Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Boland.
Hi Matt, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania where I begin my love for 50’s rock ‘n roll rhythm & blues and… songwriting!. In 2004, at the age of 18, I started my band Matty B and the Dirty Pickles (now known as Matty and the Pickles). I have been consistently playing ever since.
From 2004 until 2009, I was writing and performing songs in a 50’s rock ‘n’ roll/rockabilly/punk style with the Pickles. We toured the Northeast and South and also won a few REMA awards.
In 2010, I started venturing into blues and folk. I began performing as a one-man band and started going by the stage name Matt “Broke” Boland. I started doing this when band members couldn’t play Gigs so I figured I’d do it myself, lol. That’s when I began writing more folk driven songs. This turned into a bit of a political adventure as I toured around during the occupy Wall Street protest In 2012. I wrote more uplifting rather than opinionated songs.
Throughout that entire time. I had also performed as Buddy Holly in two separate theater performances (One of which I wrote). I also founded the string band Potwhole and also played upright bass in the bootleggers Bible club. I moved to New York City in 2018 and played around until 2019.
When Covid hit, I redesigned my original band changing the name to Matty and the Pickles and put together a full on five piece show band captivating the spirit of 50s rock ‘n’ roll rhythm and blues…
At the beginning of this year, I had the opportunity to move to Austin where I had never visited. I had toured up and down the entire East Coast but never made it all the way out this way so I jumped on it. Now I’m juggling gigs between Northwest Pennsylvania and Austin and I’m loving it.
I’ve had the opportunity to open for some amazing musicians including Commander Cody, Dennis DeYoung of Styx, The Misfits, the Red Elvis’s, and many other fantastic musicians. I also had the opportunity to perform at the rockabilly Hall of Fame in Jackson Tennessee.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Some of the biggest struggles I’ve had have been starting over. I have been playing constantly every week since I was 18 and I have reached a few successful Heights but due to loss of band members, changing directions musically, and reinventing my acts, it has been an uphill battle. In 2010, I quit my day job and became solely dependent on music and have been doing that ever since so money has been a huge struggle for me however I have managed to keep myself afloat purely based on my musical paths.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Matty B and the Dirty Pickles – original high energy rock ‘n’ roll/rockabilly band that I started when I was 18. Singer/guitar/songwriter. We won 3 REMA awards for best alternative artists. Got to play the New York City mermaid parade, rockabilly Hall of Fame and Tour spreading our high-energy stage show. I’ve been down the East Coast released four studio albums.
Matt “Broke” Boland (current) – this is what I generally go by currently. I do a one-man band where I play a kick drum with my left foot and a tambourine with my right while singing and playing acoustic guitar. A variety of multi-genre originals as well as blues, rockabilly, folk, soul, and classic country released three studio albums.
Potwhole-A band I founded in 2013 until 2016. I switched between playing upright bass and guitar and it featured viola drums and multiple singers including myself. An intense raw string band that was fortunate enough to be on the Coney Island rock ‘n’ roll roadshow in 2015 touring from Vermont to Florida. Released one studio album and two live albums
Bootleggers Bible club – three piece high energy Honkytonk string band featuring Matt Texter on guitar the lake great Louis Nicolia on fiddle and cigar box and myself on upright bass
Matty and the Pickles (current)-High energy five piece show band I sing, play guitar, and jump off of everything in sight. Specializing in rhythm And Blues from the golden era of rock ‘n’ roll. One live album release
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Brokeboland.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4r7aDmT1BSbs6h0P4Zfkpy?si=BB5r1c-aT3ieWUEeCdMuIg
Contact Info:
- Email: Brokeboland@gmail.com
- Website: brokeboland.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/broke_boland
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/brokeboland
- Youtube: YouTube.com/brokeboland
- Other: Thedirtypickles.com
