Live and Local: Matt Miller

So, If I were to write a novel (which I am), and that novel was to contain a character who is a travelling musician/performer (it does), my lawyers have recommended that I tell you there is no way I would base that character on Matt Miller. Having said that, when he sues me for a billion dollars, I will subpoena all of you as witnesses to my declarations before the fact.

We should all retain counsel now.

Of all the artists and musicians I’ve been lucky enough to meet and interact with in Gettysburg and environs, I have to say that Matt Miller is the most archetypical bard. I imagine him living, say, 150 years ago, perhaps wandering along on the western migration, playing songs and telling stories while also perhaps doing drawings and performing on stage as he blows through town.

The first time I met Matt was at Ploughman, at least a year ago. He showed up wearing a knitted cap that looked like the top half of a frogs head. He is well over 6 feet tall, and speaks with a voice like the guy who used to do the old action movie commercials that started with “In a world where revenge and justice are the only real currency, and trust and loyalty are forged in fire…”

Ok. I realize that’s a very dated reference, so if you don’t know what I’m talking about, think of a cross between Jim Morrison and Danzig. If you don’t know THAT, google them. We’ll wait.

Matt had an odd, longish guitar (it’s a baritone guitar…google it), and he also had a flute and an alto sax and, I don’t even know, maybe a kazoo in there someplace. He got up on stage and started working through a series of original songs that were not what you were expecting, whatever it is you were expecting.

The music is intriguing and complex, sometimes he loops off his guitar and busts through with a flute solo, or he pulls in the alto sax. It was so interesting to listen to, I went home and found his stuff on Bandcamp so I could listen to it again. He’s got a crooner’s voice and control of tone, a mastery of baritone guitar and flute, all with a frogs face hat on his head.

His satire in lyrics is not Tom-Brady-Roast satire. It’s more like a local-mensa-chapter-met-for-dinner-and-decided-to-have-an-extra-round-or-two satire. The music is blues-funky, sometimes with zappa like jazzy guitar, and sometimes like if a ska band had a jazz fusion lead guitarist sit in; they’d probably annoy each other, but it would be cool as hell to hear.

The more often I see Matt perform, the more I get out of it. He’s also just an intriguing guy to talk to. He travels back and forth from this area to Arizona, with some trips to Europe as I understand it… so when he shows up, it’s often a surprise and a treat when you can catch one of his sets. He’s an artist in a broad sense, where his life experiences feed his creativity. As mentioned, it brings to mind the old classical bards, who entertained while sharing stories and cementing lore and history before there were libraries and newspapers.

Now, it’s a common writers trick, when you don’t know exactly what to say about something, to talk around it and hope you get there eventually, while trying to be somewhat entertaining in the meantime. Matt’s not another guy coming through town and gigging. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him cover anyone else’s song, and his originals aren’t like anyone else’s originals either.

I can try to break down his music in terms of music theory and that will just make you roll your eyes, and rightly so. I could tell you that Matt’s my friend, and it’s always a treat when he turns up, and if you run into him you should ask him about science fiction. Mostly, I think what matters is to say that we have a vibrant and increasingly eclectic music scene in Gettysburg these days, and even with that and the very impressive choices of talent we have available on any given weekend, Matt Miller is still a rare treat to catch. He’s not around a lot; he flits across the continent to AZ seemingly randomly. So take advantage when he shows up, you’ll laugh a little, appreciate the creativity and the atmosphere of being around him, and you’ll hear something you won’t hear the like of again until he rolls back into town or you bop out to Bandcamp and give a listen.

He’s playing tonight (jan 30) at Ploughman. You won’t be sorry if you come in and catch him. Tell me either way.

And tell Courtney and Gabe you want them to put the Yardbird back on the menu. Like Matt, it’s a rare treat and you won’t be sorry.

Just sayin.