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Sunday, 20 June 2021

Pool Of Sound - Matt McManamon


Matt McManamon grew up in Allerton, Liverpool, just over the road from Forthlin Road, where Paul McCartney's childhood home was. in what he called 'Beatles territory' as all of 'The Dead 60s' boys were from round there, near that area of Allerton Road. He even went to the same school as John Lennon, Dovedale Primary and is best known as the feral frontman of one-time Deltasonic darlings 'The Dead 60s', and later a touring member of 'The Specials'. 

( See earlier blog - http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2020/05/pool-of-sound-dead-60s.html )

When 'The Dead 60s' split up he decided to move. Having been born in Liverpool to Irish parents, he had always classed himself as Liverpool–Irish. So rather than hanging around Liverpool or living in London, which he did for a while, he took a break from the music and went to live in Ireland back with his family. After quite a long period where he didn’t really do anything, not quite getting the wheels in motion, lacking confidence, slowly but surely his confidence came back. One thing that happened prior to his solo work, was that he toured with 'The Specials' for two and a half years, from 2014 to 2016. 'The Specials' had been a huge influence on 'The Dead 60s' and it was a surreal experience to be invited to tour with one of his all-time favourite bands.

He finally released the second single 'Goodbye', following his self imposed sabbatical, on the 8th of May 2020, and the first via Fretsore records. This followed 'Seas of Gold' which was streamed on Apple Music.

 

On the 15th of January 2021, Matt released 'Jumpin' The Gun' via Fretsore Records. The track being the first taste of his long-awaited debut album 'Scally Folk', due out in May later that the year. The album saw the artist exploring the sounds of his roots with new purpose and in doing so finding a closer kinship with the songwriting canons of Lee Mavers, Julian Cope or even Mike Scott. Recorded over 14 days at Transmission Rooms Recording Studio in Co Longford, Ireland, the sessions brought together a a talented group of musicians including Vinny Redmond (Angel Pier), Enda Mulloy (Biblecode Sundays), with additional contributions from Andy Nolan (Biblecode Sundays), Kane O’Rourke (Nathan Carter, Derek Ryan) and critically acclaimed American singer/songwriter John Murray. The album was produced by the celebrated Mick Cronin (Shane MacGowan, Kodaline, Noel Hogan of 'The Cranberries'). Recorded mostly with an acoustic guitar, it brings together hints of classic Merseybeat, psychedelia and the iconic Liverpool jangle-pop. He pays tribute to the city that made him, while delving deeper into some of traditional sounds associated with his Irish heritage.Matt says of the single, 'Jumpin’ The Gun", " it is a song for all 'the haters' in life. The song is primarily about experiencing negative people & negative thoughts, and responding to them by doing something positive. Some years ago when I took a hiatus from doing music, I'd find certain opinionated people, basically wrote me off, believing I was finished and would never do anything in music again. I always knew I would, I was just taking stock and biding my time and making sure I didn't 'jump the gun', so the song draws inspiration from turning other people's negativity into a positive. For me it has a real "we will win" attitude about it, not too dissimilar to the kids book The Tortoise and the Hare."

Now as we seem to be emerging from the current pandemic, plans are afoot, and a November UK tour is currently pencilled in, with more to be added. For the last 18 months he has been writing his memoirs, 'Giz A Gig! A Personal Journey Through The Liverpool Music Scene & Beyond ', which is now entering the home stretch with the hope it being published in the very near future.He's also finished writing his second solo album, and hopefully that can begin recording soon. Sounds like some busy and exciting times ahead.

see also:- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2021/06/pool-of-sound-bobby-west.html


 

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