OK, I don’t even know where to begin, so let’s just dive right into this.
Friday night we went to see Stoney Brooks at the world famous Northside Tavern in Atlanta, Georgia. Stoney and his band were all just fantastic. Most very well seasoned music veterans with decades of experience. It was a night of great music. On guitar was Cody Matlock. He was simply fantastic all night, playing very tasty licks, always at the right time, never stepping on anyone else in the band-a true professional. And, he’s the youngest of the group by I dunno, maybe a half of a century? Which is wild because he fit in musically perfect with all the others in the band.
Now we fast forward to last night. I’m still blown away, so I’ll try to remember everything as best I can-so here we go. Last night The Cody Matlock Band (yes, he has his own band too-with Jonathan Norwood on Bass (definitely one Atlanta’s best bass players-just so damn good, my goodness), Erik Aylesworth on Drums (very very good drummer and a definite Time Machine), Spencer Pope on Keys (as solid as a keys player as they come) and Cody on Guitar and all vocals) played at another world famous blues club-Blind Willie’s (also in Atlanta, Georgia). Right out of the gate the band led by its very charming and well versed leader-just took absolute control of the room, both musically and in stage presence/crowd work. Cody fully engaged the crowd and had them in the palm of his hand all night long. They played two monster, long, unbelievably good sets of music that had the crowd dancing literally all night long. They played both really good blues standards and a bunch of original Cody Matlock songs too. So-just how good was the music last night? It was Barry Richman, Mother’s Finest and Gurufish good. I am not saying anyone on earth can play guitar like Barry Richman, I’m not saying anyone on earth puts on a real, full, definition of a show like Mother’s Finest and I’m not saying anyone on earth is as funky, soulful and entrancing as Gurufish. What I am saying is The Cody Matlock Band could be on a bill with all three of them and completely hold their own as if they truly did belong on that bill-and that is a HUGE statement. And I stand firmly behind it. They are just that damn good. That was one of the better nights of live music that I can remember. ALL. NIGHT. LONG.
I’m still shaking my head in disbelief. Last week I had two nights in a row of Mother’s Finest (at Eddie’s Attic and at The Buckhead Theatre), and they were two of the best live music nights of my life. This week I had two nights in a row of Cody Matlock and both nights were dream nights of live music. Both weeks were not planned to be double booked like that. Last week Mother’s Finest asked us to come to the next night’s show when were were talking in the green room after their Eddie’s Attic show. This week, I didn’t know that Cody was Stoney’s current guitar player, and I had already planed on seeing Cody last night. I feel as if the Universe is rewarding me for something really, really good that I have done recently? There’s no other explanation that I can think of to be this blessed with this almost unattainable level of live music-two weeks in a row no less? And, AND, in between both of those weeks was a Barry Richman concert in Roswell, Georgia with a band that he is in called The City Limits Experience that we went to! But wait-there’s more, none other than Jimmy from Gurufish called me Friday to say hello and check on me and catch up a little bit. So, I’ll be looking at the Gurufish schedule in July and see what’s happening with their schedule. Mind blowing coincidences, really.
Here is where we send a very, very special and sincere shout out to everyone at Blind Willie’s, from the front door to the bar and everywhere in between. You were all so wonderful, gracious, kind, considerate, HARD WORKING, thoughtful and just the best, man, really. Seriously, thank you. And to the waitress-you’re awesome-our new favorite! I am ashamed to say that I do not remember one name of the whole bunch (but-I caught one of them so they wouldn’t fall when a patron bumped into them pretty hard and sent them flying). But they are as hard working and awesome of a team that a live music venue could possibly have.
Here is the moral of the story, please immediately go to your favorite music streaming platform and download a baker’s dozen (13) of Cody Matlock’s songs. Pick any of them. Fully listen to each one all the way through. Pick your favorites out of the bunch and listen to them each day for a month. Why? Because this young man is worth fame and fortune, and any strides he can make towards that. He is a gem among gems in the Atlanta live music scene. He is a 100% class act, a true gentleman, a very very good guitar player, an shockingly good song writer, a great band leader and apparently a great fiance’ too-as he is going to get married I believe it’s next weekend? Not sure where the wedding will be, but I happen to have a hit list of bands that would be worthy of that gig if they should need me to make a phone call…
Please also look at other Atlanta and Georgia artists and bands and buy or download their music from them or your favorite music streaming platforms too. Your life will definitely be better with music from Barry Richman, Cody Matlock, Gurufish, Mother’s Finest and about a hundred others too! As good as music gets-comes from Atlanta. Full Stop.
A very special thank you to Brandy Stewart for the photo’s!
The great Jonathan Norwood
Erik Aylesworth
Spencer Pope