Hello again my friends out there in 311 nation! Hope everyone has been well since it’s been a few weeks since the last spotlight. Don’t worry, this one won’t disappoint! Let’s meet Matt Roads from the amazing Tropidelic!
The first memory that Roads has of 311 is around his time in middle school, when he saw the video for “Down” on T.V. He said he was immediately struck by it. “Even at that age, thinking this was something different.”
Roads attended a handful of 311 shows in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Columbus before Tropidelic really started up. “I do remember during the
early onset of the band, we drove down to see them in Columbus and
waited by their tour bus til the bitter end and ended up meeting
Ballyhoo! instead. I’ve been a touring musician almost all my adult
life and when you tour at the pace we do, you really don’t get a lot
of time to go see shows (or do anything else). That being said, I’ve
seen a ton of their shows now since opening for them, including 20 or
so last year.” As for favorite show, he said it’s definitely one of the cruises. “Always a blast.”
As for song that means the most to him, I’ll let Roads tell you in his words. “I spent many hours during my college years running Transistor,
Evolver, From Chaos, The Blue Album front to back. Those records take
me to a place. Maybe..Jacks?”
Roads grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in a blue collar household. “I think from a young age I was seeking some sort of alternate route or outlet. I found that in music and even more so, in music that diverged from the beaten path. I think that is why I gravitated to 311’s music.”
Fun fact about Roads is that can juggle and walk on stilts. “I think I can still walk on stilts at least.” Guilty pleasure for him is that he loves true crime and gangster movies. “As lame as it sounds, I also enjoy things as simple as cutting the grass at my home. It helps keep me grounded.” Some other musicians that Roads can be found listening to include Tyler Childers and Mac Miller.
As for what Roads would say to 311, these are the words he wrote: “I’ve said a lot of things, mostly all revolve around just having the
utmost appreciation and respect for them. They definitely have helped
form not just my musical path but my whole human path with their
music. In recent years, the 311 community has been incredibly
supportive and embracing of Tropidelic and that has been very
significant for us. So many thanks are due from us to the whole 311
sphere of influence.”
Now here are his words to all the other 311 fans out there:
“It’s been an amazing experience to meet and form friendships with so
many of you. Hope to meet more of you in the years to come!”
There you have the story of Matthew Roads! I cannot thank him enough for being a part of this. I hope everyone enjoyed reading all about his 311 story. Now if you haven’t listened to Tropidelic yet, do me a favor and check them out NOW! Have an amazing week friends. Until next time.
Much Love – The Runt