The Parkway is pleased to celebrate “When I Was a Writer”, the full-length debut album from former Trip Shakespeare leader Matt Wilson’s latest project, Matt Wilson & His Orchestra. This very special evening begins with a set from Minneapolis Chamber Pop ensemble, The Starfolk.

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Legendary Minneapolis singer and songwriter Matt Wilson (Trip Shakespeare, The Twilight Hours) and his stellar ensemble present his music on a featherbed of banjo rhythms and arpeggiating harp. Using tones mellow and grassy, Matt Wilson & His Orchestra spin out the best songs of Matt’s career, reaching back beyond his prog-rock days as songwriter and lyricist with Trip Shakespeare, back to his first songwriting explorations of classic forms, country melodies, tear-jerking ballads.

When I was a writer was recorded at Wilson’s home studio, produced by him and mixed by John Fields (Soul Asylum, Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, Switchfoot, Rooney, etc.) at Creation Audio. When I was a writer was released by Chicago’s Pravda Records on March 20, 2020.

Matt explains the genesis of the new album: “I wrote the song ‘I Can’t Return’ in the summer of 2015 and that was my return to songwriting after a few years away. After that there was just an outpouring of music and words that lasted for about three years. During that time I was definitely excited to feel this inspiration, but I also felt desperate. In a way the whole record is a reaction to death. I had this strong sense that I was running out of time. I was sincerely worried that I might lose my mind before I was able to show the world the way I wanted my music to sound.” 

The harp mastery of inventive collaborator Phala Tracy is a key element of the ensemble’s overall sound. Phala and Matt’s playing is underpinned by the sparkling banjo groove of Quillan Roe who is best known for his work with the Roe Family Singers, winners of a prestigious McKnight Fellowship. The sunshine tones of harp and banjo are rolled out on a wide road of Jacques Wait’s electric bass and Wilson’s own acoustic guitar and piano playing.

The arrangements on When I was a writer are built upon the orchestra’s organic but percussive instrumentation. Acoustic guitar, piano, harp, banjo and electric bass guitar produce a feather bed of circular rhythms, cascading arpeggios and reverberant sonic swells. “I Can’t Return” has breezy acoustic verses that intensify as they ascend to anthemic choruses pillowed with rich background vocals. “Decent Guy” boasts waterfalling rhymes underpinned by a spare and funky bassline and crisp beat laid down by, banjo and clipped acoustic guitar, while the harp shimmers like a recurring dream. The title track feints at being folk music, but unleashes verses filled with continually modulating chords and choruses resounding with vocal pyrotechnics. 

Raised in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, Matt became a fan of rockers like Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen and Devo. He and his high school friends formed a group called The Panic, and spent much of their youth as under-aged performers in Minneapolis nightclubs, warming up for future luminaries such as Husker Du and The Replacements. In the early 80s, Matt followed his brother Dan to college in Boston where they formed a number of bands, including the Love Monsters, marking Matt’s first turn as a lead singer. Returning to Minneapolis, the brothers joined forces with bass player John Munson to form Trip Shakespeare, writing, recording and touring together for a decade. John and Matt still perform in a rock band together, The Twilight Hours. 

Matt’s been featured on MTV, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, Spin, The Toronto Star and many other influential media outlets. Trip Shakespeare’s single, “Toolmaster of Brainerd,” was named by one of Minnesota’s 50 Greatest Hits, and the group was included on The Current’s list of “893 Most Essential Musical Artists of All Time.” Throughout Matt’s career, his songs have been played heavily on tastemaker radio stations like The Current around the country. Throughout his career the goal has remained constant. “Above all, the most important purpose of my music,” Wilson explains, “is to help people who are wandering through the dreariness of life to break through to a release of emotion.”

The Starfolk concoct fierce chamber pop led by Brian Tighe (The Hang Ups, The Owls) and featuring Allison LaBonne (The Owls, Typsy Panthre) and cellist Jacqueline Ultan (Jelloslave, Saltee). The collaboration yields a sound palpably heavier than Tighe’s back catalog. Dirty guitar riffs and insistent rhythms are interspersed with angelic moments where Tighe unveils some of his most McCartney-esque melody writing; steeped in lush, eerie harmonies and cello arrangements that pivot nimbly from textural, to pulsing, to soaring through a major melodic theme.

The Starfolk released their eponymous debut (with drummer/singer Stephen Ittner) on Korda Records, and are currently wrapping up their second collection of songs (with drummer Greg Schutte) for release in 2020.