Today, New Brunswick’s multi-award winning soul/blues powerhouse Matt Andersen releases the pro-shot live performance video of “Coal Mining Blues.”
The song comes off Matt Andersen & The Mellotones’ Live At Olympic Hall, which was recorded on Nov 22, 2014 at Olympic Hall in Halifax, Nova Scotia in support of Andersen’s JUNO nominated record Weightless.
“I was fortunate enough to have The Mellotones on the road with me for a slew of shows,” Andersen told American Blues Scene. “Some of the best time’s I’ve had playing music. It was an absolute treat to share the stage with these guys, especially this night at Olympic Hall. I’m thrilled that we captured what was coming from those shows.”
From the first notes of “Weightless” to the slow-dying roar of the crowd as the last licks of “Devil’s Bride” squeal out, Matt Andersen and the Mellotones Live at Olympic Hall is a rollicking, sizzling night of Andersen’s thunderous voice and hot guitar playing mashed up with the ten-piece force of nature that is the Mellotones, all captured at a historic dance hall in downtown Halifax.
Andersen calls it “the most drastic thing I could do,” a far cry from his usual one guy, one guitar context. “I make an impact when I’m solo with the quiet parts more than the loud parts. With a band it’s the opposite.” And if you’re going to have a band, it should be the Mellotones. Long a staple of Halifax’s live music scene, the band features a smoking horn section along with keys, drums, and more. “I felt like a rock star,” Andersen says.
Andersen’s also announced a number of solo US dates including stops at Los Angeles’ Hotel Cafe, Seattle’s Tripple Door, and Chicago’s City Winery. Full list of shows below.
Tour Dates:
7/21: Bathurst, NB – Bathurst Hospitality Days*
7/26: Moncton, NB – Mud City Meltdown
7/29: Canso, NS – Stan Rogers Folk Festival
8/16: Ajax, ON – Music By The Bay Live
8/17: Huntsville, ON – Algonquin Theater
8/18: Waterdown, ON – Artsfest, Gallery Stage
9/08: Vancouver, BC – SKOOKUM Festival*
9/20: Los Angeles, CA – Hotel Utah
9/21: Buellton, CA – Standing Sun Winery
9/22: San Francisco, CA – Hotel Utah
9/23: Winters, CA – The Palms Playhouse
9/25: Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
9/26: Seattle, WA – Triple Door
9/29: Bozeman, MT – The Filling Station
10/1: Minneapolis, MN – Dakota
10/2: Chicago, IL – City Winery
10/3: Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark
10/4: Cleveland, OH – Music Box
10/21: Labrador West, NL – Arts & Culture Centre
10/23: Stephenville, NL – Arts & Culture Centre
10/24: Corner Brook, NL – Arts & Culture Centre
10/25: Grand Falls-Windsor, NL – Arts & Culture Centre
10/26: Gander, NL – Arts & Culture Centre
10/27: St. John’s, NL – Arts & Culture Centre
12/20: Ottawa, ON – National Arts Centre – Southam Hall
*full band performance
