Song / Video Review – Matt Woods “Deadman’s Blues”
We ask a lot of our independent country and roots artists. We want them to release new music early and often, even though it stings them in the pocketbook to record. We want them to play our stupid town, even though it is way out of their way and the turnout will be light. We want them to perform in small, intimate venues, even though it’s not financially feasible for trying to take care of themselves, or God forbid, raise a family. We don’t want them to be too successful, lest their music loses its pain and soul. We don’t want them to age. We want them to see all the places, and do all the things we can’t, and maintain a party-filled lifestyle so we can then live vicariously though them as our own legs grow roots and our lives prosper from stability.
We want them to sleep on floors and eat like shit and sweat on stage and drive 700 miles to entertain us for three hours before passing out in their own filth for very little money. Our favorite artists roll into town and we reach deep in our pockets and hand them over all manner of items to fuel this madness and bring misfortune to them because they trend toward addictive, self-destructive personality to a greater degree. Then we sit back and watch them fall apart right in front of our faces, because for some reason, we find a certain beauty in their struggle and undoing. We shed the desire to slowly kill ourselves in our youth, so we ask our favorite musicians to do it for us in our stead. And the musicians, driven by their dreams, are more than happy to oblige.
And for what? If they sober up and try to find the straight and narrow, or solicit the suits for help with their music, we label them a sell out. If they don’t, it’s not very likely their music will ever afford them a sustainable living. And about the only way they will find suitable recognition for their artistic contributions is if they die young.
“Deadman’s Blues” is written and performed by Matt Woods from Knoxville, TN.
Video produced by Loch & Key Productions.
Two guns up.
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“Deadman’s Blues” is available on a 3-song 7″ vinyl from Matt Woods, and is also available digitally.
October 25, 2013 @ 9:32 am
I read a lot of Hellbound Glory in this. Very sad, but true.
October 25, 2013 @ 9:37 am
Thanks for sharing. I was not aware of this guy. What a great song
October 25, 2013 @ 9:47 am
I’ve decided that especially considering the circumstances surrounding his divorce, if Jason Aldean wants to record this and and release it as a single, assuming he doesn’t ruin it with a country rap verse, I’ll consider forgiving him just a little bit for everything he’s done to ruin mainstream country music.
October 25, 2013 @ 12:36 pm
ms. jason aldean shouldn’t be allowed to touch a song this good. fuck her
October 25, 2013 @ 1:10 pm
Look, I hate Aldean just as much, if not more than the next guy on here, but a song this good deserves national exposure, and to get that, you have to sometimes make a deal with the devil. There are others such as Gary Allan who could possibly do it better, but I don’t know how much radio play he’d get with it. The radio will play anything that Aldean puts out. Matt Woods would make lots of money and win songwriter of the year. It might be worth it.
October 25, 2013 @ 9:56 am
Damn. That’s a powerful video. I got a little choked up on that one.
October 25, 2013 @ 9:59 am
Wow. Thanks for sharing this. I don’t think I’ve heard a song with that much feeling in a very long time.
October 25, 2013 @ 10:05 am
Wow. Your write-up was as good as the song. What a gut-punch that video was. We’ll be hearing more from this guy and hopefully soon.
October 25, 2013 @ 10:34 am
I agree Bill. I was about to scroll to the bottom and tell Trigger that his piece was brilliantly written, until I saw your comment. Also, an extra 10 points for the video because of shooting pool in front of a PBR sign!
October 25, 2013 @ 10:15 am
Great song! Eric is jealous and Luke fainted.
October 25, 2013 @ 10:35 am
Goddamn.
October 25, 2013 @ 11:16 am
I think that this was both the best review and best song I have seen/heard in a long time
October 25, 2013 @ 11:27 am
Wow. Song, video and review are all amazing.
February 2, 2014 @ 7:36 pm
I totally agree. The song is awesome. The review left me speechless.
October 25, 2013 @ 12:37 pm
Man, that is powerful.
I live in Knoxville and I have heard of this guy.
I will be sure to search him out and go out to hear him play.
October 28, 2013 @ 6:49 pm
His lady’s name is Gina and she owns a joint called The Well. They get all kinds of awesome acts from local to national size, hell they have Black Oak Arkansas playing there next Thursday. They also have awesome food! Check them out! http://www.thewellknoxville.com/
October 25, 2013 @ 12:50 pm
not exactly a review but I liked it and the song doesn’t really need a review anyways it speaks for itself.
2 guns up on both
October 25, 2013 @ 1:00 pm
Powerful video. Thanks for the review and link.
I’ve seen him play in one of those bars our heroes have to frequent so often…
October 25, 2013 @ 1:13 pm
I’m pretty sure this guy got on stage with Fifth on the Floor at Muddy Roots. Extremely powerful voice…
November 3, 2013 @ 2:54 am
Yep 🙂 they’re buddies
October 25, 2013 @ 3:13 pm
Everything about this is just great. Can’t really say anything else that you hadn’t already said in your preview to the video. Music is a great way to explore this human condition we struggle with.
October 25, 2013 @ 6:53 pm
Damn, I’m glad I randomly found this website.
October 25, 2013 @ 7:09 pm
Thanks for posting this. I’ve really been looking forward to seeing some Matt Woods coverage on here. Everyone should check out his album, “The Matt Woods Manifesto”, as soon as they can! “Port St. Lucie”, “A Broken Heart”, “Johnny Ray Dupree”, “Beating Down My Door”, “A Company Town”, and “Ghosts of the Gospel” are all damn good songs. Hell, the whole album is damn good.
October 26, 2013 @ 5:35 am
Matt has been working hard on the road, traveling all over the country for a while. Y’all should definitely go check him out when he comes to your town. I’ve had the honor of playing shows up here in Boston and down in Knoxville with him – he’s as modest and humble a person as you’ll meet, with more talent than most of those Nashville guys combined. Definitely check out his album!
– Daniel
October 26, 2013 @ 10:57 am
I like this song. This guy is talented. Thanks for posting.
October 26, 2013 @ 12:32 pm
Good stuff. Keep finding these kinds of tracks for me, and I’ll keep buying ’em!
October 26, 2013 @ 6:01 pm
Possibly the best song I’ve heard all year.
October 26, 2013 @ 6:28 pm
Just bought it on itunes. I’m speechless.
October 27, 2013 @ 5:24 pm
Good shit man! I’m pretty much obsessed with your site lately, this song is just another fine example of your site turning me onto something badass!
October 28, 2013 @ 1:28 pm
Matt Woods fuckin right – all of yall that aren’t familiar pick up the Country Manifesto? (something like that) album he’s had out for quite some time please do yourself a favor & pick it up – he is one hell of a songwriter / performer / etc….honestly kind of surprised he hasn’t gotten more coverage here? Either way glad to see it! Thanks for the great music
October 28, 2013 @ 6:03 pm
I hate that I just now saw this review, three days late. I strongly urge anybody who can to see Matt Woods live. He’s not only one of the strongest performers I’ve seen, he is also one of the most stand up people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. Support him because he’s a badass musician, then remember that you’re supporting an incredible person.
October 28, 2013 @ 6:14 pm
Thanks Kyle and Mr. Matt Woods!
Absolutely love it! Keep the good ones coming please sirs…This track is making me a lil more introspective than I wanna be right now but it’s fuckin’ honest n that’s the point of great music! One of the few songs that has REALLY spoken to me in a long time…to me a perfect mix of Willie’s ‘You Were Always on My Mind’ and PPJ’s ‘Color of My Bloody Nose’…thanks again Matt and if you’re ever in Charleston we have a room for you! !!
October 29, 2013 @ 6:17 am
Actually, I would have to say that I don’t agree with (at least for me) most of what fans desire out of their artists. I don’t think they have to drink and party and such in order to create the music we love. I, for one, would love to see my favs to be clean and sober and produce and perform the music that is great (as we know they can).
However, yes-I want them to come to our smaller towns and venues b/c I really don’t like having to travel to Chicago (for me) to hear this great music. But, when they do come nearer, I do try to be there as much as I can and will pay the money to see these guys and gals.
So to the artists out there-all I “want” out of you is for you to produce your music and I will buy it and listen to it and try to get others to as well.
October 31, 2013 @ 5:07 am
Thank you for writing this piece. This sums up so much in what we do as artists.
November 18, 2013 @ 9:18 am
It’s been a few weeks and I keep coming back to this song. It led me to pick up “manifesto” as well. This guy really has something.
December 9, 2013 @ 2:19 pm
What an amazingly talented artist and brilliant song!
March 6, 2014 @ 10:48 pm
This video,song do not do it justice. You must do yourself the favor of seeing this dude live. He’s a stand up guy. Hung out the whole night drinking PBR and being humble. Get the manifesto not a bad song on the album. Dupree is my favorite on this particular album. Can’t wait for May 22 when this song and With Love From Belhamy (sp) drops. This dude should be signed but radio executives are idiots!