Pizza Man Blues Krissy Matthews
Album info
Album-Release:
2021
HRA-Release:
27.08.2021
Album including Album cover
- 1 Mayday 04:35
- 2 The Man Said No 04:04
- 3 Disaster 05:02
- 4 Anti-Social Media 06:55
- 5 Hairdryin' Drummer Man 04:33
- 6 Pizza Man Blues 03:53
- 7 Ride 04:45
- 8 Carry You 04:17
- 9 Grateful 05:47
- 10 Grateful Unplugged Feat. Layla Zoe & Felix Peikli 04:44
Info for Pizza Man Blues
Pizza Man Blues is a snapshot of the moment those certainties were snatched away, with songs that tell of watching the life you knew torn down, then building it back and seeing things clearer as a result. “This last year, we’ve all had to adapt to circumstances,” reflects Matthews. “I’ve been forced off the road, but I’ve tried to keep the engine alive, keep earning, not lose my passion. I’ve done so many jobs, like pizza and flower delivery driver, tree surgeon assistant, volunteering for the NHS. These songs are all about the experiences I’ve had.”
Ask Matthews for an anecdote from his early career and he’ll spin better war stories than a Sixties blues boomer. Born in 1992, he still recalls the time when, aged three, he was called up to perform Roy Orbison’s Oh, Pretty Woman with his dad’s band. A sharper memory still is his coming-of-age at Notodden Blues Festival, when John Mayall invited the 12-year-old gunslinger to guest on All Your Love. Then there were the times he cut heads with Jeff Healey, took advice from B.B. King, pushed tour headliners Robben Ford and Walter Trout to the wire: all highlights of a full-pelt ascent that saw Classic Rock salute an artist who “writes, sings and plays like a man possessed”.
A lifetime later, the Blues Boy of Matthews’ 2006 debut album has been around the block, and the experiences he now recounts on Pizza Man Blues are written from a place of hard-won maturity. Running with the partnership that began with 2015’s Scenes From A Moving Window, and deepened with 2019’s Monster In Me, this latest record sees him writing alongside the iconic Pete Brown. “For a while, Krissy has been one of the most promising artists on the blues-rock scene,” says the Cream lyricist. “But he’s grown more caring, intense and exploratory in recent years, leading to a impressive maturity in his playing, production and writing. I believe Krissy Matthews has now arrived.”
The songs he laid down at Buckingham’s Echo Studios last September are cut directly from the younger musician’s life and blur genres from rock, soul and blues to country, folk and indie. “I wanted a ‘Krissy Matthews’ vibe to this album,” he shrugs. “I don’t like to box myself into restrictions of where I can and can’t go, so I just write and see what happens. This was the result.”
"This is the kind of album that, on one run-through, will not bring the impact and quality that lies awaiting the patient and the listener, not the hearer. After a few listens, then it all becomes clear and the whole thing is a treat. Awonderful album that takes a few listens before the depth and dexterity on this album shine; plenty of blues and lots of quality guitar…need I say more?" (Tom Dixon, bluesdoodles.com)
"Pizza Man Blues has been delivered on time, it is fresh, steaming with positive vibes, and the gratuity dispensed with, for it is an album that has to be heard to be fully loved." (Ian D. Hall, liverpoolsoundandvision.co.uk)
Krissy Matthews, guitar, vocals
Joshua Rigal, bass, backing vocals
Max Maxwell, drums, percussion, backing vocals
Greg Coulson, keyboards
Kristel Morrison, backing vocals
Krissy Matthews
It was 1995, Krissy was 3 years old and his father invited him on stage to play along to Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison.
This is when the story started for British Norwegian Krissy Matthews.
Now at 28 years old, he has gained a reputation as being one of the most unique guitarists the 21st century has seen, and has gained a wealth of experience that only most musicians could dream of.
At 12 years old, Krissy was invited by John Mayall himself to perform 2 songs together, two nights running at Notodden Blues Festival, Norway. The opening act was Peter Green & Friends.
A few years later, Krissy became the last person to perform live on stage together with the late great Mr Jeff Healey in the UK, shortly after receiving industry advice from the King of the Blues, Mr BB King.
Not a bad beginning for someone so young!
Since then he has appeared on national Norwegian breakfast TV 3 times, recorded a live session for BBC Radio 2 Paul Jones Blues Show at Maida Vale Studios (London) and been featured on Nicky Horne’s Friday Night Rock Show for Vintage TV. He has recorded and released multiple records and paid his dues constantly performing and touring in clubs, festivals, schools and old people’s homes across the world!
In 2015, Krissy joined the iconic German outfit Hamburg Blues Band as a permanent featured member where he is still to this day backing legendary artists such as Chris Farlowe, Arthur Brown and Maggie Bell every night. Previous guitar players whom he replaced were Clem Clempson (Humble Pie / Colosseum) and Miller Anderson (Keef Hartley / Spencer Davis).
He has performed over 1000 concerts across UK, China, Russia and Europe.
Iconic venues such as Museumsplatz (Bonn, DE), Tanzbrunnen (Cologne, DE), Freak Valley (Siegen, DE), Ronnie Scotts (London, UK), The Cavern (Liverpool, UK), Loreley Amthitheater (Loreley, DE), Zwarte Cross (Lichtenvoorde, NL), Festa Avante (Lisbon, PO) and headlining one of Germany’s most famous festivals Burg Herzberg in 2018 to 20,000 people together with The Herzburg Blues All Stars are just some of the highlights.
In March 2019, he was invited to grace the stage with his trio at the very well known “Rockpalast Festival” for national German TV company WDR.
An accolade and a dream for any musician!
This is planned to be released as a live CD/DVD package in Spring 2022 via MIG Music.
It has been delayed due to the effects of the Covid19 pandemic.
Krissy and his band have previously shared the billing with monster names such as Toto, Gregg Allman, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Joe Bonamassa, Joe Satriani, Beth Hart, Jimmie Vaughan, Steven Seagal, Clawfinger and Los Lobos.
In March 2019, Krissy released his last studio album “Monster in Me” via MIG Music.
This was produced by Baard Torstensen from Clawfinger and co-written with Baard and Pete Brown.
The man once known as “the unofficial fourth member of Cream”.
Pete is the poet behind timeless songs such as Sunshine of Your Love, White Room & Politician.
A brand new Krissy Matthews studio record was finished during the pandemic in October 2020 and Krissy signed a great new deal with the legendary German label Ruf Records.
This includes 9 songs all written during and about the world Lockdown, and how this personally affected him.
This is planned for release on August 27 2021 via Ruf Records, followed by endless touring duties between Hamburg Blues Band and his own solo career.
This album contains no booklet.