THE MATT STANSBERRY BAND (MSB)

MAY 2008
THE EVOLUTION OF
EVOLUTION ROCK

I've been feeling a little sentimental lately, so I felt like sharing a brief history of the group and the guys who have played in the band.

This has been such a roller-coaster ride for me. It's had its highs and lows for sure, but it's all been worth it and I'd do it all again if I could. In fact, I think that would be pretty interesting, especially given what I have learned along the way and what I know now. I think the biggest lesson I've learned is that there is really no formula to pursuing music and it's all about what you make it. So now I just wake up everyday and decide I'm going to have as much fun writing music, challenging the band to do more and to do it all better, while not stressing about big breaks or industry insiders. I've begun to think what can I be doing to be a success at this today and not what someone else can do for me or hand me, and I feel like it's really beginning to pay off for us. Anyway, I've learned this life lesson through a unique cast of characters that I've had the great privilege of sharing the stage with.

Enjoy the timeline I put together for ya'll!

2003 This is one of our first "real" gigs in Bricktown (downtown OKC) at Bourbon St. Cafe. Thanks to Gwen Meeks, who took a chance on booking us, this became a staple venue for our early years. I just handed her my first solo CD and she gave me a shot at it. The first edition of the MSB was Cary Hawkins on bass, Janoah Jackson on drums and Grant Stevens on keys...all great jazz musicians, but had no problem spicing it up and rockin' it. Without these three great guys taking the plunge with me there might have been no MSB.

2004 The band continued on with Kyle Martin on drums and Kyle Granger on bass, with Grant still on keys. This group's biggest accomplishment was winning the Oklahoma State Fair Battle of the Bands. "The Kyles", as we called them, came during a transitioning phase and were a huge part in launching us to the next level, especially on the local scene, so I owe them a huge thanks for that.

2005 This group would be the "it" group from 2004-2006. With the addition of Denver Greene and Ben Tinius we tore up the town and began playing a few out of town shows as well. Here we are playing to a packed house at Bricktown Live, one of our favorite shows to-date. We were still so green at the time, so this felt like Madison Square Garden to us...what an awesome show and great memory. We released our first album shortly after this show.

2006 "Live at the Jazz Lab" was one of our most creative moments. We turned this performance into a DVD and put up some of my paintings, pulled in our resources and some dear friends and family and scattered the stage with balloons. This was really our first attempt at doing things exactly how we wanted to do them and we haven't looked back since.

2007 When Grant and the MSB parted ways in 2006 we decide to try our hand at a three piece. The band got so tight once we stripped it down to the bare bones, so we decided to capture the raw energy on a six song EP. I think this was a necessity to really grow as players in this band. Here we are on our last tour as a trio in Hollywood, California. We really lived it up like rockstars on this trip and managed to wow a few entertainment industry folks too.

2008 I just got back from the greatest tour experience of my life. I not only got to play music with three of my very best friends, but we got to do this in Japan of all places. In this photo we are performing to a sold out crowd in Kyoto Japan. I'm so proud of what we have going and hope this group, now that we have Vern, will stay just the way it is because I know we can take this all the way.

AUGUST 2008
MY LAST MSB BLOG

JULY 2008
CHANGE IS HERE

JUNE 2008
DFEST ROCKS

MAY 2008
THE EVOLUTION OF EVOLUTION ROCK

APRIL 2008
WISHING WELL

MARCH 2008
JAPAN SUPER-HEROES

FEBRUARY 2008
PREPARING FOR TAKE OFF

JANUARY 2008
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

DECEMBER 2007
MORE TO THIS LIFE

NOVEMBER 2007
NEW PRES OF MSB FAN CLUB!

OCTOBER 2007
IN THE STUDIO: WE.WANT.CHANGE

SEPTEMBER 2007
GIANTS IN HOLLYWOOD

ABOUT THIS BLOG
This blog is written monthly by Matt Stansberry and reflects his own personal thoughts, experiences and opinions.
Contact Matt

For additional entries from other members of the band visit the MSB Myspace Page.

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