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Here's the short story. Matt has been a figure in the East Tennessee music scene for the past ten years. Located in Knoxville, TN, he has performed in several bands as well as working as a solo artist. Matt has shared the stage with the likes of CAKE, Drivin' n' Cryin', Will Hoge, Kevn Kinney, Garrison Starr, Tim Lee, Mic Harrison (of the V-Roys and Superdrag), Doug Gillard (of Guided By Voices) , Col. Bruce Hampton & the Code Talkers, Zac Brown, Graham Colton, Brian Vander Ark (of The Verve Pipe), The Features and a seemingly never-ending list of talented independent artists who aren't getting the widespread respect they deserve from points around the globe. Matt spent his earliest years in the music business with a band called Magpie Suite, which received a bit of notoriety around the southeast and produced three albums. He currently works devotedly with his newest band Plan A, where he writes, sings, plays guitars, plays cards, drinks beers, and occasionally drives from show to show along the east coast in a big, brown van named Daisy. Matt has averaged over 200 shows a year for the past few years, an average that would be higher if it weren't for a very unfortunate thumb-wrestling accident in the spring of '06. At home, Matt often performs solo acoustic sets, in a duo called Adapted Wood with long time friend Tod Sheley, and in several other projects featuring a number of talented musicians. He can also be found sitting in from time to time at random shows in the Knoxville area. The band Plan A is currently supporting their second full length album which was recorded in Greenville, SC at OMG Studios, owned in part by Edwin McCain.
At the same time, Matt is performing solo shows at home and on the road in support of his 10 year acoustic retrospective called "Broken Strings & Beer Specials." The album features acoustic versions of many of the songs recorded over the past 10 years with both Magpie Suite and Plan A, as well as a few unreleased tracks. He has just wrapped up his 25 day fall solo tour which covered 20 cities in 9 states throughout the South. All the while Matt continues to write and work on what will be his next project and album. The name of this project remains unclear. Often, many things remain unclear when dealing with Matt (the way home, the time of day, the girls in the backseat of your car). What is clear is that we have here a force. The type of force is yet undetermined. The best thing to do is try to catch a show and figure it out for yourself. As we move into 2009, you can expect to catch Matt more and more on the road either with Plan A, supporting their second album, or solo beating on that acoustic guitar just to spread the word.
Top 12 DIY Picks by Lee Zimmerman
"It’s only a matter of time before singer-songwriter Matt Woods finds wider recognition. His second album offers the immediacy and accessibility that major labels generally latch onto. On songs like “My Way,” “Flight to California” and “Lonely Ones,” Woods wades through one emotional tempest after another, garnering powerful, affecting performances that resonate even on first hearing.
Woods matches his commanding vocals with an ace backing band in Plan A. Together they provide the riveting, rock-solid arrangements these tunes call for—whether turning up the heat for a searing rocker or adding just the right touch of nuance to one of Woods’ searing, sad-eyed ballads. It’s that balance between frenzy and finesse that gives these rugged, restless narratives an unequivocal sense of determination and purpose."
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