Matthew LaQue, better known as Matto, has worked on the front of the Albany music scene since I can remember. His main musical outlet Kitty Little continues to be one of the capital districts favorite bands. Matto is also the proud parent of Peterwalkee Records that has a catalog that actually offers records!

B3: What album are you currently listening to over and over?

Matto: I have been listening to Hard Stuff “BulletProof” LP alot the past few weeks. Hard Stuff was a kick ass English rock band formed in the ealry 70’s. Its just solid kick ass rock ‘n’ roll mixed with a touch of prog rock without being cheesey or overly pretentious and unlistenable. Its just loaded with solid riffs and catchy songs. To often the I associate the words “prog rock” with some god awful soulless mathematical music that just hurts to listen to and is overly complicated pointless, like listening to someone jerking off with a guitar. This record is the opposite. Its just solid rock. My musical tastes are all over the place, but its just keeps coming back to solid ball kicking rock riffs for me. I can’t deny it.

B3: If you were trapped on a desert island and could only take three ball kicking rock riffs with you, what would they be?

Matto: Are we talking songs or records? Thats a tough question. If you asked me on a different day I would probably have a totally different answer. Urgh… I hate this game… I would def. say anything off ZZ TOP’s Tres Hombres record is just awesome.That record is solid hooks and riffs all the way through. I haven’t stopped listening to it since the day I picked it up! So I would bring that for sure. Hmmm… second choice I would bring Alice Coltrane’s Journey to Satchidananda LP. Alice Coltrane was John Coltranes wife. She played Harp and Piano. Its not a rock record per say but its just an fucking awesome record. Its full of hooks and melodies and some of the best bass lines I have ever heard! Plus I think it would get a little old just listening to all rock records. Most rock record don’t rock. Lastly I guess I would have to bring anything from the Superchunk catalog. I love that band and as far as I am concerned they have never done a bad record ever….ever ever ever. So many great records out there! I wish i could bring them all and just sit there and listen to music and not go to work or deal with crappy stuff like going to the bank and paying bills. Dessert islands should just come with music libraries.

B3: What two albums that have come out in the last year have influenced the music you make?

Matto: I haven’t yet bought a record that actually came out in 2009 but I did buy some records that come out in 2008. Out of all the records I bought the main two that come to mind as being records that I really enjoyed or was inspired by were Portishead -Third and Beck-Modern Guilt. Both of these are insanely catchy and have great songs all the way through. I notice as I get older I find myself not buying as much music as I used too.I am not as willing to take chances on new music or I just don’t like what I have heard. Maybe thats why I liked these two records so much.These are bands that I have been enjoying for years so its sorta of comfortable and they are bands that are still making great relevant music.I think it also has something to do with the fact that the 90’s fucking ruled and I love the 90’s and all its musical glory. The state of Indie rock in 2009 is very sad. When I listen to college radio or the indie rock channel on siruis I can’t believe most of what I hear. I guess I am just getting old and set in my ways, plus I don’t really download music and half of the music magazines I used to read are dead and gone so I guess I am out of the loop. I just keep going back to older bands I like or looking into older music I might have missed out on or didn’t give a chance to the before. Theres also a lot of great local music and shows happening that keep me interested. We need more local bands putting out more records!

B3: Open Itunes, turn on shuffle then press advance track 10 times, talk about the next three songs that play and why they made it onto your hard drive.

Matto:

1. “Tears of a Clown” - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. I grew up on Motown and Soul music. My father loved music and he would listen to all his old Motown and soul tapes. He loved to sing and he would tape himself singing along to songs on his little Dictaphone recorder. He was a really good singer with a high falsetto like Frankie Valley. I think that is where I got my love of music, from my father. He past away from cancer when I was 16. I miss him. Songs like this make me feel like he is around. Plus it a great song!

2. “Your Control” - the Figgs. Ahh man, I fucking love the Figgs. They one of BEST bands to come out of the Capital region ever and definitely one of my favorite pop bands! They blew me away the first time I saw them when I was still in middle school and they are still excellent today. The first two cassettes they released are so great! Classic stuff! I must have seen these guys 100 times. They helped make high school tolerable. I would like to use this amazing chance opportunity to do some shameless self promotion and state that my record label Peterwalkee Records is going to be releasing a 7″ record from the Figgs this early summer! Be sure to pick it up!

3. “Alive with Pleasure” - Born Against. Born Against was a great HC band with ties to the capital region hardcore scene. They went on to become a very influential band in the national DIY hardcore scene. I saw them a few times, and they killed me with their intensity. Not always the tightest band, but they had a through the roof stage presence. This record is one of those record that reminds me that I still love punk and hardcore no matter how old I get or how boring and elitist punk/hardcore can be.

April 1st http://www.peterwalkeerecords.com released EVXXION “Strategitc Cancellations” CD and speaks of a Kitty Little / Scientific Maps 7″, the Figgs 7″, to Hell and Back CD, KAMIKAZE HEARTS “FOX HOLE PRAYER” 7” EP on CLEAR VINYL… do I have to list anymore I’m sure you are there already. the Peterwalkee myspace is always buzzing with new music: http://www.myspace.com/peterwalkee

Catch part of the Kitty Little / No Connection Micro Mini Tour red handed with Beware! at Valentines May 15

The soles flip backwards so the russians can’t track you. They are called ‘Sneak Ease’.

- richard