Interview by Scott Preston
Boogie Matrix Mechanism independently released their first album “Glass Candy” on Halloween 2006 . They are now playing shows around Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Pennsylvania. They are interested in expanding their range and playing in as many different places as possible. In the past two summer they have played festivals such as Columbia Gas Ribs by the River 2006 and 2007 in Promenade Park in downtown Toledo, Indiana Jam Bash 2006, The Chaffee Gathering 2007 and Shamy Bash 2007. They have also played along with such names as Ekoostik Hookah, Vince Herman, Railroad Earth, One Under, Jim Miller Band, Boom Box, Lotus, Family Groove Company, The Macpodz, The Goods, The Werks, Covert Operations, Moser Woods and many more. Boogie Matrix is now recording their second album independently and looking towards touring out of state in pursuit of reaching music fans all over the country. Boogie Matrix combines a diverse mix of genres including jam/ psychedlic rock, hip-hop, reggae, blues, funk, bluegrass n more. What sets them apart, is their positive vibe, distinct style with the music and delivery of lyrics that no one else is doing now.
Cincy Groove: How long has Boogie Matrix been together?
Johnny K: We are going on 3 years now as a full group. The rhythm guitar player Bob and the lead singer started as an acoustic duo. Then added a bass player and drummer and shortly after that they added me on lead guitar and a percussionist.
Cincy Groove: Do you still have a day job?
Johnny K: Yes, I am a granite worker. Most of us still work day jobs and a couple of us are in school. We make enough money touring to keep everything going. This weekend we are finishing up our second cd which was quite costly (laughing) but we are excited about it.
Cincy Groove: I have been seeing the name Boogie Matrix in a lot of different places lately.
Johnny K: Yeah its been really exciting, at first we were just trying to get our feet wet and then things started happening for us. We started opening for some regional and national bands and that has helped us gain some exposure. This year is a big year for us, in addition to Spring Hookahville, we are also at Nelsons Ledges on July 4. We are actually opening up for Mickey Hart on July 4. We are completely freaking out about it, its really exciting. Obviously our drummer really loves his stuff, and I think he is freaking out about it a little more than the rest of us.
Cincy Groove: Who are some of the bands influences?
Johnny K: I think I can say that all of us have an interest in The Grateful Dead, moe, Phish, Umphreys McGee, Widespread Panic. Then we also like more alternative rock like the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Brian also like hip hop. So we have a lot of different influences.
Cincy Groove: So whats the title for the new cd?
Johnny K: You know, I don’t think we have come up with one yet. Our goal is to have it out before hookahville. We are really excited about the new cd. Our first cd, I don’t want to say we threw it together, but we were very young as a band when we recorded that cd. It was basically something we needed to have out to help promote our band. I think the new cd is really going to showcase a lot of our talents. We have all grown as people and as musicians and have gotten a lot better at working with each other.
Cincy Groove: Do you have any people play on the cd outside of the band?
Johnny K: Yes we did actually. We are having this really good trumpet player play on a song, his name is Joe Zimmet. He actually comes and sits in with us on a regular basis now. Usually when we play out we try to have as many people come up and play with us as we can. We think its not only fun for us but for the crowd as well. I think one thing we are really about right now is forming a tight circle with these phenomenal bands we have been playing with lately. Its been really fun to get to know them musically and to know them as friends. We have done quite a few shows with The Macpodz, Covert Operations, The Werks, The Goods, Rumpke Mountain Boys.
Cincy Groove: How did you guys come up with the name Boogie Matrix Mechanism?
Johnny K: Well we were originally called Glass Candy, that was also the name of our first album as Boogie Matrix. We were Glass Candy for about a year or so and we found out that there was a band from California also called Glass Candy. They were kind of a hardcore rock band. We actually had people show up to see them one time and it was us. At which point we decided we have to change our name. It was really something we had a hard time agreeing on. What we ended up doing was sending out messages on our myspace page asking people to throw in names along with our own suggestions. A fan of ours actually picked the name Boogie Matrix Mechanism and it was something everyone in the band could agree on.
Upcoming Boogie Matrix Mechanism tour dates:
for complete show details visit http://www.myspace.com/boogiematrix
Apr 19 2008 Mickey Finn’s Toledo, Ohio
May 2 2008 Stanley’s Pub Cincinnati, Ohio
May 9 2008 The Night Owl w/ The Goods Dayton, Ohio
May 10 2008 Doc’s Music Hall Muncie, Indiana
May 17 2008 Docksider Erie, Pennsylvania
May 24 2008 Hookahville 29 @ Legend Valley Thornville, Ohio
May 25 2008 Hookahville 29 @ Legend Valley Thornville, Ohio
Jun 13 2008 Raise the Roof Castle Party @ Loveland Castle Loveland, Ohio
Jun 21 2008 Mid City Grill Summer Solstice Fort Wayne, Indiana
Jul 4 2008 Nelson’s Ledges Quarry Park Garettsville, Ohio
Jul 5 2008 Nelson’s Ledges Quarry Park Garrettsville, Ohio
Jul 19 2008 Party in the Park Painesville, Ohio
Jul 26 2008 Peace Through Music Festival Bellefontaine, Ohio
Aug 8 2008 Shamy Bash @ Frontier Ranch Pataskala, Ohio
Aug 9 2008 Shamy Bash @ Frontier Ranch Pataskala, Ohio
Aug 15 2008 Something Fantastic in the woods at Kaeppner’s place, Logan, Ohio
