This Isn’t My Cousin’s Best Friend’s Band, I Swear
September 10th, 2007 . by Jorge
How much do you dread hearing, “you should check out my friend’s band”? Who the hell wants to hear your girfriends brother in-law and his band of delusional balding plumbers and insurance salesmen covering Coldplay? NO ONE THAT’S WHO! That being said everyone living or visiting in the bay area come check out my friends band.
Trust me I know what you’re thinking, anytime anyone says that to me my brain goes into a type of automatic voicemail template; I have to work late, I have dinner plans, I rather eat my fingers… Who can blame me? Ever single time I’ve given in and said yes 6 months drop of my lifespan. I always leave feeling bitter, defeated and with even less hope for today’s standard of musician than I started off with.
Lucky for you I’m willing to wear the crown of king hypocrite. Made up of twin brothers Jared Mattson on guitar, piano and bass; Jonathan Mattson on drums; skateboarding pioneer Ray Barbee on guitar, this band is the future of jazz. With influences ranging from Chet Baker to the Cocteau Twins Ray Barbee Meet the Mattson 2 use their music chops and pop sensiblity to craft brilliant complex songs that aren’t meant to go over our heads but rather linger in them. Jonathan Mattson has ruined all other drummers for me as he’s become the girlfriend I hopelessly compare the rest to. While Jared and Ray create a sound so intoxicating even they get drunk. Ray Barbee Meet the Mattson 2 seem out of place in a time where music is oversaturated with scenester slime with more dedication to fitting into size 26 jeans or resembling a memember of CCR rather than mastering their instruments and sound.
The band is currently championed and managed by Filmmaker/artist Thomas Campbell and has had the privilege of working with Tortoise/The Sea and Cake’s John McEntire on a recording that is to be released within the next year on Galaxia Records.
In September of 2006 Mattson 2 collaborated with Ray Barbee at The Hangar studios in Sacramento, CA. The album was released in Japan on March 7 2007 titled: Ray Barbee Meets Mattson 2 on Galaxia Records. The American version is to be released on Galaxia Records in the near future. In April 2006 a promotional tour for their new release was made possible for Ray Barbee Meets Mattson 2 by Japanese record production company RUSH! Productions. The Japanese tour was a success and received great support from audiences at Ageha in Tokyo, Club Duo in Shibuya, and California Surf Shop in Fujisawa.
Mattson 2 continues to perform with Ray Barbee around California, and continue to collaborate with Thomas Campbell on Galaxia records. They will be playing the upcoming Galaxia Sampler at the Victoria Theater on September 15th. Show starts at 8 tickets are $10. Also on the bill are Tommy Guerrero, Gojogo, The Mumlers and The Photographic.