Guthrie Matthews Method
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Guthrie Matthews Method

Queenstown, Maryland, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2005 | SELF

Queenstown, Maryland, United States | SELF
Established on Jan, 2005
Band Blues Progressive

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This band has not uploaded any videos

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"Best Of Issue 2010"

Best Local Musician - What's Up Eastern Shore


"Music To Our Ears (by Bill Thompson)"

Nashviile has its Opry, Motown still grooves, but the Chesapeake region swings with its own talented musical acts, poised for stardom. Catch these four up-and-comers before they leave town for the big time...

Guthrie Matthews

Among the many talented guitarists in the Chesapeake Bay region, Guthrie Matthews of Easton stands out- for a number of reasons.
For one, his electric guitar was handmade by George Strunk, a well-known decoy carver from southern New Jersey. "George had heard some of my music and sent word through a friend asking if he could make a guitar for me and what kind would I like," Matthews explains. "I said, 'Sure, make me a hollow Telecaster with a big fat neck.'"
What came out of Strunk's workshop doesn't look like a duck and, in Matthew's hands, it doesn't sound like one either. It quickly replaced his old Telecaster- "nine pounds of solid baseball ash"- as his favorite instrument for creating the searing solos that have excited live audiences around the region for years.
And another thing about Matthews: It's almost impossible to pigoenhole his style. "A lot of people can't stick me in a category," he says. "I don't play just rock 'n roll or hip-hop or R&B or reggae or blues. I do all of that. You ask anyone on the street what they like, and they'll say 'A little of this and a little of that.' Well, I'm the same way."
This Guthrie, who is named after the folk icon, Woddy Guthrie, was drawn into music at an early age growing up in Peterborough, N.H. (Both his parents attended college in Chestertown and moved to New England after school). "I picked up a mandolin my parents had around the house," he says, "but I didn't start playing it seriously until I was twelve."
When he was in his early teens- by then he had moved on to the electric guitar- Matthews broke his left wrist. His arm wrapped in a cast, he continued to practice with the aid of a slide. When the cast and the slide were tossed away, he still felt some pain in his tendons. That's when he retrained his fingers to be more efficient, to get more out of the strings without torturing himself.
It was a lesson he applies to this day. "My whole approach to playing and singing is, if it hurts, you're doing something wrong."
Matthews' moved to the Eastern Shore where he finished high school in Queen Anne's County. Now twenty-nine, he's been playing in bands ever since. His guitar showmanship was sharpened in Big Bang Method and Johnny Bling, two groups that had frequent bookings on both sides of the Chesapeake.
Matthews' current band is the Guthrie Matthews Method, featuring Jesse Masone on bass and Dave Gladding on drums. They can be seen and heard in St.Michaels, Chestertown, Kent Island, and Salisbury. The group specializes in rock but also ventures into jazz, reggae, and underground hip-hop. Expecting the release of a new CD next year, Guthrie says he's shifting towards tougher songs to help purge some personal romantic breakups and hard times. To that end, he plans to title the recording 'Demons Inside'.
What's the best musical advice he's ever been given? "Shut up and listen."
And the worst? "You need to sound like..." and here he pauses for a moment. "Fill in the blank."



- Chesapeake Life Magazine


"CMG Review: Guthrie Matthews and the Neighborhood: Sleepless Night (Reviewed by Bill Wright)"

Guthrie Matthews And The Neighborhood: Sleepless Night
Reviewed by: Bill Wright

As I listened to this amazing CD from Guthrie Matthews And The Neighborhood, I couldn't help but wonder how people like Jonny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepherd can be so incredibly famous, and this guitar man from Easton, Maryland is not. Guthrie Matthews is the Eastern Shore's pride and joy and proves why on his new release, "Sleepless Night." From the blues-driven opening track, "It's A Hot One," to the rockin' sounds of "Eyes And Ears", this CD is all killer and no filler. Guthrie's strong vocals and soulful, blues-based guitar playing make this CD a pleasure to listen to again and again. Guthrie is backed by nothing but the best musicians around, including Joe Martone, Charlie Bowley, Roger Lewis, Gene Watson, Milky Moonstone, and the late great John Postley, who unfortunately passed away late last year. (Archived review from 2004) - The Chesapeake Music Guide (2004)


"CMG Review: Big Bang Method: BOOM! (Reviewed by Michael Macey)"

Boom! from Big Bang Method is a guitar journey that spans the decades with its mix of rock, jazz, fusion and psychedelic sounds that at times recalls the mid 70's Jeff Beck Blow by Blow/Wired period as well as the late Randy California of Spirit. Big Bang Method is Guthrie Matthews on guitar, Dave Gladding on drums and percussion, and Jim Loretangeli on bass and keytroneks.
Boom! is loaded with lots of technical expertise that will establish Matthews as one of the area's premier guitarists. From the Jeff Beck influenced "Three Rivers" and "Drop" to the funky "Gagoo" with its retro synth sound, Boom! is a great sounding record that works as well in the background or turned up to 11! All the tunes are instrumentals and most of them were record live with no overdubs. Overall production by bassist Loretangeli at Etroneks is excellent and Matthews gets great tone from his guitar. I especially liked the crunch of "Goin Hydraulic" and "Ingredient". "Junga Drum" is a nice little diversion; its a jazzy improv number that focuses on just piano, guitar and drums and lets Gladding show his chops. "Warugoinwitdat" closes the record and is one of my favorites. It has probably some of the best playing on the record, screeching sustain, funky bass and drums and once again, great tone.
Looking for something a little bit different as far a as guitar playing goes? Want some jazzy rock with a cool sound? Like good improv playing? Then get a copy of Boom! by Big Bang Method and see what I mean. You won't be disappointed. - The Chesapeake Music Guide


"Music on the Shore: Concert Previews (by Rik Ferrell)"

This is a name I keep seeing on the schedule at various local venues, so I decided it was time to take a closer look.
Good thing I did.
Local fave Guthrie Matthews Method is seriously tight, jam-esque funk rock with some interesting twists, like Papa Roach jamming with James Brown, and special guest Dave Matthews sitting in.
The band has been building a following on both sides of the Bay, performing a combination of taught originals and diverse covers that audiences seem to be eating up like good sushi. I like the way they easily shift from down-and-dirty electric guitar riffs to smooth acoustic melodies in the blink of an eye.
One thing’s for sure: This trio is serious about creating their own sound, with serious musical influences (among them Zakk Wylde, Dave Weckl, and Charles Mingus), serious instrument capabilities, serious song structures, and serious grooves.
Guthrie Matthews is a flaming ninja on the guitar, dealing out complex chording and burning solos that drip with technique, while the rhythm section of drummer Chris Dorr and bassist Jesse Masone lays down a thump-laden foundation that’s seemingly carved from solid granite.

- What's Up Eastern Shore


Discography

Guthrie Bowen Matthews: Sleepless Night 2000
Mr. Roger's Niegborhood Christmas 2002
Big Bang Method: BOOM! 2004

Several tracks from all releases have had radio airplay on 103.1 WRNR Annapolis, MD.

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Bio



Guthrie Matthews (guitar/vocals) was born in Peterborough, New Hampshire and was introduced to music at a young age. His earliest influence came by way of the blues, introduced by his father, Bill Matthews, a talented guitarist and song writer. Guthrie later moved to Maryland where he further developed as a musician and expanded his repertoire to include country, rock, metal, R&B, reggae, hip-hop, jazz, and pop. He has been working with and opened for various artists all over the east coast throughout the last ten years including: Dean Rosenthal, Linwood Taylor, The Drifters, On The Edge, Margots Band, Rick Forrest, Dirty City, NRBQ, Johnny Bling, All Together Spent, Jordan Page, Greg Brown, Big Bang Method, Sonny Landreth, The Mike McHenry Tribe, Jimi Davies, Nadine Rae, Sue Matthews, and Joe Martone, just to name a few. After years of working on an eclectic array of projects, Guthrie has finally found the most complementary and inspiring group of musicians in The Guthrie Matthews Method.


Jesse Masone (bass), a St.Michaels native, spent his formative years immersing himself in all styles of music. Over fifteen years ago Jesse began playing bass by focusing on hard rock but later expanded his style to include jazz, jam band, and world music. He further cultivated his skills by attending Berkelee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. As a professional Jesse has worked with Fez Cat, Mixed Signals, and Jordan Page. Jesses innate ability to lay down a full and melodic foundation gives the audience an illusion of a much larger band, making the The Guthrie Matthews Method one of the best power trios in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Band Members