Matt Hinkley
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Matt Hinkley

| SELF | AFM

| SELF | AFM
Band Rock Singer/Songwriter

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"The Joe Iconis Rock 'n' Roll Jamboree"

The Joe Iconis Rock and Roll Jamboree
January 08, 2008
By David Finkle

Songwriter, performer, and potty mouth Joe Iconis knows how astonishingly talented he is. You could say he's building on his surname and won't rest until he an Icon is. Were all right with the world, that day wouldn't be far off. But all isn't necessarily right with the world, and so it may take a while for him to break through to the really big big time. In the meanwhile, early adopters can get the drop on him by stampeding to see the loose-jointed 11-person contingent he's rounded up as The Joe Iconis Rock and Roll Jamboree for a four-show Laurie Beechman Theater stop.

The result — entirely in the service of singing 16 of Iconis' rousing songs — looks something like the Grand Ole Opry stage might have if Joe Cocker's 1970 Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour had invaded. The singers frequently pick up kazoo or washboard or spoons to supplement musicians Jared Weiss, Brent Stranathan, Ian Kagey, AND HOT-LICKS ELECTRIC GUITARIST MATT HINKLEY.

Those singers, of whom Iconis says, "Not one has ever been in Wicked," are a gifted and jubilant lot — although given the nature of showbiz, they may not be an aggregate that long endures. Katrina Dideriksen, whose wail is likely heard in Hackensack when she gives it full rein, makes the most of a torch song called "Lisa" (meant for a man, but why not a woman?) and then gives her emotions a tug on a lament Iconis tags "Almost There." In it, she declares, "All I want is respect from you." On "Albuquerque Anyway," Lance Rubin delightfully plays a 9-year-old who's hurt that a friend is moving away. Jason "SweetTooth" Williams goes to town on tangy-sweet "Honey." Rubin, Williams, AND HINKLEY LEAD THE GANG ON "The Whiskey Song," an instant classic if ever there was one.

Iconis' rousingly arranged repertoire is rock 'n' roll-oriented, yes, but other influences shout out from it. He seems to be a closet show-tune fellow (and told one of his too many stories about a Don't Tell Mama piano-bar visit) and even includes "Plants Make Wonderful Pets," a ditty he's run up for a TheatreworksUSA children's show. It could be said he's something of a heterosexual William Finn, for he's partial to songs that every so often head in different yet oh so inevitable directions.

His lyrics are certainly ear-catching. One song starts out with "Before I met you, mermaids were singing in the trees." Another — which seems to be ironic but could unfold before many irony-deficient audiences — dispenses the advice to "throw out your baby and murder your friends." This one, on which Iconis bangs the piano as if he were honking a car horn, also suggests that a young fellow should learn to "exploit everybody who helps you." Yes, Iconis is the same award-winning tunesmith who with Robert Maddock wrote Lorinda Lisitza's irresistible and hard-hitting show Triumphant Baby.


Let's leave it that 2008 can't turn out to be a bad year if it starts with such spangled promise.



Presented by and at the Laurie Beechman Theater,

407 W. 42nd St., NYC.

Jan. 5-19. Remaining performances: Sun., Jan. 13, 6 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 19, 9:30 p.m.

(212) 695-6909 - Backstage


Discography

Matt Hinkley - Matt Hinkley:

"When you reach that line, you cross that line on your own." The eponymous debut album from Matt Hinkley - a Texas-bred, NYC-based rocker - is an original and refreshingly consistent collection of twelve guitar-driven tunes that range from acoustic Americana to full-bore rock. Hinkley's tightly-structured songwriting evokes the work of established artists such as The Beatles, Wilco, Ryan Adams, and The Byrds, yet manages to carve out a home entirely its own. This album is equally at home coming through the bedroom stereo on a rainy night, providing the background to a great party, or blasting through car speakers on the open road.

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Bio

Born and raised in the West Texas town of Midland, Matt Hinkley is a singer/songwriter, guitarist/multi-instrumentalist, and music director now residing in New York City. Despite his initial arrival in NYC as an actor, Hinkley has traveled full-circle back to the days of jamming out to Billy Idol’s "Rebel Yell" on his parents’ coffee table, sporting nothing but his favorite pair of Scooby Doo underwear. The Idol and underwear are rumored to be gone, but the energy, passion, and musicality remain in full force.

Hinkley's self-titled debut album is an original and refreshing tour de force of twelve infectious songs, ranging from acoustic Americana to full-bore rock ’n’ roll. The CD is available through CD Baby and iTunes. Hinkley’s guitar-driven, tightly-structured songwriting evokes the work of established artists such as The Beatles, Wilco, Ryan Adams, and The Byrds, yet manages to carve out a place entirely its own. This album rests largely upon the strength and versatility of Hinkley's unmistakable baritone, and is equally at home coming through the bedroom stereo on a rainy night, providing the background to a great party, or blasting through car speakers on the open road.

Matt’s introspective songwriting is influenced musically by the country, blues, and folk of Texas, combined with the straight-up, explosive rock ’n’ roll he was weaned on, and the tight songwriting style of classic rock and pop artists. Lyrically, it’s all about the decisions, events, and journeys that make up one’s life, as well as the process of coming to terms with the fact that "when you reach that line, you cross that line on your own." His musical efforts have led him to perform across the country and at such NYC venues as Joe’s Pub, The Bitter End, Cutting Room, Crash Mansion, Ars Nova, Mo Pitkins, Pianos, Lion’s Den, and more.

In addition to his own projects, Hinkley lends his multiple talents to a number of other endeavors, especially for the theater. Matt recently served as the resident music director and conductor/guitarist for ROOMS off-Broadway at New World Stages. Other music directing credits include ReWrite at Urban Stages, the Fringe Festival production of Green Eyes (MD, guitar), the national tour of Beehive (Asst. MD, guitar), and SPF's production of Joe Iconis's rock musical The Black Suits at the Public Theater, for which Matt served as music director, arranger, rehearsal pianist, pit guitarist, and actor. Matt also recently served as music supervisor for Iconis's critically acclaimed Things To Ruin at both Second Stage and The Zipper Factory, and he is a staple member of the Joe Iconis Rock 'n' Roll Jamboree (guitar, accordion, vocals), as seen on YouTube. Other guitar/vocal/instrumental credits and collaborations include The Burnt Part Boys, Mel Marvin, Factory Girls (Sean Mahoney & Creighton Irons), Ryan Scott Oliver, 2007 Nightlife Award winner Lorinda Lisitza, Craig Wilson, Amanda Droste, and many more.

For more information, visit matthinkley.com.