Matt De Mello

Matt De Mello

When I was a kid I remember listening to Bob Dylan's lyrics and thinking I want to write like that someday. I followed the musical evolutionary steps from '80's pop, to 90's grunge and gangster rap, I found myself in a quandary in the late '90's and turned to classic rock and alt-country. That was my finding Buddha moment. I discovered greatness in the crackling vinyl sounds of Exile on Main Street, Grievous Angel and Nebraska. I found myself inspired by Nirvana, Pavement and REM. It was this inspiration that led me to write about music. It's the only thing I've ever felt truly comfortable doing. I love music, all music from Miles and Coltrane to Bruce and Dylan. From Nirvana and Pearl Jam to Beethoven and Brahms. From Jimi and Janis to Dre and Pac. I go to shows in San Francisco quite often and love discovering new music. If you have a hot tip on a band or like what I'm saying email me at Matt@BestNewBands.com or follow me @MattKDeMello

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Album Review: Dan Vickrey -Tender Mercies

Published in Album Reviews
Saturday, 26 November 2011 07:45
Listening to Counting Crows guitarist Dan Vickrey’ side project, Tender Mercies, I was immediately drawn to their Gram Parsons-esque sounds. There is a definable twang that alt-country has pushed in the past few decades in an attempt to get back to their folk/country roots and away from that pop-country sound that so many consider to define the...

10 Questions With Ryan Karazija of Low Roar

Published in Interviews
Monday, 21 November 2011 14:27
I was given an opportunity, recently to ask Ryan Karazija, formerly of Audrye Sessions, currently of Low Roar (check out my review of their new album here) a few questions in our ongoing series 10 Questions With Matty D. I found him to be extremely intelligent and affable, willing to answer some questions, but shying away from others. His new recor...

Blitzen Trapper and Dawes Rock The Fillmore

Published in Live Reviews
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 16:10
I arrived at the Fillmore for the Blitzen Trapper/Dawes show around 7:55 for an 8:00 show stoned out of my mind. There is no greater high than that of being on a cloud when music hits you. As I stood admiring the empty stage, the collective masses of San Francisco streamed into the iconic Fillmore. There weren’t many in attendance when the open...

Album Review: Lissie - Covered Up With Flowers

Published in Album Reviews
Tuesday, 15 November 2011 17:01
When Lissie exploded onto the scene in 2010 with her album Catching a Tiger, the Joss Stone, Janis Joplin, Grace Slick comparisons were the ones that were most thrown out, but journalists ran the gamut of clichéd comparisons like they always do. Lissie is a heavy smoker, with the throaty rasp that’s so appealing to listeners and she’s a rocker, n...

Album Review: Blitzen Trapper - American Goldwing

Published in Album Reviews
Friday, 11 November 2011 11:31
There’s a feeling that I get when I listen to the new Blitzen Trapper, an inexplicable sense of warmth and home. American Goldwing is a quintessential rock album. It is all things to all people. At one point it feels like Bob Dylan as is the case with “Stranger in a Strange Land,” but then quickly you’re confronted with the fact that it this isn’...
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New Song: Here's "Better Days," from former BNB Artist of Wk @EdwardSharpe + the Magnetic Zeros http://t.co/141p8EWLjF On tour; LP: July
BestNewBands.com
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Mixtape: Kelly's latest was just posted to our site, including @KINGTUFFY @ElephantStoneHQ. Our new fave. http://t.co/GCuXxSJbN9
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Album Review: Brooklyn trio @TheLoneBellow with "heartfelt storytelling" borne from personal adversity. A treat. http://t.co/FgKx3Uw3AV
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Festival: LA kicks off summer with the Jubilee Music and Arts Fest June 7-8. @jubileemusic http://t.co/0EhxiM9YJ0
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