When the Angels Make Remixes

Matt's given up the tracks for "Midnight is the Time" so that YOU can download them and make your own mix of the song. After you've made your masterpiece, upload it to the mattmays.com message board because we want to hear them! I'm not promising prizes or anything, but I am really interested in seeing how new versions will sound. I've tried to do it myself, but realized that mixing is most definitely not my strong point. Check it out here.

The City Destroyed Nathan Wiley

PSST: Click the photo above for a link to a flash player which will stream Nathan's entire new album, The City Destroyed Me (out May 29). To celebrate finally being able to put the album out there, I decided to conduct my own little Nathan interview just to prep him for the months to come.

1.) If you had to be one character on Lost, who would you be and why?
Probably John. I don't know why, I just relate to him more than the others. I mean, my father never threw me out a window or stole a kidney from me or anything, more just his laid backness.

2.) What exactly do you DO all day?
Stuff. I try and write all the time. And I'm always in the middle of recording friends and stuff...I had to cut up a tree last week that fell in the yard over the winter, and I have to get up on the roof and take some storm windows down...pretty EXCITING STUFF!

3.) What’s your favourite Poison album?
I honestly don't know any Poison record by name...that's probably a good thing.

4.) What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen while on the road?
Oh. That's a hard one. There's a bunch of stuff that's not funny at the time, but is later. Mike Farrington once got the flu and a hangover at the same time. We had a long drive (out west somewhere) and since none of the windows in a 15 passenger van go down except the ones in the front, he kept passing me shopping bags full of hot, brown, heavy vomit for me to toss out the passenger window into the new fresh fallen snow. And...I was trying to eat my soup from Tim Hortons.

5.) What’s the worst prank you’ve ever pulled on someone?
Most of them I can't tell the stories, and some of them are still ongoing, so therefore can't be revealed. I put a bunch of rock from a rock garden in Phil Zwicker's bag once at a hotel. We had thought he had gotten rid of them all until he tried to fly home and a couple of pretty substantial stones showed up on the x-ray in security. They were confused...he was too.

6.) Does Uncle Tom still speak to you since you posted his drunken rant about the new record… and then it was posted on chartattack.com?
Of course he does. He finds it funny too. He should have know if he was going to give me such "A" material, it would be against my nature to not use it somehow. And we're laughing "with' him, not "at" him. Mostly anyway...

7.) Aren’t you happy that “Fistful of Throttle” was added to the record at the last minute?
I am so glad we waited. I don't remember who's idea that was (they should get some kind of medal...don't cha think?) but it was genius. Brilliant...

8.) Is it true you record in a closet? Are you ever planning to come out?
I used to record in kind of a walk-in closet years ago. It was the only part in the little apartment I had where there was any room to setup my recording junk. And even after all that...I still like girls.

9.) Tell me a joke.
Most of my jokes are more offensive than funny...
Ed. note - this is true. I don't know why I even asked...

10.) Have you ever ridden a horse?
Yes I have

11.) Facebook or Myspace?
Facebook I think...

12.) What’s your own favourite song?
Probably the one I'm working on at the moment. Until it's done, then it's the next one I'm working on at the moment.

Fill in the blanks:

If I could win an award for anything, it would be for: being awesome.

I *hate* Nickleback. I tried to come up with a stronger word, but hate is so to the point and direct.

If I won the lottery, the first thing I would buy is: a house maybe? Or a really good sandwich.

Do you have any questions you’d like to ask me? How come you don't watch Lost anymore?

The reason I don’t watch Lost anymore is because you are just so great at typing out the summary on Thursday. I don’t have to put up with annoying characters and ridiculous ‘oh look, there’s a polar bear’ or ‘how is Charlie doing to die this week’ bullshit when you do that. And I like how you name the new guests. Eyepatch guy, parachuter chick… it’s good stuff.

Feist - 1234

wow.

SONIC PODCAST: "Is This Thing On?" Ep 02

I've finally gotten around to making another episode of "Is This Thing On". Thanks to Alan Carr at Darkhorse Radio and my good friend Matt Charlton at That's Fucking Dynamite for the inspiration. You can download it from the "podcast" section in the side bar or just click here.

Track List:
Is This Thing On Theme (By Nathan Wiley)
Wooden Stars - Orphans
The Superfantastics - Oh! How You Used to Know Me Well (Back Then)
Wintersleep - Fog
The Sadies - Why Be So Curious (pt. 3)
Golden Dogs - Yeah!
Indio Saravanja - Northern Town
Neil Young - Don't Cry No Tears
Elvis Costello - Waiting For The End of the World
Willy Mason - Our Town
Belle & Sebastien - This is Just a Modern Rock Song

Rainy Days and Things to Say

We've been getting harassed by rain and wind here in Halifax for the entire week. I realize today is but Tuesday, but weeks that start off in such a way make for longer weeks and work days. That being said, there have been a few things that are getting me through:

#1) My upcoming trip to London to visit one of my greatest friends for her birthday. I understand that going to London England to escape rainy days is ridiculous, but as soon as I find enough money for the airfare, I'm booking the trip anyway.

#2)Dan Griffin's new album Stars and Satellites. I've been playing this record for a little while now (loudly so that the office can hear it), and decided that for everyone's sake, I'd retire it for a bit. But then the rain came, and I put it back on. On repeat. All Day. Sometimes I switch to the (wicked) new Wilco, and sometimes to Dylan or Low, but for the most part, it's DG all the way. Pure pretty singer-songwriter goodness.

#3)I got word today that Sonic Concerts is bringing DJ Champion to The Marquee on Sept. 14. This could very well make history as our first Sonic Concerts dance party. yeis.

#4) The Wintersleep guys are hard at work recording songs for their new record. From what I can hear coming through the floorboards, it should be pretty great. Listen for my guest appearance on handclaps. It wouldn't be a proper Wintersleep record without me weaseling my way onto it somehow, now would it? Also, I'm proud to announce that they will be going back on tour with The Tragically Hip next month. Dates are here.

#5) The release date for Nathan's new record has been finalized (May 29, 2007). And although I've been taking the blame for holding up production, I'm proud to announce that 'Fistful of Throttle' has been mastered and added to the end of the album. Oh shoot... did I just post a not-yet-released Nathan Wiley song? And am I about to do it again? Damn straight. (North American Dream)

SONIC CONCERTS ANNOUNCEMENT:

THE TRAGICALLY HIP!




WITH THE SADIES!!




DATES (more info)
Sept. 8 - Mile One, St.John's NL
Sept. 11 - Aitken Centre, Fredericton NB
Sept. 12 - Harbour Station, Saint John, NB
Sept. 13 - Metro Centre, Halifax NS

El Torpedo Announcement from Matt Mays

Hey all,

I regret to announce that singer, guitarist Jarrett Murphy has decided to leave El Torpedo. His departure is on good terms, and we all support the decision he's made. We've had an incredible five years with Jarrett. He will be missed both on and off stage. He was a huge part of this band. His leaving will no doubt send this band in a new direction. Jay Smith from Sydney Cape Breton's Rock Ranger has signed on to be the new full time member of the band. The rock gods themselves could not create a better guy for the job. Jarrett has gladly passed the torch to Jay with confidence. We look forward to our future with Jay Smith. He's a perfect fit. We're hittin' the studio soon to start work on our new record. I'm really exited about it. The jam's are shaping up, and the new Chapter is taking shape. Time to move forward.

Thanks for your strong support folks, we're such a lucky band to have you all as fans.

Thanks,

Matt