{"id":785,"date":"2018-10-28T05:00:12","date_gmt":"2018-10-28T05:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=785"},"modified":"2018-10-26T17:44:47","modified_gmt":"2018-10-26T17:44:47","slug":"matt-the-speedways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=785","title":{"rendered":"Matt The Speedways"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Firstly how did you get to the point of writing and recording what is effectively a solo album after the Breakdowns?\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I started recording the album two or three months <\/strong>afterward I think.<\/strong>
\nI’d already recorded the demos at home on my 4-track so there wasn’t really anything to prep.<\/strong>
\nI just had to wait for some Studio time to become available.<\/strong>
\nIt is a solo record I guess but I didn’t wanna present it in that way which is why I gave it a band name.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How long did you have these songs written before deciding how to record them?<\/p>\n

They were all 3 years old & all written about the same thing, so it’s a concept album really! – which is why the artwork has a movie poster feel to it. To connect them all to the same story.<\/strong>
\nI knew I was gonna sing it all & play the instruments because that way it’d get done really quick!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Was it always the intention to get it out on vinyl and were you just doing it as a studio project that’s taken on a life of its own or secretly did you want to put a band together and play these songs live?\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A bit of all of that really.<\/strong>
\nOriginally I only intended to record the songs & put them up on Bandcamp, but secretly I did have an idea that it would work well as an album – & would look great on LP.<\/strong>
\nDuring the recording, I agreed to do a one-off gig for Some Weird Sin’s Power Pop Weekender back in July (which was really great) & that has lead to more gig offers & more interest in the Speedways.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tell us a bit about the tracks on the album?<\/p>\n

They’re a collection of songs written about the same summer.<\/strong>
\nI knew how they were gonna fit together. I knew the Tube Train at the start of ‘Regular Summer’ would screech into shot immediately as ‘Don’t Tell Me’ finishes & I knew ‘All I Want’ would open the album with a telephone ring (which is why she’s holding the phone on the cover etc..) ..& I knew ‘Reunion In The Rain’ would have a long fade-out & close the album.<\/strong>
\nI wanted to record them without pedals & power chords. I wanted them to be clean & catchy.<\/strong>
\nI knew they’d have a lo-fi quality but not in a garagey way.<\/strong>
\nI really like ‘One Kiss Can Lead To Another’ in particular – I just don’t hear other bands playing those kinda tunes so thought I’d give it a try.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whos playing in the live band?\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The hardest working drummer in show business Kris Hood of Los Pepes, More Kicks & Miscalculations is keeping the backbeat, Adrian Alfonso ex-Randy Savages & currently of Dead Meat is on bass guitar and Mauro Venegas of Miscalculations (former Duncan Reid\/Godfathers\/Jonny Cola) is on lead guitar duty. ..& obviously, I’m in it too.<\/strong>
\nIt’s worked out really well.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

what are the chances of more dates?<\/p>\n

The chances are very good!<\/strong>
\nThere are 3 other shows booked for later this year – including an album launch gig in London on October 18th.<\/strong>
\nThere are a few things in the pipeline for next year too which could be pretty cool!<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What about a follow-up album?<\/p>\n

I could record it tomorrow if I had a studio!\u00a0 Because all the songs on ‘Just Another Regular Summer’ were written between 2014 & 2015 there’s 3 years worth of recent stuff knocking around in my songbooks – although I haven’t written anything new for a while if I’m being honest.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I would like to put out a 45 with The Speedways though. Hopefully early next year I can get that sorted.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I keep banging on about this but my next album\/EP will definitely be with a female singer. I’ve got the songs written for it & they’re all great. The project could be called something like ‘Suzy & The Speedways’ in theory (the album’s called ‘Empty Pages’)<\/strong><\/p>\n

I know you love your rock n roll and punk rock but what makes a great record?\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A good hook, a great lyric, good sleeve artwork..the whole package.\u00a0<\/strong>It’s gotta make you feel something, hasn’t it?<\/strong>
\nI was listening to A-Ha & Abba just as much as I was Tom Petty & The Ramones when I was making the album.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Talk us through a few of your favourite songs\/albums and why?<\/p>\n

I’ll give you an album & three songs, otherwise, I’ll literally be typing forever!\u00a0<\/strong>Albums – Please Please Me – The Beatles – the greatest band of all time playing live in the Studio with raw energy, youthful pomp, mistakes all over the shop, charming as fuck performances & an insane deadline which would destroy mere mortal bands.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Song 1 – This Charming Man – The Smiths – a game changer & a life changer for me.<\/strong>
\nSong 2 – Nothing In Return – Roky Erickson – a pop masterpiece by a genius.<\/strong>
\nSong 3 – You Don’t Know – Helen Shapiro – best-unrequited love song ever.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When did you start playing the guitar? anyone make you pick up a guitar?\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I was 14 or 15.<\/strong>
\nThere was always music playing in the house so I was already really into guitars, but I think when I first saw ‘Back To The Future’ I became obsessed with Johnny B Goode! (& Earth Angel too!) – My Dad had a couple of Chuck Berry LPs so I just used to listen to them over and over.<\/strong>
\nThen a few years later I got really into The Ramones and my guitar style became a very confused mix of Chuck Berry & Johnny Ramone.. with some George Harrison & eventually Johnny Marr thrown in for good measure.<\/strong>
\nI was really into Metal in my mid-teens but I just couldn’t play it. It never really fell under my fingers the way that early Beatles did.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You play a few instruments on the record what other talents do you have? Did you always fancy yourself as a bit of a frontman?<\/p>\n

No! I’m very reluctantly fronting a band! ..but I’m the only one who can sing these particular songs so I’ve just gotta get on with it! It’s cool really.\u00a0<\/strong>& no, sadly I’m not blessed with many talents elsewhere<\/strong>!\"\"Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n

Gods Candy – Canada<\/a>
\nGhost Highway – Spain\u00a0<\/a>
\nBeluga Records – Sweden<\/a>
\nSpeedways Bandcamp – UK\u00a0<\/a>
\nUSA tbc* – will let you know asap<\/p>\n

Catch em live at these two London dates –<\/p>\n

Friday, November 30th – Dirty Water Club + The Fleshtones + Muck & The Mires @Nambucca London
\nSaturday, December 1st – Black Wax Club + Muck & The Mires + Los Pepes @PhoenixLive Harlow<\/p>\n