the blank tapes

Bio:

"We discovered this lo-fi unsigned band - which somehow evokes Belle and Sebastion, Pavement, and the Black Keys - in a San Fran coffeehouse (just like the old days.) Quick, somebody sign them!" -ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE

"The last time I saw him my most fundamental confidence in myself was shaken because half his set was songs so good I knew they had to be covers of bands I already loved, yet I did not know them and if I can't even remember songs by the bands I love then why am I even going out at night when there are a lot of boring forms I could be filling out instead? But these were all Adams originals and they pretty much sounded perfect, and I even went home and listened to everything Ray Davies ever recorded on his own just in case there was something I missed but there wasn't. He wears sloppy sweaters and his band showed up looking like they just rolled out of men's central holding and it was the first best show of the year." -LA RECORD

"I had heard some buzz about The Blank Tapes (based out of SF), but I became increasingly interested as eight men and women walked on stage at The Independent and started playing a very groovy, syncopated rhythm that ranged from a modern take on the sixties San Francisco sound to solid rock and roll pop with memorable hooks and riffs, danceable beats, and always incorporating a joyful sound. I could tell the band was happy to be playing their music, and the crowd reacted to this energy- dancing and moving to the music coming from onstage." -SF EXAMINER

"Adams writes winsome pop tunes that snuggle up to you on the sofa and put a rosy glow in your cheeks. He's a traditional pop-rock craftsman, but Adams also has pronounced folk proclivities, with many songs exuding a delicate, campfire aura. They go down easy, like the sun." -OC WEEKLY

"The Blank Tapes songs felt like melodic escapism layered with harmonies – songs about plants, Santa Cruz hideaways, small faraway towns. Together they have good energy and stage presence which traverse into the audience. Both the performances on and off the stage were impressive." -THE DELI MAGAZINE SF (voted Band of the Month!)

"They played a great set that pushed all the right buttons for me: catchy folk-pop-rock sections that break away into grooves that build and build with layers of keys. What you might call “jamming,” but you should qualify as “the good kind.” A tasteful jam band, if you will. All the musicians in the band are super talented, and each gets their own moment to shine ... When The Blank Tapes solo, it’s tasteful, like I said." "The Blank Tapes just never seem to stop. Probably one of the most prolific artists we've featured." -WIRETAP MUSIC in SF

"(referring to the length of CDs) Bands like Guided By Voices and They Might Be Giants were certainly stretching the track limit, but rarely did they unleash as many fully-formed nuggets as can be found on the Blank Tapes’ 80-minute album Daydreams. The Blank Tapes is primarily Bay Area mainstay Matt Adams aided by a coterie of souls subsisting on a diet of bioluminescence and driftwood kindling—part of that hippie invitingness lurking in the fog, welcoming anyone with a melodica and a functioning lung to the party." -LONG BEACH DISTRICT WEEKLY

"BEST NEW FOLKIE (2006)" -SF WEEKLY

"The Blank Tapes' songs are plenty: homemade but not particularly lo-fi, fully-formed not half-baked, bereft of the indecision that plagues so much of what passes for indie these days. You don't have to be into far-out shit to get sucked into his melodies or his lyrics. It's just kinda classic great songwriting on a more intimate scale." -THE PHOENIX Boston

"(Daydreams CD review) The band is spearheaded by Matt Adams who writes and records all of the songs on cassette tapes using an old Tascam 8-track. The outcome is a beautiful album of 25 songs oozing with authenticity." -THREE IMAGINARY GIRLS Seattle

"The Daydreams CD is chock full of excellence: overflowing with it in fact. Every time you hit play, another gem pops out from the crowd." -KQED review

"(Landfair CD review) Time passes but with this record this is hardly noticeable you’re enjoying the music so much. The songs may set up drab situations with the lyrics, but the sunny pop melodies obscure the boredom the singer might be suffering. Dizzyingly quiet and lovelorn, these songs show a diverse and pleasant range." -EVEN IN THE FUTURE New Zealand

"Landfair Best Pop/Rock Album 2007" -INDEPENDANT MUSIC AWARDS

"Matt Adams was incredible. he gave us free buttons and stickers and I wear mine with pride." -Becky Lindquist Blog

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"After the 25-song double-plus-album Daydreams, Matt Adams and the Blank Tapes return with the all-roaring no-boring full-length Home Away From Home—ten songs of full-band Kinks-plus-Creedence roots-rock ‘n’ roll that sounds like it came out of a roadhouse in Luckenbach, Texas, even though it was recorded on Matt’s very own 8-track in a bedroom in Oakland, California. After three albums, fans know he’s at home playing solo and playing soft, but on Home Away From Home, Matt’s got his Telecaster turned up. When he’s destroying, he’s Lou Reed or Neil Young telling the cops to get lost, and when he’s desolate, he’s Leonard Cohen or Ray Davies wondering how it feels when a heart starts and stops. Home Away From Home is Matt’s Loaded, Matt’s Lola Vs. Powerman And The Money-Go-Round Part 1, Matt’s Rust Never Sleeps or Matt’s Cosmo’s Factory—the kind of album that electric guitars are designed to make." -CHRIS ZIEGLER

The Blank Tapes is Matt Adams. I write the songs & play most of the instruments for the recordings, with my friends helping me out for live shows. I have a band in the Bay Area and another in Orange County that both play as the blank tapes not to mention countless other band members that have joined us on tour around the world.

2010 "Home Away From Home" The new 10 song psychedelic folk rock album released by LA RECORD's White Noise label. Featuring We Can Do What We Want To, Driving Out Of Mind, Flashing Before Your Eyes & Don't Mind.
2009 "Universal Western Attractions" compilation CD I put together of the Bay Area music scene. Out of Print but downloadable @ Jason Martinez's website www.fuzzhouse.com/Recordings {to download songs you have to right click (PC) or Ctrl Click (Mac), and do save as.}
2008 "Friends & Favorites" mellowed out cover album featuring a ton of guest singers. i silkscreened and sewed up only 300 copies so get 'em before they run out. Also available @ www.fuzzhouse.com/Recordings
2007 "Daydreams" recently remixed & remastered by Jason Martinez. 25 songs of the Velvet Underground meets the White Album featuring the hits, Listen to the One, Smoke & Mirrors, This is What's Inside, Silverado & Long Ago.
2005 "Landfair" voted Best Pop/Rock album at the Independant Music Awards. 23 Kinksy songs featuring I Saw the Satellite, It's So Hard to Let Go, This is My Day, Somebody New, Sleepy Head & Last Lover. Plenty of guest appearances!
2003 "Country Western Honky Tonk Saloon Blues" More folky then country 23 songs featuring Newport Beach, The Future Has Just Begun & I'm Lookin for Love. Almost out of print!

I've also produced alot of albums and various other recordings with; Dirdy Birdy, Sleepy Todd, Collin Ludlow-Mattson & the Folks, Indianna Hale, Vera Gogh, Obo Martin, Honey.Moon.Rree., Michael Musika, Os Beaches, Matt McCluer, Jeffrey Manson, Quinn Deveaux & many others.

The Blank Tapes play all the time all over the place! some of the places we've played are.. Cafe Du Nord, The Independant, SF MOMA, Hemlock Tavern, Swedish American Hall, Rickshaw Stop (san francisco). Knitting Factory, Spaceland, the Echo, Largo (Los Angeles). Lit Lounge, Cake Shop, Pete's Candy Store (NY). We've played with the likes of Sean Hayes, Mother Hips, Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, Free Energy, These United States, Greg Ashley (gris gris), Little Wings, Parson Red Heads, Gene Loves Jezebel, Crystal Antlers, Deep Sea Diver, the Microphones, Whispertown 2000, Jeremy Jay, Graves, Sky Saxon (the seeds), Richard Swift, Ara Anderson, the Growlers, Japanese Motors, Karl Blau, Adam Selzer (Norfolk & Western), Herman Dune, Port O'Brien, Dufus, Golden Boots, Giant Cloud, Jolie Holland, DeerTick, and lots more i can't recall at the moment... ..

Members:

Matt Adams & lately... Steve Winchell (Childlike Divine), Sean Olmstead (fpodbpod), Spencer Grossman, Indianna Hale, Sleepy Todd, Josh Bruner (Magic Leaves), Will Halsey (Sugar Candy Mountain).

& sometimes... Matt McCluer (the Sweet Sweet Things), DA Humphrey (the Flying Saucers), Joel Williams (A Quarter After), Aslan Rife (honey.moon.tree.), Alan Siegel (Dirdy Birdy), Mat Davidson (Twain, Low Anthem), Kacey Johansing, Jeff Manson, Joe Lewis, Bryant Denison (the Beehavers), Keegan, CJ Brion, Lucas Boilon (stirling says), Kim Kylland, Ramon & Jessica, Grahm Dion (Garuda), Jason Medina, Joe Napolitano, Darryl Blood, Kephera Moon, Arthur Lee, Jeff Takacs, Johanna, Courtney Montgomery, Nick Campbell, Terry Bar, Valerie Back, my brother Ryan, etc...

Sounds Like:

BOOKING/CONTACT: guitarto@yahoo.com

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Blank Tapes Home Away From Home
(Matt Adams / White Noise)

[Buy CD][iTunes]

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Blank Tapes Daydreams
(Matt Adams / White Noise)

[Buy CD][iTunes]

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Blank Tapes Landfair
(Matt Adams /

White Noise)

[iTunes]

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Blank Tapes Western Honky Tonk Saloon Blues
(Matt Adams / White Noise)

[iTunes]

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