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Matt Mays

 
Artist: Matt Mays
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Similar Artists:

Old 97's, Whiskeytown, The Jayhawks, Blue Rodeo, Wilco, Jeff Tweedy, The Bottle Rockets

Formal Connection With:

The Guthries
  • Born: August 10, 1979
  • Active: '90s, 2000s
  • Genres: Rock
  • Instrument: Vocals
  • Representative Albums: "When the Angels Make Contact

Biography

Canadian roots rocker Matt Mays has become one of the nation's most popular new artists since hitting the road with his backing band, El Torpedo. Born on August 10, 1979, Mays first came to the attention of music fans as a member of the Nova Scotia-based alt-country band the Guthries, who formed in 1998. The Guthries released their first album in 2000, Off Windmill, but while the album was praised by critics and fared well with fans, Mays opted to strike out on his own. Mays released his first solo album in early 2003, simply called Matt Mays, and in order to tour in support of the release, he assembled a road band featuring Jarrett Murphy on guitar and vocals, Rob Crowell on keyboards and sax, Andy Patil on bass and vocals, and Tim Baker on drums, with Mays handling lead vocals and trading off guitar lines with Murphy. Extensive roadwork in Canada helped the band win a loyal fan base, and Mays gave his band co-star billing for his second album, Matt Mays + El Torpedo, released by Sonic Entertainment in the spring of 2005. The songs "Cocaine Cowgirl" and "On the Hood" became major hits in Canada, and the band was chosen to open a major Canadian tour by the Black Crowes. Mays began making noise in the United States after playing a showcase at the 2006 South by Southwest Music Conference and appearing on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and in late 2006 Matt Mays + El Torpedo finally received a belated release in the United States through the independent 02:59 label. As Mays and El Torpedo began touring the United States to push the album in America, they were also playing larger shows at home in support of album number three, the ambitious When the Angels Make Contact. In early 2007, Mays relocated to New York City in order to better promote his career in America, and guitarist Jarrett Murphy amicably left El Torpedo; Jay Smith, from the Cape Breton band Rock Ranger, signed on as the band's new guitarist in April 2007. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Matt Mays
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Matt Mays

Mays performing at the 2008 NXNE festival in Toronto
Background information
Born August 10, 1979 (1979-08-10) (age 30)
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Origin Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada
Genres Indie rock, folk rock, electronic
Occupations Singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar, harmonica, tenor saxophone, keyboards
Years active 1990s–present
Labels Sonic
Associated acts Matt Mays & El Torpedo, The Guthries
Website MattMays.com
Members
Matt Mays
Jay Smith (Musician)
Dale Murray
Serge Sampson
Damien Moynihan
Former members
Jarrett Murphy
Tim Jim Baker
Andy Patil
Rob Crowell
Notable instruments
Gibson SG
Gretsc White Falcon
Fender Telecaster
Red 1972 Gretsch Nashville
Fender Telecaster Thinline

Matt Mays (born August 10, 1979) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and was the lead singer of Matt Mays & El Torpedo, a rock music group based in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia and New York City. Previously, Mays was a member of a Canadian indie band The Guthries. Mays was born in Hamilton, Ontario, and grew up in Nova Scotia.

Contents

Career

Matt Mays

At the 2005 Juno Awards, Mays presented an award, and was himself nominated for New Artist of the Year and Adult Alternative Album of the Year for his self-titled album.

In February 2006, Mays appeared with the Symphony Nova Scotia in their Rising Star series on the Dalhousie University campus.

In April 2006, fellow Canadian rocker Sam Roberts released his new album titled Chemical City. Mays performed on the track "Uprising Down Under".

Matt Mays & El Torpedo

Matt Mays & El Torpedo consisted of Jay Smith (guitar, vocals), Andy Patil (bass, vocals), Tim Baker (drums), and Adam Baldwin (keyboard). Previously, Mays toured with the Atlantic Canadian group The Guthries.

"Cocaine Cowgirl" received heavy airplay on Canadian rock radio in 2005, and its video heavy rotation on MuchMusic. At the 2006 East Coast Music Awards, MM&ET were nominated for entertainer of the year, group of the year, radio rock recording of the year, album of the year, and single of the year (for "Cocaine Cowgirl"), and won all of these but entertainer of the year award. They closed out the national broadcast of the event with "Cocaine Cowgirl". As he introduced the band, host Mike Smith (Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys) said that they were one of his favourite bands. In Maclean's magazine, Ron MacLean of Hockey Night in Canada listed Matt Mays & El Torpedo among the artists whose music he "never leaves home without."

In 2006 Matt Mays and El Torpedo released a music video for their single "Time of Your Life ('til You're Dead)", directed by Drew Lightfoot. The video was filmed in Kensington Market, Toronto. This particular video features the card manipulations of American comedian and magician Erik Tait. This video received notice in the magic world after it was pointed out that the card manipulation with the box is physically impossible. This particular manipulation was achieved by filming Erik's hands then playing the footage backward. The card work is also acclaimed in this video as members of the band perform some of the manipulations.

Matt Mays & El Torpedo performed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in December 2006.[1]

When the Angels Make Contact

Matt Mays' project When the Angels Make Contact, released on November 7, 2006, is a soundtrack to Mays' unfinished film of the same name. Regarding the origin of the idea, Mays stated: "I had this album that was based on the theme of an all-nighter. It started when the sun went down and ended when the sun came up. Then I thought, 'That would make a good movie.'"[1] The album flows with the themes of the movie, following the character J.J. Carver, a motorcyclist on a quest.[2] The music video for the title track and the "movie trailer" were both directed by Drew Lightfoot. Although much of the movie was shot in early 2006, production then stalled due to lack of financing.[1] Sam Roberts has a cameo role as an Australian surfer. The album features Buck 65, Skratch Bastid, and Rose Cousins, among others.

Terminal Romance

The last album, Terminal Romance, was released on July 8, 2008. Singles, "Tall Trees" and "Building a Boat" have received heavy airplay on Canadian radio, including CBC Radio 3.

Throughout July 2008, Matt Mays and El Torpedo toured with Kid Rock in support of their new album.[3]

On December 12, 2008 Matt Mays & El Torpedo received 5 East Coast Music Association Nominations including Group Recording Of The Year and Songwriter Of The Year.

Disbanding of El Torpedo

Matt Mays & El Torpedo officially disbanded in June 2009 with the departure of Andy Patil and Tim Baker, however Adam Baldwin and Jay Smith have remained with Mays. The band added three new members, including drummer Damien Moynihan and former The Guthries members Serge Samson and Dale Murray. In addition to playing in The Guthries, Murray has played guitar and pedal steel on each previous Matt Mays album.[4]

Discography

Singles

  • City of Lakes (2002)
  • Cocaine Cowgirl (2005)
  • On the Hood (2005)
  • Time of your Life (2005)
  • When the Angels Make Contact feat. Buck 65 (2006)
  • 850 Commando (2006)
  • Tall Trees (2008)
  • Building a Boat (2008)
  • Terminal Romance (2009)

References

  1. ^ a b c Wagner, Vit (2007-01-18). "Soundtrack? Check. Film? Well ... Matt Mays tours with the album that he's still working on a film to accompany". Toronto Star. p. G2. http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/171732. Retrieved 2008-06-15. 
  2. ^ Conner, Shawn (2007-01-25). "Matt Mays risks his sanity to tell the story of a dude on a quest". The Georgia Straight. http://www.straight.com/article-67158/matt-mays-risks-his-sanity-to-tell-the-story-of-a-dude-on-a-quest. Retrieved 2008-06-14. 
  3. ^ Tour Page
  4. ^ Mays, Matt (2009-06-03.). "A note from Matt...". Matt Mays & El Torpedo Official Website. http://www.mattmays.com/index.html. Retrieved 2009-06-03. 

External links


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Matt Mays".  Read more

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