About Matt Hopper

"Matt 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 musics re-birth of the singer/songwriter genre. He’s already proven he’s among the best of his class." - Summit Daily News

Matt Hopper was born in Phoenix, AZ but soon moved to Alaska at a young age to be raised in the woods on the outskirts of the Hatcher Pass mountain range. He formed The Roman Candles in Anchorage, AK in 2001 and burnt through the Anchorage music scene and numerous band members at an alarming pace before being honored with "Best Local Band" by the Anchorage Press and "Top 3 Best Local Bands" by Anchorage Daily News in 2003 shortly before the current lineup exploded, but not before independently releasing their first LP "Bang! Bang! Bang!" which went to #134 on CMJ's Top 2oo Chart.

After obtaining a bachelors in Business Management from the University of Alaska Anchorage, he toured the west coast with Anatomy of a Ghost and Fear Before the March of Flames before settling in Los Angeles for seven months where a prolific solo career was born.

Hopper put himself through college working in radio as music director, program director and station manager of KRUA 88.1 FM and music director of KNBA 90.3 FM where he gathered a voracious and eclectic appetite for music of all kinds. Other off jobs included writing a column for the Anchorage Daily News along with show reviews, a stint as music editor of the Anchorage Press,and a concert promoter.

While other artists are quick to pigeonhole themselves into genres as a way of focusing their efforts, Hopper simply does what he wants to do, stretching the boundries between rock, alt-country, indie, psychadelic, trance, folk, blues, stomp, and is most always a rowdy and entertaining live performer when he's in the mood.

In 2004, after working his way onto the singer-songwriter scene in LA, he recorded a solo EP titled "The Gold Rush" and began touring full time inspired by the call of the wild as described in print by Kerouac, Krakauer, and London. He has performed over 500 shows in the past four years and shows no sign of relenting. Recently, he has begun piecing together bands in different regions and does occasional full band touring, but mostly he goes it alone - letting his lyrics, onstage banter, and natural charisma work their way across the national music scene.

He has released three records with the Roman Candles (Firecracker EP - 2001, Bang! Bang! Bang! - 2003, Keep Your Mouth Shut - 2003) and two solo records (Gold Rush EP - 2004, Reverse Odyssey - 2007) all on the Hatcher Pass Label, which he owns and operates himself.

Career Highlights

• Alaska Public Radio Network Songwriter Of The Year Award - Best Rock Song
• Fronted The Roman Candles (1999-2003) voted Best Local Band by Anchorage Press Picks (2003) and Anchorage Daily News Readers Poll (2003 Top 3)
• Performance at Sawtooth Music Festival (2007)
• Showcase performance at Americana Music Conference (2007)
• Performances at Southpark Music Festival (2005/06)
• Performance at Festival of New Wineskins (2006)
• Performance at DDP Rock and Roll Extravaganza (2005)
• Performance at Midwest Music Summit (2006)
• Performances at Miss Alaska Pageant (2003, 06, 07)
• Song placement on national televison (Brothers & Sisters) (2007)
• Scoring soundtrack & music for the film "Lonely" by Ryan Vickers (2008)
• Songs featured on numerous documentaries & snowboard films
• Featured on NPR show "Music From Stanley"
• #134 on CMJ Top 200 chart for first Roman Candle release

Tours With

Anatomy of a Ghost (now Portugal. The Man)
Andrew Norsworthy
Cold War Kids
Cameron McGill
Fear Before The March of Flames
Grace Sims
Ian Moore
Kate Earl
Kat Jones
Leeroy Stagger
Long Live Logos
Matt Lewis Band
Old Believers
Wagner Logic

Gigs With

Adam Evolve
Amos Lee
Anatomy of a Ghost (now Portugal. The Man)
Andrew Grimm
Andrew Norsworthy
Annalisa Tornfelt
Band Of Annuals
Batter Brown
Brett Dennen
Blake Thomas & The Downtown Brown
The Broken West
The Black Watch
The Blueheels
The Boxer Program
Brady Harris
Bryan Free
The Billions
Burr Settles
Caleb Engstrom
Cameron McGill
Carrie Biell
Cary "Carrie" Judd
Colby Stead
Cold War Kids
Corlene Machine
Chapin Sisters
Crystal Skulls
Damien Jurado
Dan Bern
David Childers & The Modern Don Juans
Day Of Lions
Delmag
The Dollyrots
Dope Smoothie
Drew Grow
Drew Nelson
Dust Jacket
Eagle Seagull
Ed Harcourt
Electromagnetic
Erin McKeown
Escape Wheel
Evan Dando
Evan Phillips
Explone / Pat Porter
Exit 51
FCS North
Fear Before The March of Flames
Garrison Starr
Gin Blossoms
Graham Travis
Grace Sims
Heartless Bastards
Hot IQs
The Horsepainters
Ian Moore
Invisible Orchestra
The Its
Ironboss
J. Tillman
Jay Nash
Jen Wood
Jessie Baylin
John Davidson
Johnny Liszak
Joshua James
Joy Electric
Jupiter Sunrise
Kate Earl
Kat Jones
Kim Delacey
Kingdom Phyllum
Landing Gear
Ladycop
The Letterpress
Long Live Logos
Lou Rogai
Marcus Bently
Margot & The Nuclear So and Sos
Marquetta Miller
Martha Berner
The Marion Brothers
Matt Boyer
Matt Lewis Band
Meg Baier
Megum Pie
Michelle Malone
Michael Miller Crusade
Mike Gorder
Mt. Egypt
Noah Needleman
Old Believers
Otis Gibbs
Palomino
Page McConnell (Phish)
Pedro The Lion
Planting Seeds
Plasticsoul
Rev. Glasseye
Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band
Richard Swift
Richard Edwards
Robert Deeble
Rocky Votolato
Rodney Henry / Henry Family
Romantica
Rosavelt
Ryan Peck
Ryan Sollee / Builders & Butchers
Ryan Winger
Sarah Margoleise
Samantha Murphy
The Screens
Shane Tutmarc & The Travelling Mercies
Slightly Drawn
Sparrow Love Crew
Soledad Brothers
Starflyer 59
Stiletto Formal
Steven Bacon
Steve Poltz
Switchfoot
Summer At Shatter Creek
Todd Snider
Tom Freund
Tim Easton
They Sang As They Slew
Vauxhall Broadcast
Vel Texans
The Wandering Sons
Wagner Logic
The Whipsaws
Whole Fantastic World
Young Dubliners

Current Release:
Reverse Odyssey
(Hatcher Pass)
Order Online Here