Some read Kerouac’s “On The Road†and say “that’s a nice story†while others change their name to Sal Paradise and get in the car. Matt Hopper is one of these people. Hailing from the town of Hatcher Pass, Alaska – Hopper began writing songs in his late teenage years thanks to a pawn shop purchase of The Lemonheads’ “It’s A Shame About Rayâ€. After his band, The Roman Candles, took home best local band awards in 2003 – he decided to have a go at the west coast. Although independent, hard working singer-songwriters are a plenty, Hopper set himself up for a career in music by utilizing his business management degree and an unquenchable thirst for the open road.
His music blends psychedelic folk and hook-filled rock and roll. He cites diverse influences such as Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Weezer, and Depeche Mode on his website, while shows with Todd Snider, Gin Blossoms, Heartless Bastards and tours with Cold War Kids, Cameron McGill, and Ian Moore have inspired him to greater heights as a professional entertainer. Most of his nights are spent on a stage somewhere in America, where he wears his current mood on his sleeve and is not afraid to ramble on. Caribou Bill, his whiskey soaked alter-ego, isn’t afraid to challenge anyone to game of ping pong and will also be releasing music next year on Hopper’s independent Hatcher Pass label.
Summit Daily News in Colorado sums it up nicely - “Hopper is a monster rock n roll front man who writes brilliantly crafted pop tunes. He has the catalogue, persistence and the stage presence to be the next big thing in pop music’s re-birth of the singer/songwriter genre. He’s already proven he’s among the best of his class.â€
Matt Hopper is constantly on perma-tour, however, he will be joined by Portland, Oregon's Drew Grow from May 17 - June 8 for a national tour. In August, he will be on a West Coast tour with Cameron McGill , and in September, he will be joined by The Devil Whale for a midwest tour.
Please, look forward to a few select releases throughout the year on vinyl, compact disc, digital, and of course, live performance. Band varies...it's a long, complicated story. MH
To purchase Matt Hopper songs right now, while you're here online checking things out, see the Matt Hopper Nimbit below. There is also a tool below that ranks how many people you've gotten to give a shit about your music career; all they ask is for your email/soul in return. Make your own decisions, and make 'em good, for ye only got but one life to live here, perhaps...in the meantime, we will continue to play shows wherever we feel like, with whoever we want to, whenever we want, and for how long we want to unless bound by contract or obligation - in which case, all said details can be sorted out by trusted folk who know passwords and numbers for tax identification purposes. Hello Willie, it's about time you swoop down and give yer new old friend a call.
