Jeremiah Shoen and Matthew O'Grady

Jeremiah Shoen and Matthew O'Grady Band Review Live at Mugshots in De Pere, Wisconsin

By TJ
April 9, 2009
Music, unlike puzzles, becomes easier to understand as the pieces are taken away. When you are left with a melody and a rhythm, the ideas and sounds have to stand on their own. Really good bands are aware of this and use space in the dynamics of music. That is why, when Jeremiah of the Shoen Brothers and Matthew O'Grady of Jazz Savants and FBI are let loose on a couple of acoustic guitars and a tambourine the music is just as powerful as a full out rock band. Why? Because there is less distraction and less to hide behind; the music is raw, the idiosyncrasies are amplified, and the true foundation of a great song is out in the open. Jeremiah and Matthew have many differences musically that compliment each other in amazing ways. Jeremiah is a rocker and has a soulful, powerful voice and guitar. The second the words "She never mentions the word addiction" hit the mic, when they went into the song "She Talks To Angels" by the Black Crowes it was obvious the confidence that makes a good singer great was present. Matthew on the other hand is more straight forward with a touch of grit and fit perfectly with "My Generation" by the Who. While Jeremiah is the more rhythmic guitarist of two, Matthew seems almost intent on wearing down the fret board with his bountiful solos, which I’m sure is a skill he extracts from his jazz background. Jeremiah and Matthew have plenty of original work in their other bands and projects, but for the most part tonight's performance was a tribute to some great blues tinged classic rock, unplugged – from the Stones to Johnny Cash there is no telling what they will throw at you.

This show was refreshing, because like fine hops, these tunes were hand selected and brewed with their own unique flavor. I could go off on a tangent about how my blood pressure rises when I hear a band cover a tune and try to nail down the look, act, and sound to a T (= trying to hard), but I won't. Jeremiah and Matthew are not like that. These guys are cool, good times, and great music. They do a really good job of putting a personal spin on some great jams. Jeremiah and Matthew are local Green Bay artists and are playing nearly every weekend in various clubs and projects. I caught them on the tail end of the weekend, Sunday night at Mug Shots. Much props to Mug Shots for having a band on a Sunday! These guys are a great catch if you're looking for something unplugged and rocking. The music featured in the photo gallery is an example of each of the artists work in other projects since a recording of Jeremiah and Matthew together was not available. Track 1 "Two Faced" and track 2 "It's Alright" are from Matthew's Solo Project. The third track is "Lady" by Jeremiah's group the "Shoen Brothers." These tracks are a great display of their musical talents, but when you see Jeremiah and Matthew jam together the chemistry works and the music is undeniable. Catch them around town or down at Mug Shots in De Pere the next couple of Sundays 04/12 and 04/19. Go and see them, it's a laid back good time and a great way to cap off the weekend!
Click here too see more photos and music on TJ's website

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