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"Alaska's Finest" - Performing Songwriter Magazine
"Alaska native Matt Hopper has the appeal and talent of a quintessential American singer-songwriter. He writes earnest alt-countrified songs that are pop without being clichéd and delicate without being sappy." - LA Weekly
“To generalize Hopper would be to say he's indie-pop with a dash of country. To understand Hopper, however, requires listening beyond his energetic to lullaby-like acoustic guitar playing and taking in what he has to say.” – Nevada Sagebrush
"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's] prolific writing ability coupled with a love of both classic rock and folk make it easy to see why he is frequently compared to artists such as Ryan Adams and Elliott Smith. ” – Nevada Sagebrush
"Quintessential Americana: a blend of pop, folk, classic country, rock, and indie-everything. He's a brilliant lyricist and story-teller, and even when he's singing a string of la-la-la's" - Boise Weekly
"A singer-songwriter of the highest caliber" - Boise Weekly
"...a musical prodigy" - Fine Print Magazine
""[Hopper] creates music that should be used as a soundtrack for a cute lovestory between a nasa-astronaut and a deaf operator girl. Heartbreaking and beautiful." - Frantic World Scenarios
"Matt Hopper is NOT crap" - Flagstaff Live
"a talented folk rocker" - San Diego City Beat
"Your CD has completely infiltrated my life. Your style is not my usual one, but since your show and getting my hands on the album I can't stop. You know how it is. Thanks for putting it out there...there is some kind of Matt Hopper revolution on our campus since your show. The girls love ya." - Christy, WARC 90.3 FM
"Hopper takes a look at punk, emo, folk, hip-hop and jazz and ties them all together like a giant corn rose" - Northern Light
"An immensely talented and diverse songwriter" - Todd Brown, Absalom Recordings
"We live in Anchorage, so fuck, nobody's a rock star, except maybe Matt Hopper." - Mike Gorder [Delmag] in Range Magazine
"...a stunning falsetto" - Lia Rudolph, Anchorage Daily News
"I just wanted to let you know that my eyeballs just melted out of their sockets and my brain exploded out through my ears... and its all because ofyour disc." - Matthew Wojciakowski, 89.1 WIDR FM
Articles / Clippings
California Aggie | October 11, 2007
There's a little something for everyone in Matt Hopper's discography; he knows how to get happy with a sensual buildup, and he can speak the down-tempo and heartbreaking truth, too. Hopper hails from the world of semi-psycheldelia, yet is still proper to a classic folk rock singer-songwriter influence. If you don't hear a song that tickles your fancy by the end of Hopper's set, then I'm worried for you. - Nicole BrownerDANE101.com | December 31, 2008
Alaskan troubadour Matt Hopper is a songwriter to keep a close eye on. His latest release is a long-awaited collection of piercing songs that howl with universal appeal, maturity, and fun. Reverse Odyssey is soaked with heartbreaking honey-sweet melodies and more than a few kick-in-the-ass rockers. His prolific writing ability coupled with a love of both classic rock and folk make it easy to see why he is frequently compared to artists such as Ryan Adams and Elliott Smith. A onetime Madisonian, Hopper even gives a tender nod to his former residency in a song named after our favorite city.You have to hear: Hot Mama / Madison / Head To Feet. Shelley Peckham "Top 5 Albums of 2007"LOCALCUT.COM / WILAMETTE WEEKLY | December 19, 2007
Wayward songwriter Matt Hopper doesn't really have a homebase: “For me, it's touring and couch surfing,” he says, adding that he hasn't “had an apartment or anything since 2004.” That said, Hopper, a native Alaskan, rubs elbows with some notable Alaskan transplants—he's currently touring through his home state with local folk duo the Old Believers, who he's also recording a split EP with next year. And, you know, some of those above-mentioned couches reside in Portland, a town he makes sure to play about four times a year.Taking all that—and the fact that Hopper's Reverse Odyssey is one of my fave listens as of late—into consideration, I've decided to deem him an honorary Portlander and sharing this rad track (which is just one of many excellent selections on the really versatile and lovely Odyssey ) with you, dear LocalCut reader. Consider it an early Christmas gift from Hopper to me to you.
As you'll note, “Hot Mama,” which heads off Reverse Odyssey , starts off sounding like a straight-up bar rock number—all riffs, palm-muting and hand claps. But a minute or so in, you realize it's so much more. First of all, the line “better make a good impression or he'll kick your ass” makes me smile every time. Secondly, the lyrical theme of old folks not getting what it's like to be “young and in love” is a timeless winner. Finally, that backbeat-ridden break on which Hopper launches into a high-pitched croon on “kiss and touch” has a bit of Oldies charm that's as instantly lovable as it is a little surprising.
In short, this is the most genuine, fun song I've heard in ages: It's got a playful, rebellious attitude, a youthful spirit and a slew of interesting folk-rock parts that are matched up in perfect, driving, hook-laden glory. Hopper reminds me of a less bratty Ryan Adams or a grittier Mason Jennings (which is, by no means, meant to sell his originality short)—and, honestly, I'm starting to like him better than either of ‘em.
RYAN'S SMASHING LIFE BLOG | September 2007
I have been listening to Matt's music off and on for about four months now and it suddenly came to me that I never took the time to share his music with you. Matt Hopper is a prolific artist having balanced his almost daily solo acoustic appearances with a tour with rock-focused backing band the Roman Candles. Both are talented incarnations of his creativity and good uses of his time! If Matt can forgive me one comparison - he reminds me a great deal of Ryan Adams and Jesse Malin who impress crowds during both acoustic (including alt-country and folk) and rock and roll gigs. (read more)
LISTEN NASHVILLE BLOG | November 2007
The final set of the night was the one I had initially come out for. I caught the new kid in town and Alaskan native Matt Hopper for the first time at this same venue two weeks ago. He played a quasi-acoustic set that featured himself on guitar and vocals and a very able guitar slinger named Jamie Timm backing him up with a pearl white Telecaster. The songs and musicianship that evening absolutely floored me, so when he announced he would be playing a Tuesday night gig for the remainder of the month I made it a point to catch these guys again. At this night's show however, Matt took the stage backed by a full band, and from the opening strains of space-y tremolo guitar, I knew this would be a very different show than the last one I had attended. Jamie returned with his Fender, while Matt rocked merrily away on a Gretsch. The songs ranged from pretty, layered pop to a Stones-y country rock number entitled “Wolf Eyes.” He and his rock-solid band stomped confidently through a bump-free set that concluded with a duet featuring local singer Kat Jones on an original called “Keep You Around.” Matt currently has his own cd, Reverse Odyssey , while guitarist Jamie Timm has one with his own outfit, Band Of Annuals, titled Let Me Live . Both records are highly recommended, and the same can be said for Carswell and Marrow. Don't miss your chance to catch any of these bands. — Matthew Woodard (read more)SONGS: ILLINOIS BLOG | October 2007
Matt Hopper & The Roman Candles is just about the only Alaskan band I've ever written about. Isn't that strange? I heard the band was playing the Americana Music Association's annual shindig down in Nashville and they were the only band of any stature that I'd never heard about.Matt's new record, Reverse Odyssey , came out in mid 2007 but didn't get any attention in the blog world despite opening set for Leeroy Stagger and Ian Moore. The songs on the record range from the folk based troubadour types like “Madison” to the more rockin' psych-lite of “Bottom Of The Sea”. Catch Matt Hopper in all his ragged glory live at The Basement on November 3rd (more info here courtesy of the AMA ). If you haven't done so already add Matt Hopper to your one-to-watch category. (read more)
DANE101.COM | Feb 27, 2007
As long as the craft of songwriting has been in existence, there have always been young writers hoping to become the new voice for a generation. What sets Alaska-native Matt Hopper apart from the masses is that there's actually nothing fantastical about his dream at all. After spending the better part of the last three years on the road playing to both loyal fans and newbies, classic venues and tiny bars, his name is quickly becoming synonymous with a unique brand of songwriting that music fans are often starved for, but rarely fed.Though currently touring as a solo artist, Hopper is perhaps most well-known for fronting his band, The Roman Candles and for his work with Madison favorites Blake Thomas and the Downtown Brown. His latest record is in the final stages of creation, and set for a February release. For someone who regularly spends each night in a different city with no home base recording studio, putting a record together would normally seem like an impossible task, but Hopper finds it to be a style that suits him.
“I've realized the way I work best is kind of a Bob Dylan approach: just record when I want to in whatever studio happens to be near. It's not like I have to save up, and save up, and save up. I can write a lot of songs if I put my mind to it, and instead of waiting until I'm back home—because home for me is nowhere—I just try to record wherever I can.”
Fans of Hopper's earlier solo recordings will recall tracks that bring to mind the thoughtful, melancholy melody of Elliott Smith and the dreamy delicacy of Sea Change era Beck. The new record promises to offer a bit more of the same, along with the rawness of his classic rock influences like Tom Petty and Elvis Costello.
“It's pretty bare-bones, and stripped down,” he says. “There's about half really soft folk, mellow stuff and about half rock songs. It's more of a mature rock sound.”
If he were only known for the songs that he wrote, Matt Hopper's award-winning career would still be more than enviable. However, it's his do-it-yourself approach to music that truly makes him a force to be reckoned with. Hopper created Hatcher Pass Records in 2005 to provide a way to release his own material as well as the work of other promising independent artists. Though he considers it more of an artist collective than a record company in the traditional sense, Hatcher Pass has already released a sizeable collection of albums under its name. Hopper is also one of the original four participants of February Album Writing Month (FAWM), which challenges songwriters to create an album of 14 songs in 28 days, and has since grown to include hundreds of writers nationwide.
A self-starter in every sense of the word, he has applied the same approach to his touring. Driving himself across the country, gigging wherever he can, and sleeping on friends' couches has become the norm for Hopper, but he's quite at ease with the customary hardships and instability of life on the road.
“If you can secure and comfortable when you're on the road then you can feel secure and comfortable anywhere, without any money. It's kind of a Zen thing…I want to be a troubadour. I want to be an artist that has seen the world with his own eyes and can write about it from real-life experiences. You don't get that when you're in a microcosm.”
Breaking the mold of routine that most people call their life and becoming a bona fide nomad has paid off. Over the years Hopper has gained a growing army of loyal fans scattered across the continent who are eager to spread the word about the heartfelt intimacy and timeless appeal of his songs. His experiences have also left him with a keen perspective and unwavering self-assurance.
“Life is a really weird, complicated thing and you just have to enjoy it because you're just one little speck. All I can do is look at the world through my own eyes and interpret it the way I see it, and hope that other people identify with my lyrics.” - Shelley Peckham (read it online)
PUSH PLAY BLOG | May 12, 2007
Since Matt Hopper left Alaska in 2003 to tour fulltime, he's released some albums, played 400-plus gigs, logged more than 150,000 travel miles and had one of his songs, "Our Love Is Soft," featured on the ABC drama "Brothers & Sisters."
Alaska's indie-rock darling, now a road-weary traveler, is returning to play shows and release Matt Hopper and The Roman Candles' latest album, "Reverse Odyssey.""I'm older. I have some more gray hair. I'm fatter. My muscles are flabbier," he stated matter-of-factly,over the phone from a Vashon Island, Wash. recording studio. "But no, musically ... I'm in a better spot now to write about things because I'm not so sheltered and one-dimensional."
He says the 10 tracks on his latest album, which he will release in Anchorage next week, are a blend of classic Roman Candle pop-rock alongside his stripped down acoustic songs.
"I set out to make a record that blended both the simple acoustic type songs I do solo and the loud rock and roll I do with The Roman Candles," he said in a press release. "The record is a collection of songs that I feel flow well and is another step in an ongoing quest to become a better songwriter."
The record is being released on Hopper's independent label Hatcher Pass Records. After the release shows in Alaska, Hopper will do a West coast tour with the full band. - Rosey Robards (read it online)
KIKI'S MAGICAL MUSIC REVIEWS | Feb 28, 2007
This was Matt Hopper 's triumphant return to Madison, a town he had called home from October '05 till August '06. Used to be you couldn't go a week without seeing a show with Hopper on the bill. A shameless self-promoter, he knew everyone in town worth knowing within a few weeks. So it was a bit surprising that there wasn't a bigger crowd at the High Noon tonight. I was always a sucker for his rambling ramshackle Dylan-influenced songs whether solo or with his band the Roman Candles (which funnily enough, imploded rather than exploded). By the time he took the stage tonight he'd definitely been partying for awhile. It didn't seem to affect the songs much, but it did make it harder for him to stay on track. He seldom made it through a song with making a comment to an audience member or breaking into a story in the middle. Ah, same old Hopper. Good to know success hasn't changed him. I missed you Matt - Kiki Schuler (read it online)BOISE WEEKLY CD REVIEW
Alaskan troubadour Matt Hopper is a singer-songwriter of the highest caliber. On his newest offering, a deft EP, Hopper eschews a band in favor of unornamented acoustic arrangements. With sparse instrumentation and good production, the songs sound warm and inviting. Hopper's smooth voice and unconventional guitar playing create a landscape of longing and love. It's an album that transports. Even with the bare arrangements there are plenty of well-placed studio tricks: reverse guitar intros, double-tracked vocals and even some whistling. My favorite tune on the album is “City Walls.” It is one you'll find yourself singing long after it's over. It chronicles the first meeting of a girl and a guy and it sounds like they have that you-might-be-the-one feeling. In less capable hands, the topic has a high potential to sound like drivel. Hopper mixes it up and creates a fantastically hooky tune. He sings the verses from the guy's perspective and then hammers home the girl's response. After he asks her to buy him a drink and tell him a joke, the girl responds:“I come from the country/ Beyond your city walls/ I've got some stories/ But you'll have to write to me and call/ I live alone/ but I'm looking for one good one man/ and you could be him/ yes you can.” I caught Hopper the last time he was in town—it was a great show. The crowd ate him up—yelling out requests from The Gold Rush. When a technical problem threw him off and he forgot his own lyrics, Hopper began improvising, making fun of himself and commenting on the evening. The audience loved it and cheered him on. It made us all feel as though we were a part of the show and proved that he can produce not only an unforgettable EP, but also an unforgettable concert. Hopper will be visiting us again on April 1 at the Big Easy. Sharing the bill are Kat Jones, Aspen Hollow and local songster Jeremiah James. Hopper's EP is available at Record Exchange and if you pick it up you won't want to put it down and you won't want to miss his show. (read it online)BOISE WEEKLY / Nov 8, 2006
"Guess what, music lovers? Matt Hopper, who originally hails from Alaska, is hanging out in Boise for a few weeks while he records a new album. A troubadour of sorts, Hopper prefers whiskey to wine and well-constructed lyrics to drivel. A few years ago, he quit his day job to make music his full-time endeavor. Hopper made his new home the inside of his Chevy as he traveled far and wide, sharing the stage with an impressive array of musicians, including the much-blogged-about Cold War Kids and Damien Jurado. The LA Weekly wrote about Hopper, "He writes earnest alt-countrified songs that are pop without being clichéd and delicate without being sappy." Sounds about right. And while this alt-country-pop songster records his new release, he'll take up a resident gig at Opa, playing Monday nights at 9 p.m. through November 23. You can also catch him this Friday at The Bouquet with Escape Wheel. The music will be sweet and the drinks will be strong, so stop by and give this boy a listen." {BW Picks, Nov. 8, 2006}BOISE WEEKLY / Jan 3, 2007
There are hundreds of thousands of American musicians all vying for listeners' time and adoration. Add the rest of the world's music makers into the mix and the hundreds of millions of options are, at the least, overwhelming. Ultimately, this means that to get your attention, a musician has to offer up something special: a unique look--and listen--into the human condition. Matt Hopper is one such musician.Hopper's music is as wide-reaching and varied as the Alaskan landscape he calls home. His music is quintessential Americana: a blend of pop, folk, classic country, rock, and indie-everything. He's a brilliant lyricist and story-teller, and even when he's singing a string of la-la-la's, as in his song "Silver Tongue" (from his 2004 release Gold Rush) , it's not because he had nothing else to say. Each "la" is sung with as much grit as the rest of the track that includes lyrics like You could be a building block but you're the weight on my back/Remember all the times I gave of myself or did it slip though the cracks?
If you haven't heard or heard of Hopper before, check out his myspace site at www.myspace.com/matthopper . He has four songs you can listen to including "Silver Tongue" and "Serious as a Heart Attack," which delivers--in both lyrics and music--a kind of melancholy joy that would have been a perfect addition to the Napoleon Dynamite soundtrack. Then make sure to catch him live, performing with his band the Roman Candles. Hopper's definitely one-in-a-million. -- Amy Atkins
FLAGSTAFF LIVE /
Matt Hopper is not crap. No, I daresay that this rumpled-yet-natty gentleman, who quit his dayjob as a mail clerk for Microsoft to pursue his muse full time, braving the rigors of the road on his "Death of a Day Job Tour", eating a single meal a day, then crashing each night on a different friend's couch, is definitely going to make the bigtime, defintiely going to win the hearts and minds of hordes of big-eyed girls and adoring males comfortable with their own sexuality, and is definitely NOT crap.DAVID CHILDERS (PERFORMING ARTIST)
"Matt Hopper, who with acoustic guitar, and huge heart, whipped the crowd up with personal, humorous, and also very beautiful songs and singing. He reminded me a lot of Todd Snider. I think you will be seeing and hearing more of this young man from Alaska who is out on the road every day and night."LEE POST / YOUR SQUARE LIFE
Screaming in on a zip line of monumental pop-hooks, Indy Rockwell arrives on the scene of his latest concert. Part rock god, part musical genius, Indy Rockwell commands the screaming crowd's attention as he exits his rhinestone encrusted limousine, with his pimp strut in high gear. He rapidly points to women in the crowd with the effortless marksmanship of a trained gunslinger as he identifies the one's he plans to "sex up" after tonight's performance. His entourage of assistants fan out over the venue to ensure everything is perfect for tonight's performance." - On Matt Hopper's former alter-ego Indy RockwellANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS
A chance to write about The Roman Candles -- I would never let something like this slip through my fingers. Especially since Saturday's gig in Town Square is the band's last show with guitarist Brandon Hafer. But where to start?How about a dreary, cold November night? A friend was crowing about a band I had to hear. The guys were having an EP-release party at the University of Alaska Anchorage Campus Den, and for 10 bucks I could pick up a copy of the disc and hear them play a live set. Spending my hard-earned student loans on music seemed much wiser that investing it in the Taco Bell cycle of spend-eat-repeat. So I thought I'd take a chance and check out another local band with ''incredible potential and a unique sound.''
My skepticism quickly dissolved as the music transcended the usual night of distorted power chords and indecipherable lyrics. Three hours and four bands later I was reeling to a sound way different than any I'd heard in Anchorage. The Roman Candles aren't punk. Not rock. Or pop. Throw all those genres and more into a blender, then puree. What comes out is musical bliss. Catchy lyrics and pop melodies bounced through my brain even as I drifted to sleep. It's just impossible to dislike these guys.
Matt Hopper on vocals, guitar and most of the songwriting exposes listeners to everything from the heartbreak that girls love to put a guy through to stressing out. Over on lead guitar, Hafer dazzles with washed, jittery chords. Jon Bowen keeps the beat, sings backup and sometimes trades places with young bassist Erik Braund.
Not a band of many words while onstage, the Roman Candles let the music speak for itself. My favorites range from ''Architect,'' a two-minute blast of ooohhhhs and aahhhhs, to ''It Takes Time'' and ''She's Fine.'' All of which have the ability to reside in your head for days upon days. But where the band shines the brightest is with powerful yet heartfelt songs such as ''Westchester Lagoon'' and ''Stressed Out.'' These tunes capture the unanimous feelings surging through the crowd as it connects to lyrics pertaining to cold, long Alaska winters filled with hard times and perpetual troubles. The tunes often inspire sing-alongs, and rarely does anyone go home unhappy.
Only one show remains with The Roman Candles as we know them. So it's unquestionably going to be a great one. The two-hour concert, from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday during the Earth Day Fair, should allow the guys to play just about every song in their arsenal. And the show's free, which is important to a starving college student such as myself. So that leaves no excuse not to show up. Come on out and nod your head to the music, if for no other reason than to celebrate the end of an era and a great winter of rock 'n' roll.
But then again, I'm prejudiced. - Matt Main
ANCHORAGE PRESS / Apr 4, 2002
Saturday afternoon's Earth Day Celebration was bittersweet. Despite the rain, wind and hail, fans of The Roman Candles were present to witness their final show with the current lineup. The Candles are often accused of being a bubble-gum pop band, but I don't think that assessment is fair. They're more like kettle corn – you think you're gonna grab just a couple kernels, but you end up eating the whole bag and wanting more . Hopper's voice is reminiscent of J. Mascis from Dinosaur Jr.; he blends a falsetto flawlessly into his crooning. With catchy lyrics atop heavy pop-rock and sweet ballads, he has amassed a following to rival any other local band. And if he hadn't chopped his locks prior to Saturday's show, his no-cut haircut may have started a trend to match Jennifer Aniston's. But alas – The Roman Candles, in their current incarnation, were not meant to be.Lead guitarist Brandon Hafer is quitting, and said he'd like to keep his reasons confidential. And drummer Jon Bowen has decided he no longer wants the band to be a priority in his life. The Roman Candles are disbanding. Founding member and lead man Matt Hopper seems a little disillusioned. His band was selling merchandise like no other and concerts were selling out. Hopper started the band in 1998 and has dealt with a rotating roster ever since, the current members together since 2001. He says he plans to spend the summer performing solo and recording another album. So look for Hopper to make a comeback with or without the Roman Candles namesake. Until then, you can watch video of live Roman Candles shows at www.thisisgoingtohurt.com. This is a great site where you can check out lots of bands, including Railer, See Danny, Delmag and the Dan Coleron Trio. - Crystal Hutchens
DESIGNER MAG
The Roman Candles are the anti-thesis to every band breaking out of the US right now. Discard your Puddle of Mudd's and your Staind's, equally discard you're Nu-Metal acts like Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park. Remember a time when the Lemonheads and Weezer ruled the airwaves and that's where the Roman Candles are at right now. We caught up with lead singer and songwriter Matt Hopper to find out about Alaska's hottest export and to find out how they will survive following the recent departure of guitarist Brandon.Q: When you think of the States, in terms of guitar music, the band breaking over here in the UK in the main are the Nu-Metal acts. Would you say that the Roman Candles are ultimately anti Nu-metal in terms of that very traditional guitar pop edge?
MH : I've never really been anti-anything, with the exception of really morbid death metal, which I just can't relate too. Our sound has no connection to any of the Nu-Metal acts, but we didn't set out to buck trends or anything, we just like to write songs that have a good hook and are fun to listen to. I actually like some of these really popular artists like Nickelback and POD, but I don't listen to commercial radio hardly at all, so I have no chance to get sick of those bands like other people do. I hear a good song for what its worth and try not to let image and personality get in the way of how I feel about a certain song regardless of genre.
Q: The main influences I hear in the sound is Weezer, Lemonheads and the Beach Boys. Would you say this is a fair assumption?
MH : Pretty accurate with what other people have been saying. I'm a big fan of all of those artists, in fact, the Lemonheads' "It's A Shame About Ray" was one of those albums that was brilliant enough to be beautiful while at the same time remaining fairly simplistic, and in that sense, inspiring. I felt like I could write songs of equal calibre if I tried, so I started right then and there and here I am today doing an interview with a UK zine. Thanks Evan Dando.
Q: You're also a solo artist in your own right. Do you draw any lines between the band and your solo work? Or does it come naturally that certain songs will fit the band better and certain songs will work better solo.
MH : It's hard to keep a band together, so when times are tough, I just keep going with songs. I develop huge back catalogues of demos that I handpick to play for the band. If they like them, then we use them as band songs, if not I just keep them in demo piles until I'm ready to record more solo stuff and then I sit down and pick out some tunes and develop them more before getting to work on them. I have about 100 demos on my computer right now. I try to display a more rock and roll style through the band, while the solo stuff can be very tender, delicate acoustic songs, and some very experimental.
Q: I believe 2002 will see the release of the debut Roman Candles album. As someone who has only heard the debut EP what can we expect from the album?
MH : We have a good smattering of really poppy songs and then some really darker songs. I'd like to record the poppy songs first and get them out of the way. So chances are those will be on the first album. The second album will hopefully follow shortly thereafter with a dark overall feel. The debut will be fast, strait forward, and rocking. It will be an explosion of sound.
Q: I read on the site that Brandon (guitars) has left the band over the last week. What's the immediate plans for the future and will it signal a new direction for the Roman Candles?
MH : Well, first off, Brandon is leaving on good terms. We are, of course, disappointed with his departure, but after a good talk with the rest of the guys, we decided to take a break with the intentions of coming back strong this summer with a new drummer and keyboardist as well. Our immediate plans are to record another EP of the "band" songs (songs we wrote as a band that Brandon was a part of) and either release that separately from the debut album or add onto it a couple more songs to make it a full length. I am also working on a solo record that I hope to finish up this summer. Basically, this is the summer ot record. We hope to make a trip down to Seattle at the end of the summer for Bumbershoot and then spend one more winter up here recording, writing, and performing with an intent to tour hardcore the following summer. - Alex McCann
ANCHORAGE PRESS
Matt Hopper, the writer, would probably write about Matt Hopper, the musician, in his weekly Debris column if the two weren't the same person. Hopper, who will perform locally Friday and Saturday, covers a music beat that might otherwise go uncovered in the Anchorage Daily News.When he's making his own beats, his intentions are similar. Take his first solo CD, Bedroom Pop Volume One (on sale for $10 at his shows): The title expresses its do-it-yourself nature - Hopper recorded most of the 18 cuts in his bedroom. The 21-year-old UAA Mat-Su student started playing music when he was 17 and cruised through genres like Knight Rider through stop signs. In his short career he's led several bands including St. Valentino, All of Her Twist, God Helping Alison and, most recently, The
Roman Candles. He's experimented with rock, emo, pop, punk and folk; by skimming them, he's come up with his own sound.The songs on Bedroom Pop mirror the sounds of indy rock and electronic bands (Hopper uses the pseudonym "Indy Rockwell" on the album, a name he says his friends gave him). There's some Neutral Milk Hotel surrealist pop but he also uses trip hop drum loops. Hopper plays guitar, melodica, keyboards and drum machine, supplemented by guest voices, drums and guitar. While the album could be more polished and Hopper admits to not having the best voice, it proffers a creative mix of refreshingly personal lyrics and experimental instrumentation. - Rachel McLellan
TRUE TUNES
An immensely talented and diverse songwriter, Matt Hopper first rose to our attention with the release of the debut from his power pop combo The Roman Candles. With the release of Bedroom Pop Volume One under his solo Indy Rockwell moniker Hopper confirms that his is a talent to be reckoned with. Fusing elements of noise rock, indie pop, new wave, emo and occasional traces of trip hop, Indy Rockwell's sound is staggeringly diverse but manages to maintain a coherent tone thanks to Hopper's simple, understated vocals and ear for meaty pop hooks. Much to Hopper's credit is the fact that although his influences are obviously present - Starflyer 59, Pedro the Lion and Michael Knott are all cited as major forces in his music - he is able to take the best pieces of each and assemble them into a thoroughly original new sound. While the recording here is decidedly lo-fi in approach - the album title isn't a gimmick, everything you hear was actually recorded in Hopper's bedroom with Hopper playing virtually all the instruments himself - the arrangements are impeccable and surprisingly full. Somebody sign this guy, give him a decent recording budget and he'll be a major force in indie rock. Highly recommended. -Todd BrownNORTHERN LIGHT
Indy Rockwell Offers a Combo Platter
When asked about what an unfamiliar band sounds like, most people relate them to the sounds of a popular mainstream artist. Example, "Who are Sixpence NoneThe Richer?" Oh, you know, the band that copied The Sundays who in return jacked the guitars off The Smiths, that's who. Oh yeah! Well, it makes it easier to visualize at least. But when a new sound emerges from the shadows, unaccustomed to any genre heard before, how do you tell your friends about it?Enter Indy Rockwell and friends and their upcoming release "Bedroom Pop Vol. 1". Fronted by Matt Hopper, whiz kid extrordinare with an ability to play just about any instrument known to a Sourdough and get away with it. Some may remember Hopper's previous efforts leading such bands as St. Valentino, All Of Her Twist, God Helping Alison, and his current entanglement with the Roman Candles, KRUA's media darlings. Taking his unique new sound and running into solo territory, Hopper takes a look at punk, emo, folk, hip-hop and jazz and ties them all together like agiant corn rose in "Bedroom Pop."
Does it work? First thing you notice about Indy Rockwell is that there are no defining characteristics that make them your typical Alaskan band. There is no hemp - soaked, "love your fellow brother" feeling here, it's raw. The opening track, "You Are Listening To" barks early Kraftwerk up your ass before the acoustic mixed "Everyone's A Hypocrite" chimes in with soft melodies, backed with hard edged metal that sounds a lot like the chorus to (sorry!) "Scar Tissue" by The Chili Peppers. Hopper may not be the best lyricist in these early bits ("Took a minute out of my day just to call you at home/ You were distant, far away on my telephone"), but backs up his crooning injustices with natural sounding guitar work.
Taking the reigns in "Bedroom Pop" is the Spanish-guitar sounds of "Santa Maria," which lights the room up like a scented candle. Hopper uses "unknown" samples in this mix adding to the already diversified sounds. "Blue Light Lounge" makes you thirsty for that dirty martini as 4AD-esque drumsequences and 1982 Casio Keyboard glitches stir up the guitar mix. This broken hearted tune anthem's the "Bedroom Pop" album with a sample of a disgruntled woman declaring, "You gotta lot of nerve, honey!"
Two sound bits worth listening to for giggles are the two versions of "Bite My Lip." The first hside'version flips from post-grunge to hip-hop to folky soul smoothness without faltering. The second 'Daddy-O' version comically invites swing to meet trip-hop, melting unharmonious lyrics all over the top.
Most of "Bedroom Pop" is unique to the Alaskan "sound" that's culminated over the past five years, yet some of it is just experimental madness. Halfway through the CD we hear Hopper's robotic voice declare,"Matt Hopper is Bedroom Pop." Did we not know this? "Weather In My Bones" sounds like Morrissey on a whiskey binge but somehow still works.
The sound quality of Indy Rockwell's "Bedroom Pop" is remarkably clear and well produced although at times Hopper tends to drift from the microphone. Making appearances on "Bedroom Pop" are the talented drumming efforts of Gabe Castro (The Born Losers, Castroglide) and Seth Blankenship (ex-Roman Candles) along with backing female vocals by Kate Smithson and Stephanie Sambucco. -JJ Harrier
2006
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