Singer/songwriter Matt Mays, from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, has been a Canadian rock icon since his time with indie alt-country band The Guthries in the late ‘90s, and has since become a serious solo act, with his 2012 album Coyote winning the Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year.
“From touring Canada so much, I know Moose Jaw quite well,” Mays told MooseJawToday.com. “It’s always a great town, I love the Prairies and it’s just been so long since we’ve been out that way. When my manager got ahold of me and asked if I wanted to go to Moose Jaw to do Homestand, I was like, of course. I’d love to.”
The band Matt Mays & El Torpedo (2004-2009) birthed “Cocaine Cowgirl” and won Group of The Year, Radio Rock Recording of the Year, Album of the Year, and Single of the Year — for “Cocaine Cowgirl” — and Mays still tours with fellow member Adam Baldwin.
Mays’ latest albums include 2017’s Once Upon a Hell of a Time and 2018’s Twice Upon a Hell of a Time, which is an acoustic re-recording of the former. In early 2020, with tours cancelled, he set up a studio in his garage and produced Dog City, an inspiring album told from the perspective of a rescue dog.
Finally, in early 2021, Mays released From Burnside with Love, a live album with unplugged versions of his most popular songs.
Mays said he’s still feeling the isolation caused by COVID and is looking forward to being out in the world and performing — and getting to see Chilliwack live.
“Rekindling friendships with different towns is important to me as a traveling musician,” he said. “Also getting to see Chilliwack live is pretty awesome. They’re Canadian legends, man, and I’ve never seen them live, I just know them from the radio and everything I’ve heard I’ve liked. Just glad to finally get to share a bill with them.”
Having a finger on the pulse of Canadian music, as Mays put it, is something that’s always been important to him and that he achieved through touring.
“I’m feeling fortunate to get out, be a part of that day, you know? Bone up on more music and just enjoy the experience of being out of my house listening to great live music.”
Mays said he’s spent the pandemic downtime doing something truly different — he and his partner bought a small farm in Hamilton, Ontario. They have become the proud caretakers of five alpacas. He said they’re easy animals; a bit like cats because of their independence, and not expensive to feed.
It’s a new experience because Mays, 42, has never owned a house before. He’s been the stereotypical touring musician, crashing on couches between gigs.
He’s also been renovating his barn into a creative space that he hopes will play host to up-and-coming bands once it’s finished.
Asked about supporting the cause of youth mental health, Mays said he is happy to be a part of it and that we as a people are way behind on mental health education.
“I think, especially, applying it to youth as much as possible, to address any afflictions at a younger age when minds are more pliable,” he commented. “If you need attention, it’s very hard to find and I know that from firsthand experience.
“I’m lucky enough that I can afford my psychotherapist, but it angers me too. I feel grateful every time I pay the bill, and I also cringe because it’s expensive. I get angry because I know there’s people way worse off than me that simply can’t afford it.”
Anything geared toward supporting mental health is good in Mays’ books, he added.
See Matt Mays, Chilliwack, Nice Horse, and JJ Voss in concert at Ross Wells Park in Moose Jaw on September 10.
Tickets are available from www.riverstreetpromotions.com.
Read our interview with JJ Voss by clicking here, and stay tuned to read our interview with Bill Henderson of Chilliwack next week.
