Blue Matches
Nashville, Tennessee, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2012 | SELF
Music
Press
Nashville band Blue Matches’ first album, Starting Over, is aptly named to reflect an embittered tale of a relationship or probably some amalgam of several. Guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist Steven Edwards, a former MTSU student, started the band years ago while in school, playing out of Murfreesboro before the group took a year-long hiatus and reformed with a new rhythm section in 2012.
Blue Matches are Michelle Marston on vocals, Edwards, Stephen Smith on bass and vocals, and Katey Perkins on drums and percussion. Edwards produced and recorded Starting Over, which dropped on Dec. 10, and wrote or co-wrote the majority of the album’s 17 tracks.
Marston delivers each one with cold, blue vocals and ethereal feedback blustering through the opener, “How It All Began.” Marston wrote “Tumbling” and “Tumbleweed,” the latter a track that sounds clear, cold and beat up, framed by Laurel Blackman’s violin and Josh Dent’s cello as Marston sings, I wish this was the last time/But I know myself better than that/I can’t do anything once/I’m always wanting more/Chased by my demons and my apathy/My addictions have made the best part of me/And now there’s not much left of me/I’m feeling so unworthy of the woman I want to be.
The lead vocalist sounds like Exene Cervenka from X, like on “Down and Out,” which has punkish, grizzly guitars blistering underneath a snarly but overtly feminine voice that also brings to mind Pat Benatar on occasion. There have been comparisons to The Distillers, which makes sense; so does a comparison of Courtney Love through Starting Over’s playfully sinister pop style, or even some of the vehemence of Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon.
The album’s lyrics are obsessively, wildly embittered and therefore also hopeless and defeated; see “Infatuation,” “I Won’t Surrender” or “Take It All,” where male vocals cut in, overlapping with Marston’s, evoking the feeling of an argument taking place. It’s a well-produced, angry and atmospheric pop record that is rife with vows not to get fooled again and demands, albeit ad nauseum, plenty of relatable answers from an unnamed, presumably former lover. - THe Murfreesboro Pulse
Blue Matches Album Release Show at the Rutledge 12.13
After nearly a year of working on their first full-length release, local alt-punk group Blue Matches is set to drop their hefty 17-track album "Starting Over" on December 10th. Blue Matches invoke the raw energy of The Distillers and wrap it in an accessible pop blanket. "Starting Over" ranges from upbeat pop-punk numbers like “Down and Out” to more laid-back tracks with string accompaniments, like “Tumbleweed.” You can catch Blue Matches at their upcoming album release show with Arkansas Elvis and The Simpletons at The Rutledge on December 13th! -Michael Perry - Nashville Deli Magazine
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Blue Matches is a female led rock band out of Nashville, TN. They seamlessly combine the energy and catchiness of early 2000s Pop-Punk, 90s Alternative and modern Indie Rock with the maturity and complexity of veteran songwriters.
Steven Edwards began his vision for Blue Matches in 2008 with Michelle Marston and Stephen Smith later joining. The 3 combined their versatile and unique songwriting styles and began recording in 2013. Their first album, with the help of a successful Kickstarter, was released on December 10th 2013. Starting Over, tells the story of growth after a failed relationship and continuous self-abuse. Edwards produced and wrote the majority of the songs on the album in his home studio in Nashville, TN.
Marston began performing in front of small crowds in the Nashville LGBT community and in 2010 joined Blue Matches. Her vocals blend harsh and gritty tones with strong melodies delivering each track with cold, blue vocals which brings to mind Courtney Love or The Distillers on occasion.
Stephen "PH Ladyfingers" Smith joined in 2012 and added a colorful and playful energy to the group's live performances. Smith wrote Infatuation and 2:13 on the album and has several tracks that will be on the follow up.
As of April 2014, Phil Brown joined the group and brings extensive music industry experience as well as a harder hitting and more dynamic approach to the drums.
In January of 2015, Blue Matches song, "I Won't Surrender" aired on episode 5 of MTV's "The Real World Skeletons." They were also listed on the show's page as a featured Artist.
In August of 2015, Blue Matches song, "I Won't Surrender" aired on episode 2 of the show "Stewarts and Hamilton.
Blue Matches recently returned from an exciting trip to SXSW and will be releasing their new EP titled, "Fear The Truth" in June 2015.
Band Members
Links
