January 2006
http://www.randolphstreet.net/
Matthew (right) with Howard Graves of Randolph Street
In college Matthew met his wife Leslie, who has supported and encouraged his love of his music since they have been together. After they were married in 1994 they moved to central Ohio and Matthew started working in a glass factory in Circleville. "The best thing to come out of that job was meeting my buddy Chad Potts."
Chad and Matthew soon realized the love they both shared for acoustic music and started playing music together. They formed "Vintage Underground" a project they still keep up on as time allows. Chad is a great singer/songwriter and can play a mean guitar (Martin D-18GE). His roots are in hard rock and blues and he has taught me a lot. He is my "brother-from-another-mother." They hosted an Open-mic in Circleville that created many new musical friendships.
The factory they both worked at shut down in the spring of 2003. For Matthew it turned out to be a blessing. "I was able to spend more time with my wife and two sons and focus more on my music than ever before." It was around this time that singer/songwriter Howard Graves, looking to start an acoustic based band, approached Matthew about playing music with him. "I knew Howard from the Open-mic in Circleville. When he asked me if I wanted to play music with him I jumped at the chance. For one I loved his songs and music and I also had more time."
They both soon formed "Randolph Street." Their name was taken from the song "The Shop on Randolph Street" in which the owner of an old antiques store "Mr. Jones" hands out wooden beads to customers that keep them coming back every week. "Howard and I play all original music, we just don’t do covers. There is something special when you are playing your own music and people come up to you after the show and tell you how much they loved it, how different it was, that keeps us going. Howard and I have been blessed with a great support base made up of family and friends. Making music that people love an enjoy, there isn’t anything else I would rather be doing."
Matthew’s musical influenced range from Bluegrass, Johnny Cash, DMB, Jazz, Classical and what he calls "underground" music. "I love music that isn’t mainstream or Top 40. I think the best music in the world is being played by people in their living rooms and in little coffee bars all around you. You just need to go look for it."
Matthew uses the K&K Pure Western and Pure Preamp: "I was unhappy with the ES system in my 2003 Taylor 615ce. I took the whole ES system out and installed a K&K Pure Western. I had already installed K&K Pure Western pick-ups in two other guitars that I own. The K&K is so easy to install yourself and the sound is better than any other pick-up system I have used. The K&K Pure Western has never let me down in any of the three guitars I have installed it in. The Pure Preamp is the easiest guitar preamp I have ever dealt with. It is built like a tank and has a rock-solid feel. It has made playing out a worry free situation when it comes to the sound of my Taylor 615ce. I can dial in the sound I want. The folks at K&K have always answered my questions and made me feel like I was their #1 priority."
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