Since relocating to the musical mecca of Austin from Ft. Collins, CO in 2003, the band has steadily progressed, continuing to hone its high-energy sound, and frequently garnering praise and comparisons to such acts as Sound Tribe Sector 9, Phish, and Particle. Bassist Chris Holland (deep pocket grooves) and guitarist Josh Pearson (soaring leads) share most of the song-writing duties, while drummer Dan Mcgreevy captains the ship with his rock-steady beats. Bozarth ..s has rounded out the sound with lush synth textures and screaming hammond organ.
Moving Matter’s previous LP, "Infrablue" revealed the crafty songwriting and studio prowess that the band had found in recent years, but it is undoubtedly late at night, under the lights and in the smoky bars where Moving Matter creates its magic. Swimming the uncharted waters of live improvisation, the band has a knack for creating powerful music that is undeniably in tune with the present moment and teeming with the energy of those who bear witness from the audience. At their club gigs, its not uncommon to see the band rock into the wee hours, long past last call, as crowds refuse to let the party end and bar managers get sucked into whirling sounds and good vibes of the band.
Moving Matter has shared the stage with such artists as The Disco Biscuits, The Roots, Thievery Corporation, Sound Tribe Sector Nine, Tea Leaf Green, Little Feat, Particle, Tony Furtado, Brothers Past, and Big Head Todd & the Monsters. MM has rocked the stages of The Fox Theatre in Boulder, Antone’s and the infamous Stubb’s BBQ in Austin, the Granada Theater in Dallas, and Wakarusa Music Festival in Kansas.
History
August 1999 - The first notes of Moving Matter were played in the basement of guitarist Josh Pearson’s home in the small town of Fort Collins, CO. The original quintet -(comprised of Todd Deppe on rhythm guitar, Robby Richardson ..boards, Josh Pearson on lead guitar, Christopher Holland on bass, and Dan McGreevy on drums) - had come together to embark on a quest for the feeling of musical magic. The magic that so many bands strive to discover at any cost or length of time…After two albums and three years of developing their music through the genres of rock, jazz, funk and trance — Moving Matter had developed a nice sized local following and had played some of the premier venues in Colorado including the Fox Theater in Boulder, the Aggie Theater in Fort Collins, the Bluebird Theater in Denver, and Mishawaka Amphitheater in Bellvue. It was at some of these legendary places that the Matter got to share the stage with the Derek Trucks Band, Little Feat and Particle. Their efforts and talent seemed to be paying off and the Matter was gaining the momentum required to propel them into the future of being a successful band.
By the summer of 2003 the band had endured the loss of two members and had been narrowed down to the “blast-fusion†trio that is the Moving Matter of today. Both Todd Deppe and Robby Richardson decided to pursue different paths than those of the final three. Their presence in Moving Matter was profound and is still missed.
With conscious vigor and an indelible hunger the Matter had decided that their time in Fort Collins was up and that they would try their hands in the musical Mecca of Austin, TX. In August of 2003 the trio grabbed their instruments and a few possessions and made the journey to central Texas.
At the 120 Coleman St. house in south Austin the magic was still present. Through the new songs of Trodden St. and The Glue, one could hear the edgier side of Moving Matter while still feeling the presence of their jam infused roots. They were enduring the trials of living together as a band and creating new music that the trio considers its doorway and vehicle into the direction in which they were destined to follow.
Still, even with all the momentum that the Matter had propelled itself with to get to this point, they still felt something was amiss. It seemed that the efforts of the trio, though valiant, had not made a lasting effect on the minds of the band. In the world of improvisational music, only having three players can put a lot of strain on some of the musicians to fill the void that true, quality music necessitates. That being said, the band was on the hunt for a new edition – the fourth member that would tie everything together and make their universe complete. For months and months the band searched the Austin area for keyboard players only to be left with slim and insufficient choices. Finally, in early 2007, the Matter approached Dustin Bozarth, (aka D-Boz), with the notion of joining forces with the trio in an effort to not only keep the music alive but to invigorate the sound with fresh and juicy vibes. Dustin is an amazing player and spirit that has played with many musicians and bands in the Austin area. He had sat in with the Matter a few times before they approached him to come aboard. Needless to say, Dustin agreed to help manifest the Mothership’s destiny and is now the 4th member of Moving Matter bringing the incredible sounds of the keys, organ and synth to the mix.
Now in 2007, noting the acquisition of the fresh sounds of Dustin Bozarth on the keys, Moving Matter is headed full steam into their 7-year anniversary since the days of the long gone Fort Collins quintet. Since then they have had the pleasure of joining the Disco Biscuits, The Roots and Thievery Corporation in Hunter, NY for Camp Bisco V, and Widespread Panic at Wakarusa 2007. They have “tour-nadoed†through the Midwest, Colorado and Texas tearing up many of the noteworthy clubs and theaters to which music lovers have grown so fond. And in Austin have joined forces with such greats as Big Head Todd and the Monsters and Umphrey’s McGee, rocked the stages of Antone’s and the infamous Stubb’s BBQ, and have recently finished their fourth album, a double disc live experience, entitled Live at Grego’s.
If you listen hard enough, you might hear something…