Matt Poss is a fan’s artist, and it is not uncommon to see clubs all over the
Midwest packed to the rafters with people singing the words to every song. Known
for producing his own brand of rowdy “high-octane country”, and with the release
of "Hinges", his third solo album, Matt Poss understands what it means to be
both real and raw.
Since the release of his self-produced debut album, "Fool Enough" (2003), and
his sophomore effort, "Matt Poss & The Wild Bunch" (2005), Poss has seen his
fan-base grow in epic proportions, and has independently sold more than 10,000
albums. In late 2007, Poss approached RS Field, the master-mind behind Billy Joe
Shaver’s masterpiece Tramp On Your Street, about producing his third album. Poss
trusted RS’s rockabilly instincts and his outlaw attitude. It quickly became
clear that he had found a kindred spirit in RS Field, and together, they forged
their new vision of hard-hitting country music, which has become 2008’s Hinges.
The St. Louis River Front Times describes Matt as “another link in the great
chain of heartland rocker’s…a hybrid caught between Mellencamp and Steve Earle
with shots of Tom Petty and Jimmy Martin in equal measure.” In 2006 The Chicago
Tribune grouped Poss with “Shooter Jennings, Hank III, and Kevin Fowler” as part
of “a new crop of rising country outlaws.” Poss has heard the comparison’s
before and he proudly wears his influences on his sleeve. Yet, the music is
uniquely his own. Poss’s new single, “Guitar Slingin’ Man,” a fist pumping
autobiographical country-stomp, is a declaration of his intentions. The chorus
bellows, “Til the day I die, Gonna be a guitar slingin’ man.” It’s about a man
who knows exactly who he is and where he stands in this world of endless noise
and posturing.
Matt Poss grew up in southern Illinois, on a small farm just two hundred meters
from the same tracks Steve Goodman rode on as he wrote his classic “City of New
Orleans.” Growing up singing for the Poss Family Bluegrass Band and surrounded
by truck-stops and trains, Poss found all the inspiration he needed for writing
songs. Thoughts of moving to “Guitar Town” were tempting, but in the end, the
songs and stories were all there in Illinois waiting to be told. In his words,
“It’s important to know who you are and where your inspiration comes from…
where
you get water from the well, so to speak.” But that’s not to say he doesn’t get
around. Two tours in Europe in the past two years have pushed his fan base
through the roof, especially with the troops. Back home, the ever-widening
circle of influence now includes every state in the Midwest. Poss also gets
regular radio play in Texas and on Satellite radio outlaw stations. The
Grass-Roots approach has worked well for Poss. Building a reputation as a
formidable performer with a huge fan base has helped him get critical opening
slots for other bands on their way through the region. Matt has shared the stage
with Shooter Jennings, Jack Ingram, Marty Stuart, Kid Rock, Miranda Lambert,
Shaver, Reckless Kelly and Eric Church, just to name a few.
Whether Poss is performing solo acoustic, or performing legendary four hour sets
with his band Rolling Thunder, a Matt Poss experience is something best taken
“live.” And whether it’s doing covers, like Hank Snow’s “I Been Everywhere”,
Waylon’s “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way”, a rocked up version of Todd
Snider’s “All Right Guy” or Fred Eaglesmith’s hilarious “White Trash,” or one of
his own crowd whipping originals, like “American Life”, “Three Bricks Shy…,” or
the barn-storming “Sweet Marie,” Matt Poss has no trouble gaining converts.
Here’s what the Cincinnati City Beat had to say about a recent show: “The whole
mixture works to perfection, and it’s a shame Poss calls Illinois home.
Nashville could use a good kick in the pants like this guy. But that’s good news
for the rest of us here in the Midwest.”
In a time when the Country music critics say we need change, Poss is thriving on
an original, gutsy sound that makes instant fans out of anyone, whether they
like Country or not! And if the aforementioned lyrics to “Guitar Slingin’ Man”
ring true, then we can look for a lot more to come from Matt Poss.
The Blue Suede Crew is the ultimate
tribute to the Sons of Sun Records. This polished group of
professional entertainers has recreated the sights, sounds and
spirit of both Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash in their prime.
Leading the Blue Suede Crew is Scott Wattles. This charismatic
entertainer has been recognized as one of the top Elvis Tribute
Artists in the United States and Canada. Performing his tribute to
Elvis since 1996, Scott is an outgoing performer that skillfully
captures Presley’s throaty baritone and uninhibited gyrations.
Specializing in the sexy black leather look of the “1968 Comeback”
to the slim white jumpsuit era of the early 1970’s, Scott along with
The Blue Suede Crew recreates the high energy Vegas style show that
Presley performed during the peak of his career.
As amazing as Wattles is, he doesn’t carry the entire show on his
shoulders. The tribute also features Keith Furry as Johnny Cash.
Keith’s renditions of classic Cash tunes are both awe inspiring and
dead on true to the record. From the opening chords of “Folsom
Prison” you will swear the ghost of the “Man in Black” has returned
from beyond to entertain you one more time!
