Matt Pond PA

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Matt Pond was born in the state of New Hampshire where the state tree is the white birch, the bird is a purple finch, and the motto is “live free or die.” While he never hunted, he was quite skilled with a shovel and chainsaw.
During college Matt played trumpet, French horn, and a little piano. He began teaching himself guitar in college, which materialized as his own unique brand of self-proclaimed “professionally awkward” playing—kind of like a contortionist, but different. Very soon, he started playing in bands. Remarkably, his first two shows were opening for Superchunk and Bikini Kill.

While living in Philadelphia working as a furniture mover, Pond met cellist Jim Hostetter while moving his furniture. The two struck up a friendship and Hostetter immediately began writing cello arrangements which became the heart of 1998’s limited release Deer Apartments, the band’s first full-length. Pond soon began writing and working with engineer Brian McTear whose production and musicianship greatly fleshed out matt pond PA’s sound as evidenced by their second full-length, Measure, released by File 13 Records in 2000.

matt pond PA greeted 2001 with the I Thought You Were Sleeping EP (File 13) and toured with members of Aspera Ad Astra, Ted Leo, and Very Secretary. By the time the tour ended, the band truly became THE BAND. With Jim Hostetter playing cello and Mike Kennedy (Lefty’s Deceiver, Audible) on drums, the rest of the line-up fell into place. Bassist Matt Raisch and guitarist Jim Kehoe (both from the band Rhode Island) and finally cellist Eve Miller (The Rachel’s) enlisted soon thereafter.

2001 also marked the year the band signed with Polyvinyl. Their first release on the label was This Is Not the Green Fury, a 33 1/3 4-song 7” EP of all new material pressed on (appropriately enough) green vinyl which also served as a teaser to their next album, The Green Fury. Their third release in one year, The Green Fury melded orchestral-type arrangements over basic pop songs much as their previous records had, however, their solidification as a full-fledged band was beginning to emerge.

Less than a year later, the band returned with their fourth full-length, 2002’s The Nature of Maps. Although Pond remained the primary singer/songwriter of the group, The Nature of Maps became a more holistic, collaborative project with each band member contributing heavily to the songwriting process. The band toured both nationally and on the East Coast throughout the rest of 2002 and 2003. 2003 wrapped up with Matt and cellist Eve Miller completing a West Coast tour with Eve’s other band, The Rachel’s. Still as prolific as ever, matt pond PA recently finished recording their fifth full-length.

Jim Hostetter—Cello
Jim Kehoe—Guitar
Mike Kennedy—Drums, Percussion
Eve Miller—Cello, Vocals
Matt Pond—Vocals, Guitar
Matthew Raisch—Bass

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