MEET MATT NOVESKY – BASS KING FOR BLUE OCTOBER

HE REACHED OUT TO ME, PICK IN HAND…

“I hope you enjoyed the show…” he smiled as he handed me a guitar pick. It was fall, 2019, at the Town Ballroom, Buffalo N.Y. And, I had just witnessed the magic of my first of many Blue October experiences and hopefully one of many, many, more.

Four years later, fall 2023, Knitting Factory, Boise Idaho. My wife and I had just witnessed the magic of our 10TH? Blue October experience. Again, i enjoyed the whole concert, up in front of Matt, he recognized me from numerous other concerts, I spoke to him as the lights came up.

“i GOT YA BROTHER”

“Can I have your set list sheet Matt?”
“I got ya brother…” he responded as he carefully peeled up my memento and handed it to me.
As I moved through the autograph line late that evening, I handed him the set list to sign, he asked with a grin, “who gave you that…?” Lots of conversation ensued.

Matt Novesky, is quiet, fragrant, dresses like a refined skater dude and plies bass guitar for Blue October. And, like all other members of the band, is not only humble, but also genuinely appreciates his fans and loves what he does.

How did he land with Blue October? Where did it begin? In 1999, Matt accompanied a friend in the music business that worked with Blue October, on a trip to Austin, Texas. Not expecting anything special from Texas, he fell in love with the place the minute he stepped off the plane. A tryout then ensued. A very impressive tryout. The tryout that would change his life completely. (Bustamante)

During a VIP meet, I asked front man Justin Furstenfeld, exactly when did he know Matt was “the one?”
He explained that they always had a great Bass player, however, when Matt started blazing up and down his guitar unlike any other – they knew, then and there, he was something special.
Within two weeks, he was back, this time as a permanent member of Blue October family.

However, coming into that audition, Matt wasn’t totally aloof. As is Matt’s way, he was prepared.
But, he knew exactly whom he was trying out for. Prior to the audition, he listened to Blue October and recalled, “I just remember hearing him, going ‘wow-this is amazing, this guy’s on a whole other level…” Another level indeed. (Things)

MICHIGAN ROOTS

Michigan is Matt’s stomping ground. Baby Matt was Born June 16, 1976, in Adrian, MI – Population 20,645. A pleasant town located 30 miles southwest of Ann Arbor, with an abundance of sugar maple and other maple tree throughout the city, it is known as “the Maple City.” Adrian High School sports teams are known as the “Adrian Maples”. (Sinkevics)

He grew up in Traverse City, located at the head of the East and West arms of Grand Traverse Bay, nicknamed “the Cherry Capital of the World.” (It is known as a mecca for cherry production, and a notorious Cherry Festival). It was here that a fresh-faced budding rock and roll superstar, graduated from St. Francis High School. But he wasn’t top of his class at the time.

Music was calling even back then. “When I was in school, it was easy for me to blow off school because everyone needed a bass player, so I got a lot of gigs.” That didn’t stop him though, from enrolling in university. (Sinkevocs)

As he attended the University of Michigan and Western Michigan University to be an elementary school teacher, and bar-tended while playing weekend shows with a variety of local acts, including the bands Switch and Botfly Higher education wasn’t evidently his true calling.

Passion for music superseded Matt’s desire to obtain a degree, in something he did not want to do for the next 50 years. Teaching took a back seat to the emerging musical opportunities that were hitting Matt head on. He dropped out of school and applied himself to his musical passion 100%

90S ON THE ROAD

It was here in the 90’s, Matt began to complete his minibus and U-Haul rock apprenticeship – far and wide across Michigan. It was with the band Switch, he plied most of his trade, gained experienced and honed those skills, which propelled him to be arguably the best Bass player that has ever played.

He would never agree with such a statement, he’s too humble, but many others and I, definitely would.
Matt still calls those Switch bandmates “some of my best friends to this day.”

As a thinker, Matt has proven to be the band’s rock – a perfect grounding rod – a priceless commodity during the constant changing and chaotic life on a rock and roll tour.

IMG 20191106 220634 1 576x1024 — Onstage in his zone…

Without fanfare, he creates the final concert set lists, and ensures that the Blue October experience is 100% ON for every fan, every night, at every location, without fail.

Matt also bleeds Detroit Lion Blue. “When I’m playing in Michigan, I can drape the jersey over my bass rig and not get things thrown at me,” he joked in a recent phone interview from a tour stop in “enemy territory,” aka, Green Bay, Wisconsin.”

ORB RECORDING STUDIOS

Matt has many other professional interests. One stands out in particular. Producing since 2006, he recognized his lifelong dream of part owner of the state-of-the-art Orb Recording Studios (https://www.orbrecordingstudios.com/)

A 5,600-square-foot facility built from the ground up on an acre of Texas hill country, Orb is the vision of Matt and co-owner C.B. Hudson (former lead guitarist with Blue October)
The goal…” To merge the quality of renowned East and West-coast studios with the pretense-free vibe of Austin.” (Daily)

Priding themselves with creating an almost perfect setting for creating musical magic, and a “place where inspiration flows, and coming back feels like coming home,” Matt and C.B are more than qualified to create and assist the musical icons of the future. (Daily)

And the studio is a great success. Artists like Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne, Erykah Badu & The Cannabinoids, Bizzy Crook and Blue October since the studio’s official grand opening on March 16th. 2014. (Daily)

A Room Control 1 — Courtesy of https://www.orbrecordingstudios.com/

And as a divorced father of three he is just as successful. Avery, 15, Liam, 11, and Grayson 8, who was born with Down syndrome. Matt is obviously proud of and loves them all.

So, 25 years ago, Matt started his journey with Blue October. With 11 Blue October albums and hundreds of incredible live shows under his belt, there is no slowing down. Quite the opposite, Matt Novesky and Blue October are just getting started.

With his new trusty side kick and lead guitarist Steve Schiltz, the chemistry on stage between the two is palpable. It’s as though they were separated at birth and reconnected in the church of musical perfection. And every performance is magnificent.

If possible, as many times before, I choose a spot right in front of Matt for a show.
As many Blue fan can attest, his serious demeanor, and obvious personal joy while performing his calling is not missed on the astute concert goer.

From his pounding Bass licks, to his professionalism, great cologne (according to Justin Furstenfeld) and Matt appears as the cool dad and west coast skater boy, morphed with a rocker, businessman, as he edges ever closer to the apotheosis of Bass royalty.

TRUE TO THEMSELVES

And Blue October never waver from their formula of inspiring lyrics about life and love, accompanied by soul touching music and a genuine love for their fans, which is evident 100% of the time at every memorable live show experience. They stay true to who THEY are, without compromising their musical talent to the almighty pop dollar.

As Matt best stated in an interview Voyage Austin, in 2022, “My advice for anyone just starting out is to focus on what makes you …YOU. Copying other acts or chasing trends will not bring sustained success. The best artists with the longest careers are the ones who recognize their own strengths and continuously nurture it…It’s always best to be focusing on the individual gifts one has and unlocking that.” (Daily)

If you have any doubts to the many talents this Bass magician has, or the magic that is a Blue October show experience, book tickets and GO. The live experience will change your life.
I guarantee it.