NEWS on 5/12/2012 I am living in Alaska again in the Matanuska Susitna Valley where I grew up, working as a meter reader for the local electric company. It's a good job that pays well and will allow me to save up enough to finish up and release my next two records. I am still fundraising for Grand Ole Hopry (see below) and your support helps a lot, but what I realized after two months is that I can't simply wait around for other people to save me from my financial woes, I need to work for it myself. It is a repetitive and physically demanding job...I am walking about 7 hours a day M-F going into people's yards reading their kilowatt hours for the month and meeting the dogs of the valley...everyone seems to have one, some are nice, some are mean. The plan is to work until late October and use that money to upgrade my touring rig, finance two new records worth of material, press up copies of each, and then hit the road again in 2013. I'd like to tour in Europe again in late fall, and I have a wedding gig to perform at in Cabo San Lucas in February. With new records in tow, I hope to tour the entire United States, Canada, and beyond before settling down again. I feel like this plan will do me good. Hopefully it will reaffirm my desire to be a professional musician again and to travel and perform as my primary source of income. I had a good run, about 9 years spent creating, recording and touring...but now is the time to re-charge my batteries, spend time with my parents as they enter retirement and a move to Arizona, and work hard so I can keep doing what I love to do. Thank you for your continued interest in my musical path and for checking in at this website. You will notice I have uploaded some older records in the music section for your listening enjoyment, and hopefully later this year you will be seeing even newer material. Cheers!
FUNDRAISING FOR THE GRAND OLE HOPRY Today a fundraising campaign was launched to seek YOUR support in helping me reach my goal of putting out a few new records this year. Please click here for more details.
ON GETTING MOTIVATED Been home now for about 10 days and I need about that amount of time to relax and get re-charged for the next phase of 2012, which is working on getting new music out to you. Had a lovely birthday, Superbowl Sunday, and Valentine's Day weekend with my lady. I am recording a Kris Kristoffersen song for a tribute album on PIAPTK soon with local bluegrass band Reilly Coyote. The song is Jody & The Kid. Working on the Grand Ole Hopry record and the next rock record, which I might call "Husky". Not sure yet. Who knows. I love being creative. Here's 15 minutes of video footage from the last tour compilied by Bryan Garfinkel. Enjoy.
ON WINTER WEST COAST TOUR NOW We're in California! Had some great shows in Washington - New Years Eve was a blast. Tore through Seattle and Portland, Bend, Mt. Shasta and soon Redding, Nevada City, San Francsico, Los Angles, Phoenix, Tuscon, Prescott, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Pocatello and Boise. We've played some pretty fun shows and are having great weather and good times. Below is a little video from Monday night in Mt. Shasta, CA!
NEW YEARS EVE
Playing tonight in Glacier, WA at Chair 9 for New Years Eve. We had so much fun last time we were there they asked us back for the big party. I've got an entirely different band backing me up now but I'm sure they will have a great time just as the last band did. We've learned 10 cover songs for the occasion - not exactly my forte, but I am excited to deliver them to the best of my ability. After this gig, we have about 16 shows down the western USA - Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and more...check out tour dates for more info. Hope you all have a safe and happy holiday - see you next year!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Hello caring friend, writing from Hyde Park, Boise, Idaho, USA to wish you a very warm and happy holiday. I recorded a song a few years ago with friends in Kasilof, Alaska called "Merry Christmas (Get Back On Your Skiis)" and it was recently used on a holiday compilation called "Idaho Ho Ho" which is available in Idaho at all Moxie Java locations, and whose sales proceed the Idaho Food Bank. Pick up a copy and let me know what you think. There are some really great original tracks on the CD by Aaron Mark Brown, Reckless Kelly, Boise Rock School and I hope you find it elevates you into the winter.
I just wrapped up 3 months of touring and am back in Boise for a little bit of rest and relaxation. We made it to North Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arizona, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark and Netherlands. How was it you ask? Just what my soul needed. I love playing music for people and the adventures of the road. I am looking forward to more touring soon, as we are headed out for a west coast jaunt starting December 28th, including a New Years Eve show in Glacier, Washington which we're really excited about. Wrapping up booking this week, but check out the dates here. Also I am excited to announce the lineup that will be touring with me: William Prescott on drums, Roy Swice on bass, and Justin Bricco on guitar. As always we are looking for a little help getting the word out with the shows and if you can hang up posters or anything like that, please drop us a line!
Hope to get a new album finished early next year - it's been awhile since Jersey Finger came out. The next record is a mix of old and new - songs like Dreams (Are All I Have), Sound Of The City, Come On Like A Light, Evil Grin, Working Overtime...etc. Swice has been at the helm so far helping me shape things up. I also haven't forgotten about my Grand Ole Hopry album, it's just on the backburner...but still have high hopes to record it sooner than later.
What else is in store for 2012? Well, a trip to SXSW is materializing, a tour with Jim Bianco and Cameron McGill is in the works, and my 33rd birthday. Love, Matt
EUROPE TOUR SUCCESS 12/7/2011 Just wrapped up first ever European solo tour alongside fellow songwriters Denitia Odigie (NYC), Lucky Fonz III (AMSTERDAM), and Peter Piek (GER). We made it through venues in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands and Denmark over the course of about one month. Three upcoming show dates in Idaho: Dec 16 @ Tom Graineys in Boise, Dec 21 @ Crustys in McCall, and Dec 29 at Mootsys in Spokane with Terrible Buttons. Also join us for a getaway on New Years Eve in Glacier, WA at Chairu 9 near Mt. Baker! Then our next tour takes us to Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, and Utah.
SLIM CESSNA'S AUTO CLUB SHOW 9/7/2011 Sept 20 is a Tuesday night and should be a big blowout at the Neurolux in Boise because Slim Cessna's Auto Club is coming to town. Haven't seen these guys yet? Check out this video:
We'll be there to open the show! Please come.
ON TOUR NOW 8/27/2011 Matt Hopper & The Roman Candles are on tour now! Dates in WA, OR, CA, ID, ND, MN, MI, IL and more on this upcoming tour. Check tour dates section of website for booked dates. Also on tap - Matt Hopper solo tour in Europe in November.
INTERVIEW ON RADIO BOISE 7/14/2011 Tune into http://radioboise.org/ online or 89.9 FM KRBX if in the Boise/Caldwell area THIS FRIDAY 7/15 at 4 pm for a 30 minute interview / music / etc. with Matt Hopper.
MATT HOPPER & DR. JOHN 6/19/2011
FALL TOUR ROUTING 6/28/2011 We're now booking for the fall - here is our tentative tour routing. Ideas, questions, booking requests and hosting inquirys should be directed to BOOKING@HATCHERPASS.ORG - feel free to comment on Facebook as well. 8/25/2011 WA SPOKANE 8/26/2011 WA SEATTLE 8/27/2011 WA GLACIER 8/28/2011 WA BELLINGHAM 8/29/2011 WA ANACORTES 8/30/2011 WA TACOMA 8/31/2011 OR PORTLAND SEPTEMBER 9/1/2011 OR COTTAGE GROVE or EUGENE 9/2/2011 OR BEND 9/3/2011 OR MT. SHASTA 9/4/2011 CA 9/5/2011 CA 9/6/2011 CA 9/7/2011 CA 9/8/2011 CA REDDING 9/9/2011 CA ASHLAND / MEDFORD / GRANT'S PASS 9/10/2011 OFF 9/11/2011 OFF 9/12/2011 OFF 9/13/2011 OFF 9/14/2011 OFF 9/15/2011 OFF 9/16/2011 ID POCATELLO 9/17/2011 ID BOISE 9/18/2011 OFF 9/19/2011 OFF 9/20/2011 OFF 9/21/2011 ID McCALL 9/22/2011 ID 9/23/2011 MT WHITEFISH 9/24/2011 MT MISSOULA 9/25/2011 MT 9/26/2011 ND 9/27/2011 ND 9/28/2011 ND 9/29/2011 MN 9/30/2011 MN OCTOBER 10/1/2011 MN MANKATO 10/2/2011 MN-WI 10/3/2011 WI MADISON 10/4/2011 WI APPLETON/GREEN BAY 10/5/2011 WI MILWAUKEE 10/6/2011 IL ROCKFORD 10/7/2011 IL CHICAGO 10/8/2011 10/9/2011 10/10/2011 10/11/2011 IL CHICAGO - possible late night show 10/12/2011 IN INDIANAPOLIS 10/13/2011 TN NASHVILLE 10/14/2011 TN MEMPHIS / BIRMINGHAM AL 10/15/2011 MS BILOXI 10/16/2011 OFF 10/17/2011 TX TYLER / MARFA 10/18/2011 TX AUSTIN / DALLAS 10/19/2011 OK OKLAHOMA CITY 10/20/2011 NM ALBQ or SANTA FE 10/21/2011 AZ PRESCOTT or TUSCON 10/22/2011 AZ PHOENIX 10/23/2011 AZ 10/24/2011 AZ SEDONA 10/25/2011 AZ FLAGSTAFF 10/26/2011 CO DURANGO 10/27/2011 CO DENVER 10/28/2011 CO BOULDER 10/29/2011 UT SALT LAKE CITY 10/30/2011 OFF
OPENING FOR DR. JOHN 5/19/2011 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dr. John will be in Boise, ID at the Knitting Factory on June 19th and Matt Hopper has been given the honor of opening the night at 8 p.m. Flanked by singing partners Sean Hatton and A. Nigel Gates, this is a show you don't want to miss! Buy tickets here.
RADIO BOISE SOLSTICE BLOCK PARTY! 5/19/2011 On June 18th, Matt Hopper & The Roman Candles will be performing a rock and roll set for Radio Boise's Solstice Block Party on 8th Street between Idaho and Bannock along with Talk Math To Me, Junior Rocket Scientist and Sick Kids. This is a FREE event and will be quite the party...
MH&TRC TO PERFORM AT BOISE BEER FEST 5/10/2011 Matt Hopper & The Roman Candles were asked to play Boise Beer Fest on Aug 7 this summer, and we couldn't be happier. Besides playing music for an estimated 40K+ we also get VIP passes to sample over 200 beers. Bring on the beer fest!
MH&TRC TO PERFORM AT IDAHO-DOWN 5/2/2011 Idaho Down's 3rd Annual Music Festival should be a blast - tons of great bands playing and a full, fun, all ages weekend of camping, food and music up in Brundage Mountain!
MATT HOPPER & THE ROMAN CANDLES OPENING FOR BARENAKED LADIES IN FAIRBANKS, AK 5/2/2011 We're excited to announce an opening (and closing) gig with the world famous Barenaked Ladies at The Blue Loon in Fairbanks, AK on June 3 this summer. It's an outdoor event that's always a good time and we're looking forward to showcasing our tunes and having a time with the good people of Fbx. Tickets are available online. In addition to our short opening set, we will be playing inside the bar after the Barenaked Ladies finish for a smaller, more manageable cover of $5.
MATT HOPPER PERFORMS AS PART OF A RISING TIDE IN CONCERT KICK OFF FOR KRBX 89.9 "RADIO BOISE"
4/20/2011 Matt Hopper will be performing a solo show on 4/22 as part of A Rising Tide and the launch of KBRX 89.9 fm, otherwise known as Radio Boise. Here is a poster for the event:
MATT HOPPER OPENING FOR JOHN VANDERSLICE IN BOISE
4/20/2011 Lo-fi studio wizard John Vanderslice is coming to Boise ID at Neurolux and Matt Hopper is opening the night on Saturday 4/23.
