Maurice Mattei (Guitar/Vocals)
Mike Grimm (Drums)
Bill Grapes (Bass)
Rick Howell (Harp)
Influences
Musical influences:
Robert Johnson, Shirley & Lee, Hank Williams, Buddy Holly, ABBA, Eddie Cochran, Big Joe Turner, Sonic Youth, Joni Mitchell, Billie Holiday, Shane MacGowan, Eric Bogel, Stephin Merritt, Gram Parsons, Jimmie Rodgers aka "the Singing Brakeman", The Sex Pistols, Tammy Wynette, The Rolling Stones, Charlie Patton, The Blue Sky Boys, Smokey Robinson, Jean Ritchie, Pete Townshend, Cole Porter, Jerry Lee Lewis, Hoagy Carmichael, Leadbelly, Rodgers & Hart, Darlene Love, The Beatles, Howlin' Wolf, Elmore James, Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke, Jack Nitzsche, Shooby Taylor, The Chantels, T.Rex, Elvis Presley, Phil Spector, Doc Boggs, The Carter Family, George Jones, Jerry Kennedy, Randy Newman, Gene Pitney & Melba Montgomery, Felice & Boudeleaux Bryant, Roy Orbison, The Troggs, Sly Stone, The Velvet Underground, Jonathan Richman, Mary Wells, Johnny Otis with Marie Adams and Three Tons Of Joy, Elvis Costello, The Kinks, John Prine, Loretta Lynn, The Everly Brothers, Mildred Bailey, The Boswell Sisters, The Mekons, Van Morrison, Bent Fabric, Jimmy Liftlock, Big Bling, Vig Blunt, Anwar Tardy, Mrs. Melt, Landmines 'r' Us, Lost Highway Hair Salon, My old friend Soupy, Velvet Chin Strap, Sergeant Lou, Cupcake, The big guy next door, Sit here and eat somethin', I'll get the door, I fold, Stand up a second, Coconut Cream Pie, Antfarm Pendrake, Keep On The Sunnyside
"You can hold the best of Maurice Mattei's material to the highest
songwriting standards. His "Set The World On Fire" would not only fit
fine on Bob Dylan's Love And Theft album, it would be a highlight. It
was an ear-opening revelation when a career spanning package from
this
unsung songwriter arrived in the mail."--Don Mcleese, No Depression Magazine
"The best thing about his minimalist songs is that they're anything but
your slick, cliché, over-emotional coffeehouse crooner material.
Mattei's guitar melodies are as soothing and undiluted as his lyrics.
It's like the thrill of literature in the form of rock 'n' roll, and
without all the shaggy hair and distorted guitar posing to get in the
way."--Kari Wethington of Cin Weekly
The vast majority of currently working bands and performers will never make anything of themselves - no great success, not much money and an insignificant output of material. Of the few who actually get a recording deal or build a decent fan base even fewer will be remembered 30 years from now. If you look back over the entire history of Pop Music you will see that the number of acts that are still listened to and who's songs actually transcend their own era is infinitesimal relative to those that are forgotten about by the general public.
Those who make money in the music business are managers, publicity agents, public relations people, executives, etc. Performers are merely the vehicle for these individuals to accumulate their wealth. When performers have outlived their usefulness they are abandoned and replaced with whatever the new sellable product may be. For a Pop musician to view him or herself as anything more than a commodity is illusory. It is, however, an illusion that is dutifully exploited by the business people because it obfuscates the true nature of the relationship between themselves, the performer and their audience. Given these simple truths, it is astounding that even the most successful of our performers should hold sway over any aspect of public opinion. The fact that they sometimes do is a testament to an exceptionally brilliant business model.
Since 1990, Mattei has been quietly releasing some of the best
story-songs in the region. Mattei's tawdry, insightful tales were
released to minimal fanfare, masking an unsung talent that was part
Dylan, part Bukowski, only smarter and of better voice. Also a noted
photographer, Mattei's examination of the seedier side of the human
condition in his songs is even more effective than his photographs
exploring similar ground.Mike Breen of City Beat
this is probably a boneheaded thing to say, and i'm sure you've heard it before, but after viewing that video, I believe your music needs to be in a Tarantino film.
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