Todd Mathis

My dad always supported my music. When I wanted to start playing guitar at age 12, he went and purchased a little Phantom acoustic from the local music store. At one time years ago he had purchased a 1950s Les Paul and tried playing, but soon sold it, so I think he had a soft spot or maybe lived some of his dreams through my playing. He put me on stage for the first time in Cowpens, SC when a band was playing “House of the Rising Sun.” He had asked the guitarist if I could sit in. I was horrified, as I had only been taking lessons for about a year at the time, but got up there and faked my way through it. When I started playing in Betty Sneetch in college, he and mom would often come out to our bar shows or festivals. The same with Capital/Boxing Day. I remember us playing a festival in Charlotte where we opened for My Morning Jacket. Tickets were like $50 or something, and I look out into the sparse crowd and there’s mom and dad. I was like, “Did you guys pay $50?” Dad was like, “No, we just came through that fence over there.” LOL. They saw American Gun at a few festivals and bars, but never made it to see this last incarnation of My Only Friends Left. Dad couldn’t stay out quite as late and his health hasn’t been great.

On June 27, dad was buried and me, my brother, my sister and my wife, all played and sang at his funeral. I know he would have enjoyed it. Thanks for all the support dad. You will be missed but kept alive in our memories.

On June 5 I released the latest EP, Worriless Hydration, from Interruptions of the Mind. “Twangy Eno” as a friend called it, which to me is high praise. I actually had another release done and ready to go, but opted to release this one instead. From recording to release was less that 8 weeks which is definitely the quickest I’ve ever put something out. I’ve done a few singles in a day but not a collection of songs. It was a great learning experience to buckle down, get the stuff done, and not let it sit for very long. No second guessing or “demo brain” after listening over and over and changing elements.

I’d like to thank my friend Darren Woodlief for listening and adding bass and slide guitar to 2 of the tunes. Collaboration always brings joy with Interruptions, because I can let the other artists “make it their own” by giving little or no direction. Most of the initial melodies are improvised on my part with acoustic guitar, then I just start building with synth, piano and pedal steel. At least that’s the model for now.

So, with that said, I have a 15 minute suite of music entitled “The Border” that has basically been finished for a year I’ll be releasing soon and another collaboration with guitarist Zach Bingham and percussionist Kenneth Salters on the horizon. As another friend often says, “Life is good.”

The best-laid plans… I’d just got rolling with the new release in February and was having a blast practicing with the band. We had a few shows scheduled for April and I was looking at booking some more. But… You know the drill. It’s fine though, we’ll play again, or at least we’ll plan to. We also had a CD release party scheduled for the new Bentz Kirby record, but that was put on hold too. In the meantime, I’ve been working on music more than I have in quite a while. I’m very fortunate to be able to walk into my backyard and pick up a guitar or plink away at some keys, and I try not to waste that privilege by using the space most days. So be on the lookout for a couple new Interruptions EPs and a TM cover EP. There’s also the new Admiral Radio which I co-produced coming out this summer (it’s done!!!) and my little brother Clayton’s album that I’m still working on a bit. And who knows what else. Stay safe.