By Megan Sprague
Statesville Record and Landmark
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Friday night at Glutton’s Restaurant and Bar saw toes tapping.
With a self-described ’50s Chicago blues sound, Matt Walsh released his second CD with the help of Bob Margolin, a former guitarist for legendary bluesman Muddy Waters, who is featured on the record.
“Bob had taken a bit of interest in me and ended up helping a lot,” said the 30-year-old Walsh. “It was an honor to get his seal of approval.”
“He’s definitely got soul,” said Gino Pride, who knows Walsh’s early mentor, Max Drake.
Pride and his wife traveled from Maryland to hear Walsh after seeing his show advertised.
“It’ll be fun to see what becomes of him, and he’s got great hair,” Pride said, referencing Walsh’s signature pompadour.
Walsh, a native of Statesville, was inspired at an early age by Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones, and he credits his uncle for eventually introducing him to the blues.
“I started checking out records of Blues artists from the Iredell County library and built my musical foundation there,” Walsh said. “I’m really fortunate the library had good old records.”
At age 11, he bought a guitar from a yard sale and started to “fiddle with it.”
“I didn’t seriously play until I was 18, but I wanted to try to play with the records,” Walsh said.
His first attempts at playing were unsuccessful and frustrating, mainly due to inexperience.
“I went to a local guy named Max Drake for lessons, but I was just too young and wanted to listen more than play,” he said.
“When I got to be 17, I went back to him for help and he showed me enough that I could figure out the rest on my own.”
The two still play together when Drake is in town, and he lent his talents to Walsh’s new CD.
Walsh’s first CD, “Goin’ Back South,” was made up of 11 songs that were all recorded in one set in 2004.
“It was very rushed and more primitive,” Walsh said.
He wanted to make sure each of the songs on the new record would stand out alone and have their own distinct personality.
“This album took over a year and a half to make,” he said. “We took it three songs at a time and really crafted it.”
Walsh played his new tunes Friday, and the crowd took to the music.
“He’s playing a very old man’s game, and he’s very good at it,” said Joe Robbins.
Jamie Venable, who owns Wine Maestro next to Glutton’s, agreed.
“I’ve had Matt play for us several times,” he said. “I’ve got a musical background, and he is really, really good.”
Walsh enjoyed the more informal setting at Glutton’s.