Interview with Matthew Peabody (Last Tourist)
It’s no secret why I like the Last Tourist – they’re all really nice guys to talk up music with who also happen to write great, powerful songs. So when frontman Matthew Peabody told me that Last Tourist would be going their separate ways tonight at Small’s in Hamtramck, well I just put my head down and cried. All kidding aside, Matthew and his merry band of young Detroit professionals are truly a Detroit pop-rock gem, and it will be sad to see them go. Nonetheless, here is Matthew Peabody’s last Last Tourist interview.
Since this is the summer of Hollywood Back-story blockbusters like Wolverine and Star Tek, how about giving us the “origin story” of Last Tourist?
Last Tourist started as a solo effort. I was living in Ann Arbor, recently laid off from my first college job. And instead of immediately attempting to find a new position, I decided to collect unemployment and write an entire album’s worth of tunes (it would later become “Portrait of a Marathon,” our first full length). Moving back to suburban Detroit, I reconnected with some old friends and band-mates and formed the first inception of LT, then called Immerse. Myself, Paul (bass) and Chris (guitar) are the only three original members still in LT; Mark (guitar/vocals) joined in early 2004 and Eric (drums) joined in late 2004.
Tongight at Small’s is your last Last Tourist show, why are folks calling it quits?
I am moving out of town, as my wife has taken a new position in Chicago. I certainly hope it doesn’t mean the other guys continue to make music in my absence and I hope that maybe one day I can collaborate with them again… LT Reunion 2021!!!!!
So If Paul (a.k.a. Gorilla) goes on to be rich and famous without you will you kill him? (Why is your bass player called Gorilla anyways?)
I’m a lover, not a fighter. I’d wish Gorilla nothing but great success. And probably hit him up for cash once in awhile. As for his nickname, his last name is Serilla. It rhymes. Clever.
How about putting out a solo album and calling it “Matthew Peabody Live”?
I have been writing some material that seems more conducive for a solo project which I’d love to put out in the near future. I’ll probably work with Gorilla on producing my hip-hop album under my DJ Orange Julius moniker, as well.
Your vocal ability plays a major role in the music you create, what artist do you look to for inspiration?
Growing up, I emulated all of the singers I admired; Robert Plant, especially. And without any sort of formal vocal training, it was that mimicking that sort of shaped me into what I am today. When I began writing songs for Immerse and later LT, I was obsessed with Jeff Buckley (still am, really), which I suppose one could still hear within my vocal delivery. Other contemporary singers such as Glen Hansard (The Frames) and Jay Clifford (Jump, Little Children) have taught me how to discover my range and feel comfortable within it.
FEATURED TRACK:
“Good Advice” - Last Tourist
A few years back Duncan Shiek told me that he would be scared to cover of one of Jeff Buckley’s songs, have you every tried or thought about it?
I’ve covered him when playing solo gigs. A few years back, we did a slight tease of “Grace” leading into a song in the same key. I’m not even a hundredth of a singer he was, so for me to even attempt to emulate his vocals takes a lot of courage – usually of the liquid variety.
Who are some of your favorite local Detroit artist?
I’m a big fan of Zoos of Berlin, Millions of Brazilians, Deastro, the Prime Ministers. Many, many others. I am currently really diggin” the Darling Imperial stuff (and coincidentally they’re playing our final show with us). I loved Porchsleeper when they were still around and am excited to be sharing the stage with their latest inception, Fidrych.
What can we expect for your “final” show tonight? Isn’t Millions of Brazilians on the bill?
Unfortunately Millions of Brazilians are not. RILEY!!! smoked one too many BULBZ and Zoz has to care for him.
As for the final show, we’ll be debuting a new song and playing most of the material we’ve been working on over the last year or two. We’re in the process of recording much of it for an EP that we hope to release sometime the next few months. And, we’ll probably close out the evening with a rousing singalong of “I Shall Be Released.”
