The phrase “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” doesn’t apply to Matthew Good.
A defining characteristic of this Canadian rock icon is exactly the opposite of that popular axiom.
Over his almost two-decade career, Good has continually pushed forward into uncharted territories, mapping new musical landscapes.
His newest release, Lights Of Endangered Species, takes Good into the unfamiliar, displaying arrangements that are a distinct departure from the likes of Born Losers and Last Parade.
Stark and passionate best describe his latest effort and despite its differences the record still resonates with his fans.
Matthew Good formed the Canadian alternative rock band of the same name that existed from 1993 to 2002.
It became one of Canada’s most successful rock bands of the ‘90s, nominated for a Juno Award in 1998 for “Best New Group” and winning the award for “Group of the Year” in 2000.
The band dissolved in 2002 but Good pursued a successful solo career having released, Avalanche (2003), White Light Rock & Roll Review (2004), In a Coma (2005), Hospital Music (2007) and Vancouver (2009).
The internationally-acclaimed Good is especially popular in B.C. Born in Burnaby and growing up in Coquitlam, Good lived in various suburbs of Vancouver throughout his entire life.
In addition to topping the Canadian music charts, Good has a passion for politics and history and in recent years, he made his political views far more public, and has used his website to express his opinions about the Canadian government, the effects of the United States’ foreign policy, world crises and is heavily involved with Amnesty International.
Opening for Matthew Good is Vancouver’s Daniel Wesley, who joins Good on a 37- date, cross-Canada tour this fall.
Earlier this year, Wesley completed a successful three-province tour of Canada with KO and Rebel Emergency.
Wesley is promoting his fifth studio album, Easy Livin’ (604 Records/Universal Music). The first single, Head Outta Water continues to gain momentum on radio stations across Canada while his second single Hello Britain has been on the air waves since Sept. 12.
Wesley first broke onto the music scene when his song Oooh Ohh became the most requested song of 2007 at 99.3 The Fox in Vancouver.
The infectious rock-reggae single from Sing and Dance in 2007 raised the bar of his career and found Wesley playing to sold-out crowds throughout western Canada and touring across Canada with The Trews, Ill Scarlett and Dirty Heads.
Wesley went on to record his third album, Driftin, that same year.
His 2009 self-titled album, featuring the singles It’ll Be You, Pilgrimage and Drunk & Stoned, debuted on both the iTunes Top Selling Album Chart and Rock Charts.
The album, his first for 604 Records, was produced by fellow musician/producer Dave Genn (54-40, Matthew Good Band) and was the first release where Wesley found himself vacating the producer’s chair.
The album earned him a nomination at the 2011 Verge Music Awards for Emerging Artist of the Year and was accompanied by several music videos including the popular Drunk & Stoned, which received substantial airplay on MuchMoreMusic.
Good and Wesley are playing live at the Clarke Theatre next Friday, Nov. 25.
Tickets are available for $42.50 at all Ticketmaster Locations, by phone 1-885-985-5000 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca.