Unnoticeably born of Metal and Prog Rock of the 70’s and 80’s, Boyer’s sound has been compared more to the likes of Nick Drake, Townes Van Zandt, and Mark Kozelek than Black Sabbath. (Note: Matt toured as a guitarist and backing vocalist for Kozelek’s band Sun Kil Moon.)

     “As a kid, trying to be Eddie Van Halen, I spent hours a day playing the guitar. That’s all I cared about. Then one day I heard Bruce Springsteen’s “Nebraska” record and everything changed for me. Words and melody became more important than whatever it was I had been trying to accomplish. That’s the day I traded my pointy electric guitar for an acoustic guitar and a spiral-bound notebook”

     Although not obvious in Boyer’s sound, the time spent preparing, as a teenager, for “rock stardom,” is obvious in his guitar playing. The alternate-tuned guitar work in Matt’s singer/songwriter delivery is far more interesting than the pedestrian strum-strumming of the typical troubadour set.

     Also evident in influence, yet not entirely in his sound, is the impression “Nebraska” era Springsteen has had on Boyer’s songwriting. Matt’s lyrics are narratives on life and relationships that paint a picture of rumbling grey skies over vast expanses of mid-western farmland, lonesome roads, and the broken hearts and disillusioned minds of those that live within those landscapes.

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Dec. '07 interview with Nuvo News Weekly of Indianapolis

Nuvo:  You live in Colorado, right? What can you tell me about the music
scene there? Where at in Colorado? Does the geographical
characteristics of your home state effect your writing at all?

MB:  I live in Denver. I have lived here for 3 years. The hardest thing about living here, where music is concerned is all the sunshine. I’ve always had a propensity to write sad songs with melancholy content. Being from the Midwest … I miss the extended periods of rain and grey winters. It made it easy to want to stay inside and write.  I think my serotonin levels are to high out here! (laughs)

As far as the scene … pretty standard. There are some good bands, not-so-good bands and really bad bands that think they are great. (laughs) The most interesting thing about the Denver scene is the non-musicians involved. There are some very smart people here who really care and put together some great shows. Jonathan Bitz is a guy who is a perfect example of this. Every scene could use one of him. Check out Denversyntax.com to see what he’s about. There are some great venues with good people working in them as well.

I noticed that you have two Indiana shows coming up; how did those
come about? Do you have some sort of ties to Fort Wayne? Have you
played here before? I saw a press quote about you from INTake, might
that be the INTake in Indianapolis? 

My family moved to Indiana from Detroit when I was 4. I lived in a mostly rural town northwest of Indy until my early 20’s, when I moved to Europe for awhile and worked as a bicycle mechanic. After Europe I moved back to Indy for a few years, went on tour with Sun Kil Moon in 2004 and then moved here in 2005.

In my early 20’s I played in, dare I admit, a jam band that frequented Columbia Street West in Ft. Wayne. The thing I remember most about that place was Richard, the sound guy … he always wanted to know where your hand had been. He was actually a very cool guy and very supportive of original music.

What can you tell me about Sun Kil Moon? Is it still an active
band? Are you still a part of it? Any stories from touring with Mark? 

Sun Kil Moon is Mark Kozelek’s project, post Red House Painters. It’s essentially a solo project under the name of a Korean boxer. Mark is an amazing songwriter and has been a great friend to me over the last few years. It was a great experience to be a part of his music. My roll was essentially a touring guitarist for the 2004 “Ghost of the Great Highway” U.S. and Euro tours. Mark is releasing a new album under the Sun Kil Moon moniker in April of 2008 called “April.” No word on whether he’ll be touring with a band or not.   

Can you tell me about any albums or EPs you have out? Anything
recent? Anything in the works? 

The only thing I have released as solo artist was an EP in 2004 called “Sukuinage.” It was a very simple production, recorded live in the studio with a hand full of mics. I, at one time, recorded a full length solo record that was heavily orchestrated … lots of tracks. I worked on it for about a year and right about the time I was getting close to wrapping it up the studio I was recording in closed. That really killed a lot of the momentum. I’d like to finish it some day, but at this point it is what it is and I could probably put out something I’d be more proud of … Which I hope to put out in 2008. If all goes as planned … I hope to do some spring touring than start working on a full length record that I would like to release by next fall, or even winter would be fine with me.

Describe your sound to me, someone who hasn't heard any of your
records or seem you play:

I would say my music probably sounds like a combination of American and British folk, classic country and 70’s singer/songwriters. The sad stuff … I like music to make me feel something … like the Cat Stevens tune “Trouble.” In my mind, that’s a nearly perfect song … Tim Hardin’s, “It’ll Never Happen Again,” that’s another one. At the right place and time those songs will make you cry or feel nostalgic. If you like that kind of stuff … you might like my stuff … Wishful thinking maybe. (laughs)

Describe your live show to someone who hasn't seen it: 

Have you ever seen the movie “The Deer Hunter?”  (laughs) No, my shows are very to the point. A lot of people tell me I should talk more. I just try to let my songs do the talking. It seems to me all that stage banter … it’s all been said before. I’ll talk about my day sometimes, but then I get self-conscious as to whether anyone cares. (laughs)

Your bio compares you to Nick Drake, Townes Van Zandt and Mark
Kozelek ... I love those guys! Would you consider them influences? Can
you tell me a bit about your influences? (Townes is one of my all-time
favorites!) 

I would say those guys are less influences than music I have just really grown to like. I found out about most of those guys from people telling me who I sound like … I’d check them out and sometimes I’d really like what I heard, and sometimes I’d be like … “I sound like him?! Yikes.” (laughs) All the guys you mentioned would definitely fall under the “really like” category.

I grew up listening to a lot of hard rock and metal, believe it or not. I really loved guitar music … I was really just a guitarist for years. Van Halen (not Van Hagar) is why I started playing guitar in the first place. Then I rediscovered Elvis Costello and Bruce Springsteen. Those guys really changed my course. From there I got into Cat Stevens, Kris Kristofferson, Paul Westerberg, etc.  I say rediscovered because I remember loving the Springsteen tune “I’m on Fire” and Costello’s “Veronica” when I was a kid. At that time … the whole of the music those guys were making was a little too 80’s … It wasn’t until later that I realized every album Springsteen made before “Born in the USA” was amazing … and really just about every Costello record is great … except maybe for the one with the Darryl Hall duet.

Are these upcoming shows solo gigs or will you be playing with
someone? If you are playing with other musicians, can you tell me a
bit about them? 

I’ll be playing with a drummer and a lap steel player. My lap steel player’s name is Dave Devine. Dave is easily one of the most versatile and talented musicians/multi-instrumentalists I’ve ever met. Then on drums will be Dusty Privette … amazingly intuitive and solid drummer. I have a lot of chemistry with both of these guys. They’ll both be on my next record.

Any artists or albums right now that you're especially into? Any
favorites from 2007? 

The album I’ve been listening to in my car for the last  month is Pedro the Lion’s, “It’s Hard to Find a Friend.”  That album has got everything I need in it for this time of the year. Man, as far as favorites of 2007 … I’m the guy that  buys albums about a year too late … then I say, “I like to wait for the hype to die down.” Really I’m just not that up on current stuff. Keep in mind, at one point this year, I listened to nothing but Cat Stevens Greatest Hits for like 2 months solid. I don’t think I’ll ever be the voice of a generation … I was born 20 years too late.