Major Matt Mason USA
Major Matt Mason USA is the performing name of Matt Roth, a New York City-based musician and record producer, is active in the anti-folk and DIY music scene of New York's East Village.[1]
A native of Shawnee, Kansas, Roth moved to New York in the early 1990s, where he received his new name, based on the action figure Major Matt Mason. He has established Olive Juice Music, which is a recording studio, independent record label, and online record shop, headquartered in his apartment in the Lower East Side.[2]
Anti-folk artists he has worked with, as collaborator, producer, and/or distributor, include Jeffrey Lewis, The Moldy Peaches, Toby Goodshank, Kimya Dawson, LD Beghtol, Rachel Trachtenburg, Adam Green, The Baby Skins, Prewar Yardsale, The Leader, Dan Fishback, Dave End, Elastic No-No Band. In addition to his work as a solo performer, he is also a member of the bands Schwervon! (a rock duo featuring Roth's longtime girlfriend Nan Turner)[3] and Kansas State Flower. Mason has toured extensively throughout the US and Europe with Schwervon! and as a solo performer, often supporting members of the antifolk movement, such as Jeffrey Lewis or affiliated bands (Misty's Big Adventure). He has been the headline act for anti-folk tours throughout the UK.[4]
Discography
As solo performer
- The Lobster Song/Mr. Mrs. Something (7-inch single, 1994. HC Records) (as Major Matt Mason)
- Me Me Me (1998)[5]
- Rivington '94 and the Tower Days (2001)
- Honey Are You Ready for the Ballet? (2002)[6][7]
- Bad People Rule the World (2004)[1]
- Senile Pie Strive Pip Melancholy (2007)
Compilation appearances
- Call It What You Want: This Is Antifolk (2002) - "Animal Shelter"
- Antifolk, Vol. 1 (2002) - "Rockstar"
- I Killed the Monster: 21 Artists Performing the Songs of Daniel Johnston (2006) - "Mind Contorted"
- Anticomp Folkilation (2007) - "Tripping Yourself"
- Rachel Trachtenburg's Homemade World (2009) - "The Dog Song"
References
- 1 2 (May 28, 2004). "Matt at front of 'anti-folk'", Coventry Evening Telegraph, pp. 40–41.
- ↑ Fink, Matt. "Major Matt Mason USA: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
- ↑ Hughes, Andrew S (May 13, 2012). "Schwervon uses limitations to push creativity", South Bend Tribune, p. D1.
- ↑ Carroll, Becky (November 9, 2002). "The Anti Folk Tour Across the UK", The Guardian, p. 40.
- ↑ Cowan, Andrew (July 21, 2001). "Off the record: cd reviews: Matt Mason USA: Me Me Me", Birmingham Post, p. 6.
- ↑ Cumming, Neil (October 24, 2002). "Major Matt Mason USA: Honey, Are You Ready For The Ballet? (Shoeshine)", Evening Times, p. 46.
- ↑ (November 14, 2002). "A Major success", Evening Chronicle, p. 37. "In the wake of his acclaimed album, Honey Are You Ready For The Ballet? on Shoeshine records, he's already been likened in some quarters to Cobain, Stipe and Beck."
External links
- Olive Juice Music
- Major Matt Mason USA's profile on Olive Juice Music
- Major Matt Mason USA's Myspace profile
- Matthew Roth's blog