Review Fix Exclusive: Skunkmello Frontman Matt Bartlett Talk “Hot Chicken” And More

May 15, 2016 Patrick Hickey Jr. Music 0

Review Fix chats with Skunkmello frontman Matt Bartlett, who discusses the band’s origin, creative process and their new record, “Hot Chicken.”

About Skunkmello:

Blending the influences of classic rockers and blues artists, such as Creedence Clearwater Revival, Towns Van Zandt and The Rolling Stones, Skunkmello celebrates the traditions of rock ‘n’ roll with brazen irreverence. The group’s three previous releases, Whiskey & Oatmeal EP (2012), 2013’s Lowlife Dreams EP (produced by the band and mastered by Grammy Award-winner Brian Lucey, best known for his work on The Black Keys’ Brothers and El Camino) and 2014’s Stars & Stripes, have all met with critical acclaim.  Matt Bartlett (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Ed Cuervo (guitar, vocals), Jay Holt (bass, vocals) and Jono Ori (drums, vocals) are set to serve up their next full-length, Hot Chicken, this year.

Review Fix: How did the band get together?

Matt Bartlett: Somewhat unclear at this point. Likely the result of inebriated ramblings at seedy bars in the East Village that evolved into high-proof late-night jam sessions in the acrid warehouses that line the East River.

Review Fix: What are your goals for this album?

Bartlett: To have it played at high volume at indecent hours of the night.

Review Fix: How was “Slaughterhouse Blues” written? Is there a story behind it?

Bartlett: It was written episodically over many years of hard living. Each song functions as a vignette in the larger paradigm of the record as a whole, and while the album doesn’t so much tell a specific story, it does create a cohesive narrative reflecting our experiences and bent perspectives.

Review Fix: Is there another standout song on the album?

Bartlett: We like to believe they’re all standouts.

Review Fix: How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard you?

Bartlett: A Skunkmello live show is pure run and gun rocket-fire from the hip – a whiskey-addled sonic evolution of blues and folk heritage, deep on improvisation and flow. The studio catalog is more eclectic in its influences but refined in its taste and decor, revealing a covert literary awareness while simultaneously reflecting a focus on craft and musicianship, achieved despite the ragged scene from which it emerges.

Review Fix: What makes this album a special one?

Bartlett: All our studio work is special or unique in terms of process and content, but this one is an especially potent sonic stew. It’ll give you some grit to grind your teeth on.

Review Fix: What’s next?

Bartlett: We’ll be out there on the road,  burning across the interstates of asphalt Americana, peddling our tonic of rowdy rockers in surf stereo, blazed in big city lights.

Photo by AJ Ferrer

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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 13872 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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