Matthew William Charles

[matthewwilliamcharles]

A Critical Transmission

What’s up guys?  Well, it’s been a busy year for me.  Back in December of 2022 I released my latest album, “Critical Transmission” on good ole’ fashioned cassette tapes and CD’s!  Of course the music is available on all streaming services, but I’m much more into creating and buying physical media,  playing live music and meeting people in person.  So that’s why I embarked on a pretty impressive run of shows that started back in December of 2022 and went all the way through June of 2023.  It wasn’t a straight run of shows, I did a 4 day tour in December, then a 17 day tour in January & February, followed by 8 days in May and 2 days (with local shows scattered in between) in June. So I basically toured for a duration of a month over this first half of the year.  I’m really stoked on how everything went! I hit up some classic spots and saw some old friends, but mostly I was playing in front of new people.  I got rid of about 100 copies of my new album, a mix of CD’s and cassette tapes.  Not to mention I sold many t-shirts and other merch items, thank you for that!  I know for many musicians that’s chump change, but for me that’s pretty damn good!  There were some spots where people already knew my new songs, which after all these years of playing music still surprises me when it happens.  Feedback on the album was really good, people seemed to be really getting the message that I was putting out there. I feel more and more people are seeing past the two party illusion and starting to focus on our common denominators and not what can divide us.  Obviously, in reality not every show is a banger, and some shows I could tell it really wasn’t my crowd, but you just play on and enjoy yourself the best you can.  I’m thankful for every opportunity.

So I do not foresee me grinding for the rest of the year, but I will be playing live shows and working on a couple videos.  Many of you know that I also have a punk band called Assemble, and I’m working on writing some new stuff for that band and we have a busy schedule coming up, and with all the other things I have going on I’m trying not to overbook myself (like I have for the first 6 months of this year).  For those of you who don’t know Assemble you should check us out https://linktr.ee/assembletheband.  One of the most common remarks that I get on the road is,”You should be fronting a punk band”.  Well, if I didn’t sell you an Assemble record on the road then there you go.

I also write a lot and I try to post my tour blogs.  It’s a lot of work to transcribe everything and sometimes it’s months before I end up posting anything.  When you own a t-shirt shop and play in three bands you end up being hard pressed for time.  But that being said I just started a Substack page!  I have a tumblr (Hello!) that I have used for years, and I have some other blog spots that I have used and gave up on.  I also used to have a newsletter with followers but I haven’t sent that out in years.  I really like how Substack works and I like the layout.   Either way I have many tour journals that need to be edited and posted. In the past I would just post the whole lot at once, but I think I’ll just post them periodically so I can continue to have content.  I also believe that long tour journals can be hard to read, they get boring and redundant.  That being said people have told me that they do enjoy reading them.  Some like to hear about the mundane adventures of the solo touring guy, and others like to see where I played to give them ideas for where to tour and how to tour.

In conclusion, thanks to all who have helped me out over the past months with booking me shows and giving me a place to crash, buying my album, making me food or just being friendly.  It is much appreciated!

Links to my music, screen print shop and other things that I do.  

[matthewwilliamcharles]

Hey all, I'm back from tour in one piece! (photo by @turningwrenchdesign) 18 shows in 17 days, not too bad😉 Thanks to all the folks, old friends and new ones, who helped me book a show, gave me a place to stay, bought me a coffee or a beer, or who just gave me some good conversation or a good story. Hopefully see ya's sooner than later ❤️ A couple hot takes from tour. 1) I still don't mind living out of a car for days, weeks on end 2) Ca$h is still king 3) Grilled cheese restaurants are a terrible idea for a business, but it seems like every city has one now. (at Do It Now T-Shirts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CosBIQ5O_JG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[matthewwilliamcharles]

Back home from tour, one last show today in Philly at @hausofyarga . Starts early, 1pm! See you there. https://www.instagram.com/p/CokPBzHOYct/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[matthewwilliamcharles]

✌🏼Hey ya'll, it's Bandcamp Friday! My new album,"Critical Transmission" is available on cassette and CD on my bandcamp page, links in my bio. I'm playing Memphis tonight🎶, making the long drive to Virginia tomorrow🚐 to play a an early show in Staunton and a late show in Charlottesville, and back in Philly on Sunday (2/12) to play an early show that got moved to @hausofyarga 💥💥 https://www.instagram.com/p/CofdDHhp8C2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[matthewwilliamcharles]

Texas shows starting today Monday (2/6) at @superhappyfunland in Houston, Texas, Tuesday (2/7) at @thestarlightersatx. in San Antonio, and Wednesday (2/8) at The Mohawk in Austin, Texas!✌🏼 (at Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoVD1VGptH7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[matthewwilliamcharles]

⚡This Sunday I'll be back in New Orleans at The Saturn Bar! ⚡ (at New Orleans, Louisiana) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoPgePlOEQx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[matthewwilliamcharles]

📢Announcing the official, unofficial super bowl pregame on South Street in Philadelphia at the infamous Dobbs on South!🔥 Show starts at 1pm, we'll be over by 6pm so you can all watch the game!🏈🍻 (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoPf6FFOw4I/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[matthewwilliamcharles]

🚐 Needed a last minute show for this Tuesday 1/ 31 and @inchoate_art gallery in Greenville, SC came through! 🎶❤✌🏼 (at Greenville, South Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoDZB91pvF-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[matthewwilliamcharles]

Coming back to Wilmington, NC on Monday January 30th at the @thebarzarre I'll be the featured act at there weekly open mic night. 😘 (at Wilmington, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn7MIjDu4ue/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[matthewwilliamcharles]

Sunday 1/29 I'll be in Carborro, NC with old friends @pokin_holes & @rumbletramp ❤ Stoked to see @boygirlrising & Jax Hennesy 🔥 #carborronc #thestation #folkpunk #acousticpunk #northcarolina #mwctour (at Carborro, NC) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnuPDcsunaa/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[matthewwilliamcharles]

I'll be back in Richmond, VA next Saturday (1/28) playing a show with solid dudes @rockandrollmikedonalds and @mattseymour3000 - at the infamous Garden Grove on Cary Street. See ya there❤ #rva #richmondva #mwc #mwctour (at Richmond, Virginia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnsONjwJnFa/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[matthewwilliamcharles]

Next Friday 1/27 I'll be starting off my tour in Oakland, MD at @vagabondtaproom - 👽 🍺🚐 #vagabondtaproom #tourkickoff #mwctour #tourtime #westvirginia #maryland #criticaltransmission (at Oakland, Maryland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnpKSwVreJ4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[matthewwilliamcharles]

🚐 Hitting the road later this month in support of my new album,"Critical Transmission".👽- Hope to see you guys on the road! #criticaltransmission #mwc #matthewwcharles #folkpunk #folk #poppunk #tourflyer #diy #diytour #getinthevan https://www.instagram.com/p/CnHk0R_uGi1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[matthewwilliamcharles]

🎉We're having a little party this New Years Eve down in Landenberg, PA. If you want to hang out with us weirdos, send me a dm and we'll tell you how to get there. We have some cool friends showing up to play some tunes!🍾 #NYE #2023 #bonfire #horses #goats #horseshoes (at Landenberg, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmp-0-tjLl_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[matthewwilliamcharles]

The History of Flat Tailed Rats, Bound to Bolt and Proper Punktuation

I can’t remember exactly when I met Liz and Amanda, but it was back in 2004 ish. I lived in Richmond, Virginia and I played in a band called I Live With Zombies.  I think the first show I officially met them at was at some comic book store in the west end of Richmond (I could be wrong). Their band played, and I’m fairly certain my band played as well, I can’t recall the fine details.  Anyways they had a band called Flat Tailed Rats.  It was Amanda (who went by Amanda Dred back then, I’m sure you can guess why), Liz on bass, Jack on drums and, I think Erica on vocals?  I thought they were awesome, reminiscent of The Dead Milkmen at times, but also very messy punk rock.  They were super awkward and young (I have about 6 years on them), and in their defense they thought I was awkward and unapproachable.  I didn’t talk to them much, but we did start playing shows together.  They threw shows at their house, which I believe was on East Lehigh Street.  I think I played a couple of those, and we would have them on shows that we setup, as it goes in your local punk rock scene.  Eventually Flat Tailed Rats broke up.  Soon after Liz and Amanda started another band called Bound To Bolt.  Instead of an electric guitar Amanda switched to acoustic and took lead vocals.  The songs were much better and the style was much more folk punk.  My good friend Lew, who also played in I Live With Zombies, played drums for them.  They recorded a couple things, most notably was their album, “Record Time” which my buddy Brian put out on his label, “Aunt Mary Records” https://amrndr.bandcamp.com/  They played a bunch of shows, I also believe they did a small tour, and were loved by many Richmond punkers.  I can’t remember when Bound To Bolt stopped being a band, but it was probably when Liz moved to Asheville, NC, maybe 2009?  That was when Liz and I started dating, more or less, and In 2011 Liz and I backpacked across Europe, came back to the states, got married and moved to Philadelphia, PA.  Somehow Amanda ended up there too, moving in with her parents in Lansdale, PA.  Liz and Amanda continued to write music together.  They talked about getting a drummer, which I was interested in, but I can’t really play a full kit, nor did I have one, but was willing to learn.  They tried to get our friend Max to play drums, another ex-Richmonder living in Philly, but it never worked out.  During that time Liz started taking trumpet lessons, and she got good enough to play some songs.  Liz and Amanda signed up for the “First Time's A Charm” event in Philly..  They played that, which was at Phila Moca, and that was the first Proper Punktuation show, Amanda singing and playing guitar and Liz on trumpet.  They had some nice songs worked out, but didn’t play another show after that.  At some point when Liz and I were living in our East Falls apartment I started playing percussion on the songs.  When I would play solo I would play with a one man band setup, kick drum, foot tambourine and shakers.  I started using that setup to add percussion to their songs, then it just made sense for me to pick up my guitar as well.  Liz had switched back to bass.  We played like that for a while, in our basement, but they never booked any shows.  I was scheduled to play folk n’punk, a private DIY festival in Sodus, New York.  My friend Eric and Danielle from Jayne Crash host the event on their property.  I had first met Eric at an event he held (The Guitar B-Q) earlier that year.  I told Liz and Amanda that they should come and that I think they’d have a really good time.  Two days of music, friends and camping!  They agreed to come, and I told them that they should be prepared to play, because the vibe that I got off Eric told me that once they showed up and I explained that I was in a band with them as well, he would offer up a slot.  My notion came to fruition, when I introduced Liz and Amanda and told him about Proper Punktuation he asked, “What do you all need to play?”  That was the first PP show, and the rest is history.  PP is, in my mind, a continuation of Bound To Bolt.  I do have writing influence in the band, and I’m proud of my additions and the collaborations, but in my mind it is and has always been Liz and Amanda’s band, and I play in their band.  I’ve known them for a good chunk of my life, and during that time they have always played music together.  So I do get annoyed when people ask me, “can your folk punk band play this show”.  It’s not my folk punk band!  I get it, I’m the one who is more involved with the scene, so they see me playing with another project and people automatically think it’s my project.  Even though we play none of my songs and the content is very different.  Either way, I’m letting those of you who don’t know, know the essential history of these two creative humans.

[matthewwilliamcharles]

What is fascism?

We use the word so much in today's world but I really don’t think that most people know exactly what fascism means, or what it means to be a fascist.  I say that because I encounter so many people that misuse the word.  Most of the time when I hear somebody accuse somebody else of being a fascist, they are typically the ones who are ACTUALLY being a fascist!

So what is it to be a fascist or to be anti-fascist?  The word fascist originates from the fascist party that was created in Italy and was led by Mussolini. Mussolini was a brutal dictator, who famously said, ”The press of Italy is free, freer than the press of any other country, so long as it supports the regime.”  Besides that statement being Orwellian double-think, it is obvious that Mussolini does not actually believe in a free press.  Any thought or ideology that contested the ideology of the state was to be crushed.  When we call people fascists, it is meant to be targeted at someone who believes that an idea that doesn’t adhere to mainstream opinion, or that does not align with the government's ideology, should be silenced. Therefore the only people that are actually anti-fascist, by the way that we use and define the word in its current context, are freedom of speech absolutists.  The, ”I support freedom of speech, except…”people are fascists by that definition.  You have to be tolerant of all peoples opinions, no matter how atrocious you may think they are, if you are to actually be an anti-fascist. If you don’t like it, stop using the word fascist.

Many people accuse other people of being a fascist because they express ideas that support a particular politician or political party.  When people support a political party that you do not like, it does not make them a fascist. If you believe they should not be able to express their opinions, then you are the one who is being a fascist.  Fascism is not left wing or right wing, a fascist government has a centralized system of control, and is usually headed by a dictator, but doesn’t have to be.  A fascist government will not allow dissenting ideas to be expressed and will forcibly shut down the opposition.  

So think twice before you call somebody a fascist.  Do your own research, it’s not hard to take a few minutes to read a brief history of fascism and see how different people define it and how it’s used.

#fascism #freedomofspeech #Freedom #facts #correct

[matthewwilliamcharles]

"Those who support individual rights are not motivated by an insensitivity to the plight and suffering of others, but rather by the recognition that in granting each of us the freedom to pursue our own good, social cooperation, the division of labour and a prosperous society emerge in a bottom-up manner and thus the ability to help others also improves. For without the wealth generating mechanism of freedom all the good intentions in the world will not clothe, house and feed the poor."

https://academyofideas.com/2020/09/greater-good-tool-of-social-control/