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

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Saturday was a day of great excitement in the Bay Area. Dr. Dog was playing at the Regency Ballroom, the Chinese New Year Parade was in full effect and Social Distortion was coming to the Fox Theater in Oakland for the second night in a row. That’s the one that intrigued me most, because of the opening acts Sharks and Frank Turner. Frank Turner h...
What can I say about the magnificent White Buffalo that I haven’t said before? Watching him in action for the first time last night was a sight to behold. His massive frame ambled up to the stage around 9:30 pm and with that deep baritone he bellowed to the crowd, Opening for rising star Gary Clark Jr., The Buffalo or Jake Smith did what he did b...

Album Review: Howlin' Rain - The Russian Wilds

Published in Album Reviews
Friday, 17 February 2012 13:54
Mountain. Led Zeppelin. AC/DC. These are bands that made us aware that the guitar can be the centerpiece of a band. Sure, the lead singer is vital to a band’s survival, but there’s something special about a band that is equal parts vocal and raging guitar. When Mountain exploded onto the scene with “Mississippi Queen,” the world took notice. When...

10 Questions with Ideals

Published in Interviews
Friday, 10 February 2012 08:30
Ideals are a conundrum. On the one hand you have their debut EP that so many thought would launch them into the stratosphere are Britain's answer to the Killers. On the other you have this return to what made Britain the musical epicenter of the post punk revival in the early to mid eighties. Do bands that don't want to align themselves in the tr...

Ideals - Let Your Anger Leave You - Intruder Records

Published in Album Reviews
Sunday, 05 February 2012 22:19
Ideals were originally called It’s a Trap, which is a great name for Star Wars or Family Guy fan boys, but for everyone else leaves them wondering what the band might be referring to. As Ideals they’ve released a brand new seven song EP entitledLet Your Anger Leave You that is guitar centric, much more melodic and has a heavier sound than their p...