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Matt Campbell's musical road map |
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Written by Glenn BurnSilver
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Thursday, 04 January 2007 |
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 It would be romantic to claim Matt Campbell landed in Fort Collins off a freight train. Or was stranded during a blizzard. But that fact is, after living in New York City and doing a stint in the Coast Guard, Campbell hit the road in search of somewhere new. The musical hotbed of Austin, Texas, was on the map, but dwindling resources found Campbell holing up in The Fort until he could continue the journey south.
But a funny thing happened. Campbell discovered Fort Collins to be an unexpected oasis where he could expand his songwriting and performance skills without all the distractions of Austin. He even cut his first album here, in the basement studio of Subdude John Magnie. His next album, “In The Town,” currently in the recording stages, focuses on his unexpected life in Fort Collins.
“I got so much more done here than I would have in Austin by just being here and allowing myself to be open to (local) resources,” Campbell explained during a rambling 45-minute coffee shop conversation over coffee and scones. “It’s different because I am used to (traveling), but I’m trying to set myself up so I have a place to work. It’s a change in habit for me. Part of me wants to get up and go, but part of me wants that balance of having a base.”
To label Campbell a singer-songwriter would be more or less accurate, and meeting in a coffee shop seemed appropriate, considering it’s where musicians like Campbell usually perform. But Campbell is much more than that. He can play alone, allowing his broad Johnny Cash-cadenced voice to take the spotlight, but his overall musical vision is more band-oriented. His mainstay is Denver guitarist Mike Wolf, a childhood friend who brings an edgy feel and alt-rock energy to Campbell’s country/folk-based songs. Wolf was a big inspiration for Campbell to pick up a guitar. The rest of his band grows and shrinks with the musical need — or whoever is around.
For his Jan. 5 gig at the Aggie, Campbell hopes to add a fiddle player, maybe some pedal steel. While some musicians look for stability and constants, shying away from freeform potential, Campbell embraces such behavior.
“It’s nice as a singer-songwriter that you can just pull in anyone who is around and have the flexibility to vary your sound,” he added. “We’ve done some things live that I might never think about doing.”
In the end, Campbell is no longer concerned about where he lives —though he is moving south to Denver soon — but music remains his bottom line.
“I’ve been an actor, a stand-up comic and done the 9-to-5 just trying to find the place where I fit in,” he said. “At this point, playing guitar and writing songs is the only thing that I feel I know how to do really well. Something inside says this is what (I’m) supposed to be doing. I try not to argue with it. It’s already brought me to where I need to be. If I keep doing it, it will take me where I need to go.”
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TO GO
Matt Campbell and the Bottom Line Band
Doors 8 p.m., show 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5
Aggie Theatre, 204 S. College Ave., Fort Collins
Call 482.8300 or go online to www.aggietheatre.com
Free
Campbell opens for Motorhome, the show also includes Jason Downing and Musketeer Gripweed
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ON THE ROAD AGAIN...
Whether you are already a fan of Matt Campbell and his Bottom Line Band or have never heard of him, time is running out to catch his live act in Fort Collins. No, he’s not rushing onto the national stage (though he’d like that), he’s simply heading an hour south to Denver where the music scene is rightly bigger, better and full of more opportunity. His only difficulty might be getting around. “I don’t have a hot car,” he said. “I don’t even have any car.”
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ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN LIVE
Though more often labeled a singer-songwriter, Campbell is willing to stretch out occasionally. “We played a Matter book release party at New Belgium and had a Fender Rhodes (keyboard). The songs just sort of took off to where the keyboard is building and Mike (Wolf) is doing some weird thing on his guitar and it … it just got crazy,” Campbell recalled. “We were just going at it with distortion and noise. It’s not exactly the coffee shop type thing, but I think it’s important to vary your sound and explore different things.”
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THINKING AHEAD
While his new album isn’t even finished, Campbell says he has the next one laid out. “It’s pretty typical I guess, I haven’t even finished this one, and I’m ready to start on the next one,” he explained with a laugh. “It’s called ‘Songs for The New American West.’ I have the title in place, now all I have to do it write the songs.
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