Matt Lindauer

MORE FREE TRACKS AT HTTP://WWW.ILIKE.COM/ARTIST/MATT+LINDAUER
and WWW.MATTLINDAUER.COM
++ REQUEST "STILL LIFE" BY MATT LINDAUER ON CT'S WWW.ULTRARADIO.COM ++ 24 year old guitarist and singer-songwriter Matt Lindauer is most definitely onto something different. The music he has put out so far combines many diverse influences, ranging from The Band and Bob Dylan to Jimi Hendrix, The Walkmen, Elvis Costello and The Smiths. But through it all, the highly lyrical and musical approach presented is something of its own; soulful but not (always) simple, thoughtful but easy to kick back and take in. A player from age 8 on, Matt has received recognition both for his virtuosic guitar playing, and separately for a long while, for his unique poetic approach. 'MonkMode' was the first name for the synthesis of these two aspects of the artist (he has now switched to using his own name), the young man who at age 12 was a semi-finalist in the National Jimi Hendrix Guitar Competition, representing New York, and played at many notable venues, including Lincoln Center twice in his youth (with the Curtis Guitar Ensemble, soloist and ensemble member for the group) growing up. He has enjoyed public performances at some of New York City's most well-known venues (The Lion's Den, The Bitter End, The Knitting Factory, The Lucky Cat, etc.), and currently performs predominantly in St. George/Stapleton Staten Island. He kicked off the Rock The Harbor Festival (headliners The Budos Band) with a solo-guitar rendition of the national anthem (also performing solo and with The Headlocks at the festival's after-party. Starting grad school in the Fall (Ph.D Philosophy), he looks forward to helping to bringing his favorite bands and songwriters from Staten Island, Brooklyn, and New Haven/New London, CT together.
"As one of the people who regularly puts himself out there at the Martini Red open mic on Monday nights, Lindauer has already introduced his guitar skills and songwriting ability to many locals. His latest digital release, available for download on his Web site, seems an appropriate companion to this live persona. Informed by a close study of blues, bluegrass and other parts of the rich musical heritage of America, songs like "Still Life" and "Spitting in The Wind" are Lindauer's care packages for the listener. Accompanying delicate finger-picking patters and swinging chords with lyrics that give away his interest in philosophy ("We're just a product from where we begin/ and I'm doing my best with a bullet-proof vest/ spitting in the wind"), the songwriter introduces us to his abilities with the patience and vibrance of a wild flower in the morning, starting with the acoustic stuff, and ending with layered, more frenetic electric arrangements ("Impatient Prophecy"). This free EP is more than worth a listen."
Ben Johnson, Advance Weekly Entertainment
"...gifted songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Matt Lindauer; many minds may have the ability to create, but few have the mental dexterity to present those ideas so adroitly without compromise. The lead-off track 'Other Things Contagious' aptly displays the meticulously melodic guitar playing that graces the rest of the album. 'Impatient Prophecy' delivers the lines 'I feel her whispers bleeding/makes me stand up tall but my shoulders are sinking/and I think I could breathe but I'm caught in the meaning/of the words you breathed so softly on the ceiling' with great passion. Among the album's many other poetic gems are the striking first two lines of Pacific Moon 'what is God but the love we need?/what is life by the spirit we breathe?.' Gibney's drumming is ebullient and atypically jazz oriented, with traces of Mitch Mitchell. A stunningly mature debut effort, 'An Outerbridge Brocade' closes with a sincere acoustic number ("At The Wheel"), which further demonstrates the range of influences Matt has absorbed, and the unique way in which each is made its own."
JC, WKDU Radio 97.1FM
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