Exclusive Interview with Matt McDonald of Perpetual Groove

I’ve been privileged enough to have two recent conversations with Matthew McDonald, one by phone and another by email, amidst the whirlwind surrounding the announcement of his return to Perpetual Groove, a band he helped start a decade ago but left for personal reasons in June of 2008. Our last interaction being a loose night in an old synagogue, better known in BLP lore as the Art Temple, when Matt supported and joined Brother Bean for a long night of musical mayhem in October of that same year; we spent a few minutes catching up before digging in to what transpired to spark their current evolution, his return to the public realm and what us Perps can expect out of PGoove 2.012.

Interview by Matt Beck

Being engrained in our regional music scene through BLP and having supported the last few SoFlo PGroove shows, I’ve certainly noticed that an evolution has begun. The band recently joined Blue Mountain Management Group and has been tightening things up. How does this play into your return?

We’ve been able to come up with a structure that works for everyone, a business model that has a little more experience behind it will allow for better balance and enable us to have a lot more fun together with a lot less stress. Structure brings productivity, so we’re ready to hit things pretty hard and get the creative juices flowing again. We’re approaching everything with not only a new energy but with a lot of new ideas and a matured method of execution. We’ve been fortunate enough to have some people who have paid attention and allowed us to grow. Since the early conversations and rehearsals, it came together very naturally and quickly. We’re on the same page for the first time. Where we can say what we mean to each other without getting overly emotional and, in turn, putting the emotion into the music where it should have been this whole time. I’m very excited for the future; I think we’ve finally got a situation that will allow us to kick it into high gear.

How did this transpire with the rest of the band?

We’ve remained close friends throughout the break. I don’t even wanna think about the number of hours that Albert and I have logged on Halo together. And Adam is probably my closest friend in the world right now, and we’re living very similar lives at the moment with our young children and budding families. Adam and his family spent Thanksgiving at our house last year and this year, we’ll be going to his. Adam and I are also both football fanatics and have always gotten together for games when they weren’t on the road. A couple months ago, he invited me over for Monday Night Football during which he pulled me aside and asked if I’d ever consider coming back. After about a half hour of me giving him a hard time, bullshitting with each other like we usually do, he said “I’m being dead serious.” It wasn’t even a week later before we’d all sat down and realized that it was probably the right time. John’s a good friend, but he has his own personal things. It’s very amicable…all friends on stage. That’s why tonight (Georgia Theatre on 11/18/2011) and New Year’s will be so special. Last night, John and I played with The Heavy Pets together and had a blast. We’re a bunch of guys who not only enjoy making music together but actually enjoy each other’s company. What we’ve got here is a real rare and unique opportunity to truly be transparent and honest with the people who care to look inside the organization and see that there’s something really special happening right now. Everyone’s happy, and we’re gonna get to move forward with some plans we have musically.

You’ve mentioned in other interviews that you feel like you’ve followed in the wake of bands like Phish and the Disco Biscuits. Being the “flagship” of an agency on the rise like Nimbleslick – representing bands like The Heavy Pets, Zoogma, The Mantras and The Werks – does it interest you to mentor them potentially?

I don’t know if I’d think of it in those terms, but it is great to be a part of something where everyone has been successful as opposed to one of these flash in the pan companies or bands that’s around for a couple years and then are gone because they can’t keep their shit together. It’s not that it’s easy by any stretch of the imagination, but what’s happened is we’re all ready to take it seriously, and we have some real keys to success falling into place. It’s all working out real well right now. Yet, having the unique perspective of being on the outside for a few years and getting emails and messages from younger bands that tell me I’m a big influence is real humbling. As is the out pour of support over the last day (since the announcement of his return)…to be a part of that again, to move from a very private life to a relatively public life that people care so much about and tie so much emotion to what we do. Being an audience that wants you to be new and different gives you freedom to take risks. And that goes to the business model of Nimbleslick as well, they have a bunch of indie bands and jambands…(ensuing rant on how terrible the term “jamband” is and how it’s a disservice to the musicians and audience that ends in us agreeing that the grass is simply always greener).

So, what can we expect from PGroove that will be “new and different?”

Pretty soon, we’ll start having a guitar on my side of the stage and incorporating that a little more. We’ve got some new songs already on the cooker that will be these two guitar rock tunes. Not everybody gets to do that.

You also referred to your return to the public eye. You were always the more politically outspoken member of the band, having your blog “The Soapbox” where you provided some commentary and insight into our last presidential election. Do you look forward to having that voice again?

Definitely not, that’s one thing that will definitely change. That’s something I learned four years ago that, in my opinion, were huge errors that I made. There is enough divisive material in the world that, unless activism is your thing, music and musicians should do all they can to create an experience where people can get together despite their differences. There are a few subjects that you should only speak to your wife about and those are politics, religion, sex and money. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. In the red & blue and black & white world that is being built up around us by the powers that be, I want to be more private. Not to mention that since returning to the real world from rock n roll camp a few years ago, a lot of my opinions have changed. My soapbox has been knocked out from under me…by myself.

How about musically? You’ve picked up the guitar before, for Rage Against the Machine tunes in particular, and Brock has jumped to the front of the stage…

That’s all more about Brock rapping. Let’s face it; a tall redhead rapping is NEVER not funny.

Having run out of time due to my inability to properly dial into a conference call and Matt’s need to get a haircut, we picked the conversation up a month or so later, between PGroove’s grand return to the Georgia Theatre that burned down on the night they (and The Heavy Pets) were due to play in June of 2009 and prior to their two night New Year’s run at Center Stage in Atlanta that would not only mark the end of another year and the promise of the next but also that of John Hruby’s tenure and of a re-energized McDonald in the band…

So, how did it feel to return to Perpetual Groove after a three and a half year break? Was it like jumping on the proverbial bicycle or did you find there to be fresh nuances to navigate?

Obviously, it feels great. It was a little of both old bike and new trick, I suppose. Back in May of this year, some very close friends of ours got married here in Athens, GA, and all four of us ended up being at the reception. Some of our best friends, Under the Porch, were playing the reception and were kind enough to let us take the helm for a few songs. It was the first time in three years that just the four of us played together. I’ve done some shows with Brock and Albert here and there and sat in with PGroove several times over the course of the past three years, but it was the first time that it was the 2.0 lineup playing together since Amberland ’08. It was, in a word, incredible. I don’t think any of us planned on having the emotions that we did when we walked off that stage. We immediately fell back, for lack of a better word, in the groove. After saying thanks to friends and congrats to the newlyweds, we all took a corner in the club and collectively said “whoa.” We knew that it was time for the four of us to play together again. At the time, we thought it would be something different, a new band if you will.  This was shortly after that crazy guy said the rapture was coming, so our name for the new project was going to be The Post-Rapture Survivalists. We were all very excited about having a new project together, and one that would be for fun and more of a local Athens/Atlanta thing. Obviously, when John said he needed a break, it was clear to everyone that the side project was just going to be a new era of PGroove. The great thing about playing again with the guys is that we have all grown as friends, people and musicians. So yes, there are lots of “fresh nuances” to navigate. We have all said many times now that this is an evolution of PGroove. We intend on showing everyone that very quickly.

How was that experience affected by that show being PGroove’s grand return to the rebuilt Georgia Theatre?

It was an incredibly emotional night. Not only was the news of my return announced just the day before, but it was the new Theatre and the ushering in of this next era of PGroove. The show was sold out; at set break, we all got these cool medallions that have the GATH marquee on it with the words “Sold Out Club.” The emotion of the night was palpable in the air. John and I were having an absolute blast playing together, the sing along at the end of “Sweet Oblivious Antidote” was a first and gave everyone in the room chills, having Adam’s brother Damien show up last minute was amazing, and of course Karolyn Troupe from Venice is Sinking playing with us on the encore was quite a treat as well. Everyone in the room was there for us, that was an incredibly humbling and amazing feeling. Anyone that may have speculated that there was any behind the scenes drama with the band could clearly see that all five of us are very close friends, now more than ever.

During this transition time with John Hruby, have you picked up any tricks or methods that he’s instituted in the band that will influence your approach?

It’s funny because John and I have been good friends for years. Three years ago, John and I spoke a couple of times about certain songs and what it was that I did musically regarding execution of the tune, and now I’ve had some of the same conversations with him, but with the shoe on the other foot. “Cairo” stands out most; he really did an excellent job of composing a new and unique sound on that tune. I intend on sticking true to his approach on that one, because it’s clearly just the right “part” for the song. I’ve enjoyed listening to some of the more recent live recordings of songs and hearing John’s approach, it has definitely given me some new ideas…so yes, I definitely will be applying some of John’s hat tricks to my arsenal.

No night is more hyped for musical mayhem, for bands and fans alike, than New Year’s Eve. Your return has certainly amplified the expectations among the Perps, especially with rumors of the return of some shelved material. What are the band’s expectations of the two-night run at Center Stage in Atlanta? What should fans expect?

I would expect something very similar to the GATH show in November. It’s not only my return, but John’s departure. We intend on showcasing and honoring both occasions. There’s gonna be time with just John and time with just me, but more importantly there’s going to be the most time with both of us playing. Regarding shelved tunes, maybe one or two, but we are saving more of that for 2.012 as it’s been dubbed. Fortunately, two nights in Asheville and Jamcruise are only a week after NYE so people won’t have to wait long to hear some reworked and even new tunes.

Since we last spoke, the two night stand at the Culture Room in March that you alluded to has been officially announced (Fri-Sat 3/2-3), and you have quite a few shows between now and then. How far along the band’s evolution do you expect to be at that point? Will your highly anticipated guitar rig be a part of production by then?

Well, I will say that I just finished the manifest for our gear on Jamcruise, and my guitar rig is definitely coming on the boat. We already have a few new tunes in the barrel, and we are hoping to have them ready for debut in Asheville, at least a couple I hope.

Do you have any other closing comments for 2011 and this more private period of your life or any aspiring words for 2012 and your return to the public realm?

I’m certain that I’ll have a lot more balance of private and public life this time around. The guys and I have set up a great plan moving forward as to help keep everyone fresh and enable all of us to spend important time with family while allowing others to peruse other interests. I never thought that this would happen for us, truly. It wasn’t something that was ever discussed the past three years, it just happened, kind of like what happens some nights on stage musically. I’m certain that we are ready, more than ever before, to do what it takes to bring PGroove to the next level.

For everything Perpetual Groove, visit www.PGroove.com

Upcoming Perpetual Groove Dates

Friday-Saturday 12/30-31
Center Stage w/ The Heavy Pets (12/30)
Atlanta, GA

Thursday-Friday 1/5-6
Asheville Music Hall
Asheville, NC

Monday-Saturday 1/9-14
Jamcruise

Friday 1/20
Crossroads
Huntsville, AL

Saturday 1/21
Rhythm & Brews
Chattanooga, TN

Wednesday 1/25
The Dixie w/ Moon Taxi
Tuscaloosa, AL

Thursday 1/26
Skybar w/ Moon Taxi
Auburn, AL

Friday 1/27
The Handlebar
Greenville, SC

Saturday 1/28
Ziggy’s
Winston-Salem, NC

Thursday 2/2
George’s Majestic Lounge
Fayetteville, AR

Saturday 2/4
Exit/In
Nasheville, TN

Thursday 2/9
Three20South w/ The Werks
Breckenridge, CO

Friday 2/10
Bluebird Theatre w/ The Werks
Denver, CO

Saturday 2/11
Fox Theatre w/ The Werks
Boulder, CO

Friday-Saturday 2/24-25
Pourhouse w/ Consider The Source + Brock Butler (solo)
Charleston, SC

Friday-Saturday 3/2-3
Culture Room
Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Saturday 3/17
The Blockley
Philadelphia, PA