Because its always fun when there’s more than one, what started out as a backing band for Mat Shoare’s solo project morphed into a full fledged band under the name The Empty Spaces back in February of 2010. More recently the Kansas City musician and his band mates, bassist William Wright and drummer Ross Brown, have been moving The Empty Spaces through a transition in sound. “We have started playing much more upbeat and energetic music. We have held on to a couple of songs from the first album but mainly have been working on new songs and a new sound. More garage rock influenced.”(Mat Shoare)
While garage rock certainly seems like an appealing change of pace for the band, we have to say that we’re already pretty satisfied with the sound supplied in the full length Shoare sent our way, 2010’s The Empty Spaces. For any listeners who feel confused by a record credited to the solo musician that is also named the same thing as the singer/songwriter’s full band, Shoare clarified the hybridization of the album during an interview question he recently answered for us. “The album “The Empty Spaces” is a transition. From a solo artist to a band. And the songs reflect that. Some are solo or with very little band influence. And others are arranged and put together by a band for a band.” (Mat Shoare)
With bigger full band numbers that are reminiscent of jaunty 60’s pop-rock, The Empty Spaces is a staggered collection of fast and slow when combined with solo work from Shoare. Mat has one of those voices that are familiar and
distinguishable all at once, a culmination of singers we have loved over the years such as Rocky Votolato, Simon & Garfunkel and Matt Pryor. Melancholic titles “I’m Sorry” and “Looking in the Bathroom Mirror” bear notes of heartache and regret while sleepy track “Fairylake Road” plays as more of a light narrative than any kind of soul baring ballad with lines like “We’re all gonna die they say/ but not too soon I pray/ for one more day, keep the wolves at bay/ and everything will be okay” As a whole we feel The Empty Spaces is a great first impression for Mat, William and Ross to make with the music world as a The Empty Spaces and we will be waiting with bated breath to see what comes next for this newly spawned trio.
Mat Shoare himself recently agreed to an email interview with Reviewsic, where we asked about the band’s best/worst moments together, how they’ve grown in the last year and how they describe their own sound.
Reviewsic: What are your top three musical influences?
Mat Shoare: The Stokes, The Pixies, The Walkmen.
Reviewsic: Is there any instrument you don’t play, but wish you did?
Mat Shoare: Not really. I feel happy with the instruments we have in the band. I’ve always loved the idea of the solid 3 piece band. Drums, Bass, Guitar.
Reviewsic: What are the last three albums or bands you listened to?
Mat Shoare: “Is This It?” by The Strokes. “Applause Cheer Boo Hiss” by Land of Talk. and “Neon Bible” by Arcade Fire
Reviewsic: What are your top five guilty pleasure songs right now?
Mat Shoare: Anything by A.F.I.
Reviewsic: If you could book a tour with any 3 bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Mat Shoare: The Walkmen because we all respect what they are doing with music and they wouldn’t be playing huge stadium shows. We are really like Kansas City band The Runaway Sons and will hopefully be booking a tour with them soon! That will be amazing. And we would also love to book a tour with Kansas City band Soft Reeds. Another one of our favorites.
Reviewsic: Lately we’ve been on this kick of revisiting bands we didn’t pay as much attention to in the past and wondering, “Why didn’t I listen to this 10 years ago?”- If you could go back in time and push 3 bands/records on your younger self, who/what would they be and why?
Mat Shoare: Hmm. Good question. I just recently started listening to the 5,6,7,8′s and they have been around for a while. I only started listening to Tom Waits in the past 5 years and that would have been good to have 10 or 15 years ago! I also only recently discovered the great 90′s band My Bloody Valentine. Specifically their album “Loveless” Should have been listening to that my whole life.
Reviewsic: How would you compare yourself as musicians at this point as opposed to when you first began playing together?
Mat Shoare: We haven’t been playing together for too long. But already we are much tighter and understand each other as musicians better. We can have more fun on stage since we get wander away from the song a bit and be able to come back together at the right time. We have been growing a lot and will continue to do so!
Reviewsic: What are some of your favorite cities/venues to play? Any places you haven’t gotten to that you’re dying to play at?
Mat Shoare: We love playing Omaha. The bands there are amazing and the fans are even better! Great city. Chicago is really fun too. Lot’s of great venues.
Reviewsic: What are the best and worst band moments so far in your career?
Mat Shoare: Best: Practicing right before a show and Ross (drummer) was playing so hard that he drove his stick right through the snare. We HAD to be at the show. So we all scrambled in his car and drove to the only the drum store in the city that was still open to buy a new head. Barely made it. Fun night. Worst: We haven’t had many. Even if we play some show to like 15 people or something we still always enjoy playing our music A LOT. And that is the key. So the worst is probably……having to pass up a show.
Reviewsic: What are three words you’d use to describe your sound to someone who’s never heard it?
Mat Shoare: Retro. Energetic. Sloppy
Reviewsic: What are your plans for your music in the next year?
Mat Shoare: The Empty Spaces are recording an EP in May that will be released in June! We are launching a website soon. We are also going on a midwest tour in June and July. 2011 will be great!
Tags: Album Review, Interview, midwest, New Music
