September 25, 2006

Well summer has come and gone without a journal entry, but fall is a time for new beginnings, back to school clothes, white-out and highlighter purchases and for me to tell you what's going on. Lately I've been working hard on new songs - writing, recording demos, rehearsing with the band... I hope to have a new album underway this fall I plan to work on it steadlily over the winter and have it finished by early next year. I'm very excited about how the tunes are shaping up. That's all I can say for now. If you'd like a sneak peak, and you live in Ontario, be sure to check out one of our upcoming shows (see live dates) where we will be playing a good handful of new material.

Speaking of new material, there are two new albums in particular that I want to tell you about. Firstly, my sister Jill has a new on called FOR ALL TIME and it's very beautiful. I'll be playing with her at her release party in Halifax on Fri Sept.30 and if you live near there you should come to the show. Secondly, my other band LIVE COUNTRY MUSIC has a new album out called LONG HARD SEASON. We recorded it at home again and we're very pleased with it. You can get it at Soundscapes in Toronto and hopefully more places soon. You can hear some tunes and see some pics at myspace.com/livecountrymusic.

I guess that's it for now. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you (and don't you forget about me - don't don't don't don't). Feel free to check my blog at myspace.com/mbarber if you need another dose of MB ramblings. Enjoy the rest of your September - autumn's blowing in...

Matt

May 11, 2006

Well, I guess I wasn't as diligent with the journal entries as I said I would be - sorry. Myself and the Union Dues have been busy, though - home for only three days in the last six weeks. Since I last wrote, we've been all the way out west, back to Toronto, and now all the way out west again with the Joel Plaskett Emergency. Highlights of the last tour included whale and eagle watching in Tofino, BC; half a day of skiing and snowboarding in jeans in Whistler and super-fun gigs pretty much everywhere (especially Winnipeg where I got a shiner and Toronto at The Drake for our 'welcome home for 3 days show').

We drove back out through the USA and it was scenic as well as faster and cheaper. Chicago is cool, South Dakota is flat, Montana is stunning, and it seemed like we were in about five different states every day. The current tour began in Vancouver with a monster show at the Commodore featuring us, Matt Mays & El Torpedo (sounding better than ever) and, of course, JP and the Emergency. We then popped over to the island for a great show in Victoria, came back to play Kelowna (just us, not Joel - you'll know why if you have his latest CD), rocked Calgary and even Cochrane, AB, and tonight we head to the famed Tongue & Groove in Lethbridge. It's a real pleasure playing for Joel's crowds, and getting to see one of our favourite bands play every night ain't so bad either.

April flew by and May's flying faster. We will be back in Toronto soon, though, and we have a big show at the Mod Club with Stabilo on Friday, May 26th. If you're in the Toronto area please do come out and say hi - it'll be our last show for a little while.

From our little van on the prairies to your computer,

Matt and the Union Dues

April 5, 2006

Hello again from the road. Yesterday morning we encountered our first stumble - our van wouldn't start. Many $$$ that we don't have later, we're back on track with a new fuel pump and water pump - pump it up! (and we did really need it). MB & The Union Dues would like to thank the friendly people at the Pines Motel in Deep River and the GM repair shop in Pembroke for helping us get back on track. Unfortunately we won't be making our show in Thunder Bay tonight. The west beckons...

MB

April 3, 2006

Yikes, it's been a while since I wrote a journal entry - I'm sorry about that. Some of you started getting on my case, and then I got on my own case, so I plan to turn over a new leaf.

I write to you today from the road somewhere between Riviere Du Loup and Quebec City, where myself and the Union Dues are hurtling down the highway in our new (old) van on our way back from the Junos in Halifax. No, we didn't win, but we did see Chad Kroeger up close. We had some fun shows in Moncton, Charlottetown, Halifax and Dartmouth (thanks for coming!) and now we're on our way to Thunder Bay and points west for our longest tour of the country yet (follow the flashing roses at the top of the page to the live dates section for details). We'll be ALL OVER the place for the next seven weeks, so come on out to a show and hear how we've improved with age, like a fine whiskey. While you're at it say hi to our new guitar player, Les Cooper (Kieran Adams and Matt "Punchy" McQuaid still comprise the Union Dues signature "no bullshit" rhythm section).

So yeah, seven weeks. We're out on our own until the end of April (finishing in Toronto at the Drake Underground on the 27th), and then we turn around and head back out west for another tour supporting the incredible Joel Plaskett Emergency. It's going to be a long haul, but we couldn't more excited about seeing the whole length of this country as it sheds its cumbersome winter coat and blooms into spring.

So what else is new you ask? The new single is 'The Plea', and the video (directed by Benji Weinstein) was just added to Much Music and Much More Music. It's dark and stormy and we get kind of wet but we made it out unscathed. Please request it at ondemand@muchmusic.com. I promise that we'll have a link to it up on this site any day now.

So I'll leave it at that for now, but I promise to get back to you soon with.

October 27, 2006

Fall is upon us. It's getting 'chilly' in Toronto, but probably freezing in many other parts of Canada. I can't find my scarf or my toque. My winter coat has been in the closet under the stairs in the basement all summer and now it's a bit funky. Got to get it together for Winter.

But before that we get Hallowe'en! This year I'll be playing drums with Live Country Music at a costume part-ay in Kingston. This will be immense fun.

So Sweet Nothing has been out for a month now. Have you bought it yet??? Your friend has. It's worth it, really. Ask your friend. How 'bout Soft One? Hit song? Who knew? Where's the strangest place you've heard it? Do I smell a new contest??? Apparently the video is on a lot, too. Have you seen it? I saw it once in Abbotsford, BC in a hotel room. I don't have cable so I'm not a good judge. Anyway, watch for it 'cause I think it will amuse you.

We played some shows opening for Mr. David Usher this month and he has a lot of fans! We had fun and he and his band and his fans were very nice to us. A highlight was playing with former Union Due bass player Julian Brown in his hometown of Belleville on a rare night off from his hectic Feist touring schedule.

If you made it to a show and cheered for us, we thank you!

Next up is a jaunt out east in November. The finalized tour dates will be up very soon (or maybe they're up now). I'm ESPECIALLY looking forward to Halifax where my sister Jill will be, and Ottawa who we missed before. The Union Dues will feature guest guitar slinger Les Cooper on this tour, in addition the familiar rhythm combo of P.E.I.'s own Matt McQuaid and Newfoundlander Kieran Adams. It's a real homecoming, eh boys? (except we're not making it all the way to Newfoundland - what a drag!). Current Union Dues axeman Darren Glover has some commitments at home that he can't miss.

I promise to get some new photos of the whole band up on the site, and I'll get some of the new t-shirts over to maplemusic.com where you can order them (fantastic stocking stuffer). Well this is a real rambling journal entry. Time to bring it to a halt. Hope to see you soon,

MB

September 28, 2005

Welcome everybody to the new matthewbarber.com! It was expertly put together by Erin Joly and features the artwork of Heather Goodchild. I hope you come and visit often to see new photos, new press clippings, tour updates and general news.

So lots has been going on. The new album Sweet Nothing finally hit stores yesterday. Thanks to all of you who picked up an advance copy at a show. The final version features a beautiful 16-page booklet with illustrated song lyrics - look for it in your local record store. The first single Soft One is getting lotsa airplay across the country, and now the video is on Much Music. You can request it at ondemand@muchmusic.com. For everyone in Toronto and Kingston, we'll be having some CD release parties on Tuesday Oct.4 at the Horseshoe (FREE! 10pm show) and Wednesday Oct.5 at my beloved Grad Club in Kingston. Come on out and celebrate with me and the Union Dues!

Speaking of the Union Dues (my band, for those of you not in the know), we just got back this morning from an incredibly fun tour across western Canada. We drove 40 hours straight from Edmonton in our minivan 'Flipper', so my head is still a little wobbly. What can I tell you about this tour...

• The Honey Crueller is the official donut of MB & The Union Dues
• This country is especially beautiful in September
• Lethbridge knows how to party in a way few could have predicted
• The Meligrove Band (who we toured with) are a killer band and hilarious buch of dudes - watch out for these gentlemen

Thanks to everyone who made it out to a show - we had a blast every night. Matt (bass) and Kieran (drums) took lotsa great pics along the way, so we'll get some of those up on the site pronto.

Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes are next, so check back here to find out when were coming to your town.

Peace, love and free refills,

MB