Matt Derda & The High Watts, a Folk Rock group based in the Chicago suburb of Wheaton, IL. By blending Rock N Roll riffs with Eastern Kentucky roots, they’ve created a unique sound that captures the essence of Johnny Cash’s Nashville and the grit of rock acts like The Replacements.
The story of Matt Derda & the High Watts begins with summers spent in a holler in Eastern Kentucky. Matt grew up on the East Coast but his family would return to an old coal camp house in Betsy Layne, KY where his Grandmother grew up. The stories and music from this period of his life would shape his song writing later.
In high school, Matt’s family would move to West Virginia and then Ohio and during this time he grew to be a fan of punk rock and alternative music and started play the guitar. Armed with the fake British accent and a cheap Squier Jagmaster, he didn’t make much of a splash in the music business. But he did discover a new passion in Theater class, improv comedy.
When he graduated high school all he wanted to do was be on Saturday Night Live. He heard about a theater in Dayton, OH called Smarty Pants, which was run by a guy named Joey Greene. Bonding over music, Joey and Matt became fast friends. After shows, they would stay up late at the theater listening to music and Joey turned him onto bands like The Replacements, The Breeders and Guided By Voices, all who would shape Matt’s sound in the future.
Later on a mini improv tour in Tennessee Joey and his brother Jason played Uncle Tupelo, Wilco and Son Volt and it blew Matt’s mind. It was the culmination of the Kentucky country roots and the alternative music he grew to love. When the tour ended, Matt’s guitar playing and song writing changed entirely to Alt Country.
Following the tour Joey moved to Michigan and Matt moved to Chicago to pursue improv comedy. A few years later, both decided to go back to music and start a new Chicago based band called The Disappointments. After a few years of playing around the city, Joey moved to Kansas City and would be featured on Netflix’s Queer Eye and Matt would move the burbs to start a family. Matt decided to retire The Disappointments and start fresh with a more Folk Rock sound. Matt Derda & the High Watts were born.
Although Joey lives in Kansas he still records with the band and when traveling through town will sometimes make an appearance with them on stage.
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