Root Down in the Shadow

This Friday, Mat Burke will be gracing the Kung Fu Necktie stage for the Still Bleeding EP release show.  Joined by some of the most exciting rockers in Philly: The Rivals, Penrose , and August John Lutz II of Levee Drivers ; it stands to be a wild night of music.   Mat Burke - Photo by Elizabeth Thorpe If the album title is any indication, Philadelphia's Mat Burke will be ready to bleed for us.  With his new EP Still Bleeding he's visiting a theme he's been capturing for some time.  According to Mat, "everyone bleeds not only in a physical sense but a singer bleeds every time he steps on stage, a teacher bleeds every time she talks to a class, an artist bleeds with every stroke of a brush."  Burke normally plays solo so this makes total sense that he's "still bleeding," sharing his stories as he takes the full brunt of talkative crowds without support of band mates. Theme aside, on his new EP his music is taken to new heights. 

Name: Mat Burke Photo by: Elizabeth Thorpe Style : Bloody folk rock Current Project: Just finished a new EP with Josh and Brian of The Lawsuits.  It's currently being mastered and will be released late this summer.  Members : Mat Burke - Clumsy chords, screaming harmonica, bitter words Most unique show : I'll play almost anywhere (ya know because I'm a whore) and when I was asked to play a variety show in Birmingham I jumped on the opportunity. I had never heard of any of the other bands in the lineup but was up for anything and excited to hear them. I opened the show, did my thing, and then headed to the bar.  Everyone was super nice and cool. The band playing next even picked up my bar tab. My back was turned away from the stage while they set up so I was shocked when I turned around to see two grown men rapping in bunny outfits. It was like Donny Darko mixed with country rap... I would open for them again if they asked (ya know becaus

So our pal Mat Burke had the bad luck of getting his place broken into a few months ago.  To overcome the major shortfall that isn't covered by Mat's numerous jobs, he's doing things to raise money in the only way that he knows how: a "Break In Fundraiser."  Here's what Mat has to say about the event: "As many of you know my home was broken into shortly after christmas. The burglars ended up stealing around 10,000 dollars of my stuff. Bummer I know but the really bad thing about all of this was that about 5-6 thousand of that wasn't even my stuff. It was mics, mixing boards, pedals and other odds and ends i was borrowing from a studio for the recording of my new record. Underground Arts and their awesome staff has donated the room and the staffs time to help raise money in hopes of paying back the studio and replacing the equipment that has been stolen. Every dollar of the ticket sales will go toward this. We will also be holdin

On Tuesday, the Menzingers released their new album Rented World !  While they are looking forward with their new release, we looked back to On the Impossible Past as we revealed the Mat Burke cover of the Menzingers favorite 'Mexican Guitars'.   The Menzingers who now call Philadelphia home are from Scranton, which just happens to be where Mat Burke grew up. Mat Burke is also working on new material.   His new album, Still Bleeding is in the final mixing stages working with Brian Strouse and Josh Friedman of the Lawsuits . To get familiar with Mat Burke and his upcoming work you can start with his Cover Club session original "Box Of Pine," recorded at Break Neck Studios in Newtown, Pa.  This new single was written about a tour with pals Levee Drivers.   Mat pours out his emotions on this solo track born of frustrations being out on the road. Cover Club | Mat Burke "Box Of Pine" Mat will also be gracing some local stages very soon.  Three gi

Mat Burke is all man; he is well inked, rides a Triumph, brews professionally, and knows his way around a cigar shop.  So, of course, his choice of local Philly bands to play for #CoverClub would be punk band the Menzingers .  In this cover, Mat does manly with style.  He tones down the popular 'Mexican Guitars' with his acoustic guitar at the intimate Break Neck Studios. With this new session, Mat Burke joins other notable front-men of Philly covering their geographically related favorites for the Philly-centric #CoverClub series such as Sean Hoots, Ron Gallo, Aaron Brown, and Brian Strouse  Be sure to check back this Wednesday for more info on Mat Burke's new album, an upcoming benefit show, and of course his original track for this weeks #CoverClub session.  Cover Club | Mat Burke "Mexican Guitars" (The Menzingers) Compare to the original - 'Mexican Guitars from  On the Impossible Past