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By David Alan Lucas (Blackowl)
Published: June 30, 2009
Updated: June 30, 2009
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On the evening of June 26, 2009, four emerging bands mounted the St. Louis Pageant stage where Sister Hazel, The Wet Sprockets, Blue October, The Goo Goo Dolls, and hundreds of other bands have played on the musical proving grounds in their quest for stardom. The four-hour concert opened with the relaxed sounds The Northwoods, a Simon and Garfunkel mixed with a Credence Clear Water sounding two-man band. Men who met as children at a summer camp from which they named their band, kept the audience swaying and head bopping with their cozy musical style of guitar and vocal duets shaken up with the bongo drums and beat-box vocals.
The concert shifted as Panic Pollen stormed the stage with three electric guitars and a drumbeat that quaked the floor and reverberated to the core. Experimental rock brought the audience from head bopping to head banging with a style of music that I equate to a mix of garage, grunge, and rock. The four-man band lured the crowd from their seats to head bang in front of the stage.
Ashborne pressed down the accelerator as they brought their alternative/garage band out to perform and swelled the growing crowd before the stage. The band, preparing for a new CD launch in July, showed The Pageant why they belonged on this concert ticket.
The Incurables, an alternative pop band blended the flavors of rock, pop and punk into a musical cocktail that poured off the Pageant’s stage and intoxicated the crowd. With a post-modernistic style and fresh sound they displayed a love of music that was felt all the way into the back of the venue.
All four bands, with their different flavors and tastes, had their chance on the proving grounds of The Pageant. They played to the crowd and showed why they belonged in the music spotlight. Maybe one day they will do as those who have played on the same stage have done, and launch into the stardom their sounds deserve.
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Email Phoenix Always Rises: I love your vocal style. Who were some of our influences
growing up?
Kevin Matisyn: I grew up listening to Metallica and Pantera so I think I got my screaming and heavier style from them. Metallica had great melody over heavy stuff and Pantera was just plain HEAVY. When I joined my first band I was really into bands like Creed and Seven Mary Three so I sounded a lot like that. We covered songs from both as well as 3 Doors Down, Fuel, etc. A lot of people have said I sound similar to Maynard from Tool, which is a little odd to me because I got into Tool really late in their history. I started listening to them right before they released Lateralus. I think for me the emotion of music has more influence than a specific singer. My favorite vocalist of all time is Matthew Good but I don't think I sound anything like him but the emotion he sings with is intense. You can feel it. So when I sing it's just my voice carrying all the emotion I feel with it.
Phoenix Always Rises: Who influences you now?
Kevin Matisyn: I think there are some singers out there right now that are
astounding. I usually rate a singer by how much I wish I could sound like them (despite what people think I don't really like my voice that much). I think Eric Victorino, formerly of Strata has one of the most unique voices out there. Darroh Suderth from Fair to Midland is another great singer and writer. Both those guys hit notes I could never even dream of hitting. I also like guys that make great melodies and I think Ronnie Winters from RJA and Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy, yes I said Fall Out Boy are both great melody writers. I think what they do stands out cuz I honestly don't hear a lot of songs with such strong vocal hooks. Some of it's poppy but so what? A good song is a good song. And lastly, for the heavy scene I think Howard from KSE is the best in the biz right now.
Phoenix Always Rises: You have a new band called Parabelle. What can you tell us
about this project? How did it come together?
Kevin Matisyn: The band started back in 2007, I think, I don't even know, I just know that after I toured with Framing Hanley we started writing some. Then a bunch of crud went down and Tim and I decided to do it up. We didnt use anything from the old writing. We hooked up with all the other guys in pretty much the same way I hooked up with my old band, the internet. We got together and just started writing. Tim is a great song writer, I've said that from the first time I heard his old band's album. So he and I click pretty well and the writing is pretty easy. His friend Miles joined up and those two can pretty much do anything on a guitar. They kinda know what each other is thinking. Gio is the best bass player I know, hands down and it gives us an opportunity to play stuff that not many others could do. I grew up playing bass so I have an affinity for it. Blaine is 16 years old, a kid pretty much but can play like a pro and at 16 I can't imagine how much better he'll get. The drum work on the album is great. There's a big difference in this group, I find an honesty that is rare. It's hard to explain but these guys just like to make good songs. It doesn't matter if it's heavy or light or whatever and being so open gives us pretty much limitless possibilities. I hate being defined in one genre, I think that's silly. We're a rock based band but I think there's some depth between the two albums. We were a little experimental but not as much as we intend to be. The whole point of the double album idea is so we can do the rock thing on one side and then just do whatever we want on the other. I really look forward to writing the next albums. I think this first one will give people the base and we'll just start building on it from here on out.
Phoenix Always Rises: You worked with Greg Norris of 32 Leaves. How did you two come to collaborate?
Kevin Matisyn: Greg and I met on tour and we hung out a little, not much because I'm honestly pretty shy and I get some anxiety in big groups. But on the last day of tour he and I just talked about the music biz and lyrics and all that. I respect what he's done and what he's been through. He and I have similar paths so we can relate to each other. When the EB thing went down he was one of the only guys that understood what I was going through. At the beginning of 2009 I pretty much had a breakdown I guess and that was followed with some crazy depression that is still kinda looming. The one thing I found through that was that no one "gets it". People can't understand how a person can just shut down and not ever want to come back. Greg was pretty much the only person that I talked to on a level of understanding. So, time went by and I was writing for my solo album and I wrote a song that had a feel to it and I could hear him singing on it. I sent it to him and said do whatever you want and he nailed it. It was exactly what I was expecting. Eventually when the time came to do the Parabelle album, we decided we wanted to work with Greg and it was the best decision we made. I think his impact on the album is paramount and we're very happy with the final product.
Phoenix Always Rises: When did you fall in love with music? Was there a specific
moment, or did you always know that music is your calling?
Kevin Matisyn: really didn't start listening to music till I was in my early teens. Thats when I got into Metallica and that scene. My best friend growing up wanted to start a band. I actually didn't really care about that at all but it sounded like fun so we did it and I guess the rest is history. I was hooked after that. That's when I started writing, that's when I started playing, it was the defining moment. I think I was 16 when all that happened.
Phoenix Always Rises: You have had a very successful career. Have you had a moment when you realized “Wow! This is really happening!” If so, what was it?
Kevin Matisyn: Seeing someone singing your words is a great reward and having
fans of what I write is amazing. I think music for me is just an outlet to write. It lets me say the things I can't say in person. It lets me paint a picture with words since I'm useless with a paint brush. The fans are really the ones that keep me going. There have been times where I have been really down and someone always comes along to say something to make things seem a little better. It's not about the music or talent, it's someone saying they relate. They relate to what I've said and they empathize. That's success to me. It's having a complete stranger connect and be able to change the way I feel from miles away. I'm the kind of person who won't consider myself successful until I'm able to help the bands I really like out.
Phoenix Always Rises: You have some really awesome ink! Out of all your tattoos,
which one is your favorite and why?
Kevin Matisyn: My favorite is my first tattoo. I have two stone doves on each arm. I'm not one to be all symbolic about the tattoos I get. I honestly just like the artwork. They of course are a big symbol in the Christian faith and that is something I connect with.
Phoenix Always Rises: What would you say that the most common misconception is about touring?
Kevin Matisyn: People always think you get to see a lot of stuff but for the most part all you see is a parking lot and club. If you have a tour bus you can't really go anywhere cuz you dont have wheels. So for the most part you just hang out on the bus and it's kinda boring. The best part of touring is playing the show and meeting fans. The rest of the time pretty much blows. Unless you're with good company which was rare in my past.
Phoenix Always Rises: Do you have any advice for aspiring musicians?
Kevin Matisyn: It's a tough road to get anywhere in this business. You have to give up everything and that's not an overstatement. When your friends are out having fun you gotta be practicing, writing. You have to be the best and surround yourself with people that want that too. If there's someone in your band that isnt willing to quit their job or leave their family for months at a time for little to no money, you wont make it. Even when you get success there isn't a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The music biz is very different today. It's not easy to be profitable. My old band sold a lot of cd's, 100's of thousands and I made more money working working my 9-5 then I did with the band. If that doesn't scare you, then you might have what it takes to make it. When I was on tour I made 1200 a month but even though the money blew I'd rather be doing music than anything else in the world and that's the attitude it takes!
Phoenix Always Rises: If you could design your dream project with musicians from the past and or present, who would you choose and why?
Kevin Matisyn: Matt Good and Dallas Green are the best writers I know so that'd be the best choice for me.
Phoenix Always Rises: What albums are you playing most on your IPOD lately?
Kevin Matisyn: The only album I have on my Ipod is the latest Red Jumpsuit
Apparatus album. I don't listen to a lot of music really, that probably sounds weird but I just don't like a lot of what I hear anymore.
Phoenix Always Rises: Performing live can be a very intense and draining
experience. How do you prepare yourself for it? How do you unwind after a show?
Kevin Matisyn: To start I do vocal warm ups for about a half hour. It's basically a half hour of me sounding like a weirdo and I hate doing it when people can hear. For the most part I like to just relax and I rarely look at the crowd before hand. I like to be surprised. Every part of my performance is emotion and once I'm on stage it takes over. After the show I'll meet and talk to whoever wants to meet me. Then I usually go shower and put on clean socks, it's pretty much the best feeling ever. Then I usually talk to some friends online and crash. I don't drink or party so I'm kinda dull I guess.
Phoenix Always Rises: What has been the most memorable moment you have ever had on stage?
Kevin Matisyn: Just looking out into a crowd of 36,000 people, it's a crazy sight. The only thing about that many people is that if they aren't there to see you it's kinda hard to hear the people that like you cheering but it's still pretty cool.
Phoenix Always Rises: What would your dream tour lineup be? Pick as many artists as you like.
Kevin Matisyn: Fair to Midland. Flyleaf. Story of the Year. That would be the most ridiculously energetic show of all time!
Phoenix Always Rises: How do you want your music remembered in 20 years?
Kevin Matisyn: Honest and from the heart. Clever vocals over clever music. I'd like to be known as a writer that is just different enough to stand out from a huge crowd of writers. We'll see!
Phoenix Always Rises: Any final words for your fans?
Kevin Matisyn: Stick around and the best is yet to come!
www.myspace.com/kevinmatisyn
www.myspace.com/parabelle
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