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"There's so much sadness expressed through dark humor by the blues artists we love like Howlin' Wolf, Mississippi John Hurt, Skip James, it's an element that Mike and I relate to and find comfort in... But it's sincere too. The longing and pleading for answer, that search for spiritual transcendence, it's all mixed up in these songs." - Paul OlsenAs vocalists and songwriters, Scrapomatic (Mike Mattison and his longtime partner Paul Olsen) break new ground with SIDEWALK CAESARS, an album that infuses the heart and soul of roots music with modern topics and incisive lyrics. The new recording, enriched with themes that reverberate from urban to rural and back, showcases the duo’s breathtaking ability to mesh Mattison’s stirring vocal machinations with Olsen’s heartfelt tenor. All tracks include the rock steady rhythm section of Ted Pecchio, bass, and Tyler “Falcon” Greenwell, drums, both veterans of Susan Tedeschi’s and Col. Bruce Hampton’s stellar groups, along with dexterous guitarist Dave Yoke, all of whom joined up with Scrapomatic’s touring lineup in 2007 and have since become frequent additions to the duo. Bolstered by guest shots from Derek Trucks (guitar) and Count M’Butu (percussion), SIDEWALK CAESARS cruises seamlessly through an eclectic mix of soul searches, bittersweet romances, drinking binges and rowdy humanity.
SIDEWALK CAESARS follows the group’s 2006 Landslide release, ALLIGATOR LOVE CRY, produced by John Snyder, an exuberant offering that Blues Revue described as “primal and tasty…one of the most impressive releases of the year.” Hittin’ The Note added to the unanimously favorable critical praise, calling it “an amazing collection of heartfelt and soulful tunes.”
Hailing from Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN and schooled individually in jazz, roots and blues music, Mike Mattison and Paul Olsen began playing together in the mid-1990s. After being recognized with Minnesota Music Award nominations for Best R&B Group and Best Male Vocalist, the duo decamped to Brooklyn, NY in 1997 and have since stomped their way through the United States, taking their amazing live performances to venues ranging from smokey blues clubs to Carnegie Hall in New York. In 2003, they recorded their self-titled debut album with Snyder, which was released on his Artists House label. Chosen by the Boston Herald as one of its top ten “hidden pearl” releases of the year, the newspaper called it “the perfect blues appetizer.” The Savannah Morning News said “Scrapomatic reaffirms that good music still has the power to feed the soul.” In 2007, the band reached new audiences as part of Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi’s SOUL STEW REVIVAL concerts, which played to sold out crowds from coast to coast and continues to roll on this year as well.
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