The Matter

Band Members:
Derrick Mangroo - lead vox, Nina Interlandi - guitar and backing vox, Ian Bell - guitar, Dr. Roberts - bass, Jeff Rohe - drums and backing vox

Pictures:
Picture     Picture     Picture    
SonicBids Press Kit: N/A

In a shocking expose, New York's own The Matter have been discovered to be harboring dangerous (and what should be illegal) amounts of rock and roll. The whole operation might have stayed under wraps had it not been for the recent release of their debut album, featuring seven tracks of impudently infectious music that will no doubt threaten suburban communities of cookie-cutter bands everywhere.

"It's pretty difficult to comprehend," says professional hipster Billie Berg, shaking her head, "that someone would actually think it's okay to release this stuff. I mean the lyrical content alone deals with things like sex, drugs, love, death, teeth grinding, chickens, and playing fetch. How can they expect people to keep up?" Indeed The Matter seem to be consciously attempting to defy definition. It's almost as if they have intentionally sewn bits of blues, punk, noise, indie, and atmosphere into their rock web to both satisfy crazy music critics and also fool the average listener into dancing to a catchy beat or refrain.

"We just write what sounds good to us," says Nina Interlandi, a guitarist/singer in the band, "and we try not to limit ourselves by sticking to one particular genre." The band's lead singer, Derrick Mangroo, also shared with us that the five members write all their songs together. Obviously this is straying from traditional practice, and may contribute to The Matter's unique contagion that people seem to be catching faster than Axl can lose his breath. "Sometimes," Mangroo says, "Jeff [the drummer] will come up with a vocal line or Ian [the other guitar player] will write a cool drum part. The other day I just pointed at Dr. Roberts [the bass player] and said 'Play something!' and before you knew it we were all jamming a new song."

By far the most terrifying aspect of the imminent appropriation of the rock throne by The Matter and their kind is the notion that the live show should be even more intense and sinful than the recorded material. As if it wasn't already enough to sell a CD that you can't even use as noncommittal background music to enhance your Wal-Mart shopping experience, this band appears to be having a good time while on stage. Throughout the explosively performed versions of their songs, the five appear to be enjoying themselves and each other immensely instead of the currently acceptable method of staring at the floor as if the lucky band goldfish had just died. Mangroo's voice is strangely not reminiscent of the mainstream and oft-imitated Scott Stapp, and in fact he seems to be the embodiment of a sincerely arousing entertainer. Stapp could not be reached for comment on this baffling inconsistency.

In short, by no means should you purchase The Matter's new CD, go to a live show, or even visit their website if you hope to remain in your world of comforting mediocrity and conformity. The CD has been placed on several schools' "danger" lists for suggesting the potentially harmful practice of abandoning corporate rule. While the Matter appear to be doing what they do because they love it, theorists suspect that a much larger underground network of rebels (rumored as "The Rock Spot") are plotting to infect secretly dissatisfied music listeners everywhere. So keep your ears open...you could be next.

Contact at your own risk: info@thematternyc.com www.thematternyc.com www.therockspot.com