arcade (in San Jose, no less).... A show in Manhattan for the first time in a while, at the gorgeous Gershwin Hotel ( http://www.gershwinhotel.com )... Then a show at what might be my favorite little space ever, the Chapel at the First Unitarian church in Philadelphia. The latter two especially are *very* small rooms, advance tix are on sale now. Info below and on the Shows page at http://jonahmatranga.com . I'm having more of an urge to write these days, so for those that like directionless, pointless ruminations on everything from politics to the healing power of silly TV to why I still miss Manny, stay tuned to the Bleeagh page at http://jonahmatranga.com . I'm also gonna start posting more of the amazing writing and art that you send me. I've meant to do this for a while, so I'm publicly committing in hopes that it'll motivate me to actually do it. If I continue to flake, know that the correspondence helps me in so many ways and is endlessly appreciated. For reals.
Rock- Jonah
ps - The bloody finger is doin' okay... it's all scar-tissue-y underneath (yummy!), but it seems okay. Healing actually does happen. ====== UPCOMING SHOWS (More and updated info and links at http://jonahmatranga.com): OCTOBER (Oct 15-16 - Makin the scene around LA to see my fave new band, Hot Little Pony) Oct 18 Portland, OR - Benefit for Portland Free School - w/Kimya Dawson 1pm at 8660 SE Foster Road in the "Freedom Theatre". $15-ish, sliding scale Tickets can be purchased at http://www.villagefreeschool.org Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door. (Oct 19, daytime house show around Seattle? Ideas/offers?) Oct 22 The start of the UK/Euro run, in London at the cool, tiny 12 Bar. Get tix quick. http://www.12barclub.com/gig_listings.html Oct 23 Up to Newcastle to rock Trillian's Oct 24 Leeds, UK - The Cockpit Oct25 Birmingham, UK - TBA Oct26 Windsor, UK - The Old Ticket Hall, Farm Yard, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 1QL TEL: 01753 854554 Oct 27 Yeovil, UK - Orange Box Oct 28 Sweet Newport, sweet LePub, sweet show! Oct 29 London again, little set at the big Frank Turner fest at Scala Oct 30 Coolest show story EVER in Linz, Austria - Info TBA (Oct 31 - Somewhere near the night before?) NOVEMBER (Nov 1 - Germany-ish?) Nov 2 The excellent MuK in Giessen Nov 6 Sacto, CA - Harlow's, 2708 J St., 9pm Benefit For Liz Luckie Strike - w/LGS, Two Sheds Nov 8 San Jose, CA - Nickel City Arcade, 8pm 1711 Branham Ln. San Jose, CA 95118 (408) 448-3323 Nov 11 NYC - Gershwin Hotel, 7 E. 27th St, 8pm, $10 I've been invited to be part of what sounds like a very cool concert series. The room is apparently quite small, and there is no way to purchase the tickets in advance, but you can reserve yr tix ASAP by clicking here or going to http://jonahmatranga.com (You'll be charged 11 cents.) Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door. Nov 12 Philadelphia - Unitarian Chapel 2125 Chestnut Street Tiny beautiful room, so TWO SHOWS! 8ish and 10ish, different sets of course. I'm so happy to get back to this room. This sold out supah-fast last time, so get yr tix ASAP at http://www.r5productions.com
Me and Beyoncé, haven't you heard? Click on the tabloid pic to download the scandalous single.
'And' IS OUT NOW. My new album, 'And' is finally out in all the countries, on all the labels. Huge thanks to the many, many people that have helped in its creation and release. More on that in the coming days, for now I'm still and always rushing around in the middle of tour to keep in touch and figure out different ways to spread the word. Please tell yr friends and local record shops. It should be in stores, and online, and who knows.
On that note... Finally, here is a simple, secure way to buy and download 'And' directly from me. You'll get the whole album, plus a bonus track, all in hi-res .mp3 format (much better quality than iTunes, but I can't tell the difference anyway). I've also included album cover art and all the liner notes, lyrics, and even chords to play along if you like. You can pay via PayPal or credit card. The page will try to get you to use PayPal, which is fine, but on the lower left is the link for credit cards. I've just tried it myself, and it's very easy, thank goodness. I'll be expanding the download sales stuff in the coming weeks, but this seems a good place to start. Thanks so much, for all the ways.
I adore you so much!! I always think of my first Far concert in cleveland ohio i think you guys played with life of agony it was way to long ago but i remember hanging out with you guys and how much fun i had and your voice is just a blessing!! Forever a fan!!
Hey! I was just connecting to myspace when I saw the flag on FAR's myspace in my topfriend... So I told myself "let's listen to the rare song they have again" ... And what a surprise, a reunion! I'm so happy with this! Then I came to your website and I see the old FAR records in sale... I thought I was dreaming, man, I've been looking for them for eight years now... You can't immagine, your music was so important to me back in the days of my teenage years... and still now! You have to know that. Thanks for everything. All the best from France
hi jonah, here's the picture i took at your show at german fest last summer i've promised (yeah, stimes thgs take longer...;)... the gig was great! when i feel bad, i just look at your wonderful autograph on the lp to get my smiling back...:o) cheers°sig
I dream of a quick and easy little west coast run for Hot Little Pony.. Cali is so far away for a poor college student in the middle of a semester.. le sigh.... please make it happen jonah!
The one bad thing about moving from NY to LA is that I will be missing you at Maxwells! What a killer venue...on a brighter note I get to see Hot Little Pony!! Thanks!!!
