Matt Noveskey

Nov. 22, 2006

Northern Michigan has its fair share of rock stars. Bob Seger summers near Harbor Springs; Ted Nugent has a hunting lodge near Baldwin; Mel Schacher of Grand Funk lives in Traverse City year-round; and his former bandmate and now solo artist Mark Farner lives near Petoskey; Tobin Sprout of Guided By Voices lives in Leland; Kenny Olson of Kid Rock fame has returned to live in Traverse City; Rumor has it that Eminem has a summer place on Torch Lake.
With the exception of Olson, those guys didn’t grow up here. The area’s most notable musicians on the national scene include Olson and Chuck Jacobs, a legendary bass player in Nashville, who grew up in Traverse City. Jacobs has been the touring bass player for Kenny Rogers for 25 years and is a sought after session guy in country circles.
Now, however, another local has reached “rock star” status.
Matt Noveskey, a 1994 graduate of St. Francis High School in Traverse City, is the bassist for Blue October. The Austin, Texas-based rockers have been tearing up the charts with their new album (released in spring of 2006) “Foiled” featuring the hit song, “Hate Me,” that has been showing up all over several Billboard charts. The album is currently gold and is pushing the prestige’s platinum (one million copies) level. For Noveskey and his bandmates, perseverance has paid off since releasing their first album in 1998. A few weeks ago they received a call from the management of another band that asked if they would be interested in opening up for them.
That band? The Rolling Stones.

OPENING ACT
“It is pretty wild, I am not really sure how it all happened,” said Noveseky. “We are excited but we have been touring non-stop, so we just have not had time to sit back and think about the fact that we are going to open for the Stones.”
So just how do the Stones go about choosing their opening acts?
“We pick the bands ourselves. We ask people whose music we enjoy and it is a combination of new artists like Blue October and guys like Van Morrison who have been around as long as we have,” said Mick Jagger through his management. “We really like the music of Blue October and would have loved to have them open for us when we played Austin, but Ian McLagan lives there and Mac played in our touring band for awhile, so we had his band open for us. But we are glad that it worked out for Blue October to join us on this gig.”
That gig was November 14 in Idaho. But an injury to lead singer Justin Furstenfeld’s leg prior to this month’s Grand Rapids show forced the band to cancel all shows leading to the Stones concert. Noveskey said the band planned to be there “no matter what.”
Recently, Noveskey had a rare day off and some friends picked him up in Grand Rapids and brought him home for a day.
“I never get a day off and when our tour manager said we had a day off in GR, I was like, wow, I can slide home,” said Noveskey. “I love Traverse City and tell everyone that I am from here. Every musician I run into says, wow, that place is cool. The band loves it up there.”

LOCAL SHOWS
Before they hit the big time Blue October played a few gigs at the Loading Dock.
“It was great,” said Noveskey. “I know some people are working on getting us up there this summer. The rest of the band is from Austin and the first time up here, they were blown away, so we hope to be back soon.”
While Blue October is flying high right now, Noveskey and his bandmates remain cautious and optimistic.
“We signed a deal with Universal in 2000 and thought we were there. But when the album didn’t fly off the shelves, they dropped us.”
They didn’t give up -- instead, they grew up and toured their butts off.
“We were younger then, it was frustrating, but we just went out on the road and built a name for us,” said Noveskey. “So when Universal came back to us this last time we were ready. We also asked them to give us time with the album. We released it this past spring and usually after a couple of months, if it doesn’t move, the label moves on. They were patient and we were patient and now we are thinking the album will go platinum.”
A few years ago Noveskey had lost patience and broke away from Blue October and formed his own band (A+) Machines that he fronted. While the band built a cult following, Noveskey was called back to his former job.
“We parted on good terms so it was easy to come back to be a part of this project,” said Noveskey. “I wasn’t writing as much as I wanted to so I went off and did my own thing. That group was never set up for making songs for commercial radio; it was about us. It was about having fun. Blue October tried a couple of other guys and it wasn’t the right chemistry, so I am back.”

BASS ROOTS
Noveskey starting playing bass at the age of five, inspired from his uncle who played the instrument and was in a popular bar band that toured the Midwest. So how does a kid who went to a high school that is known for its football prowess end up becoming a rock star?
“I tried football in eighth grade,” said Noveskey. “But everyone else got bigger in ninth grade and I didn’t, so I quit. I knew at an early age I wanted to be a musician. It has been a wild ride.”
Noveskey was in a popular local band Switch before his booking agent hooked him up with musicians in Austin that would eventually become Blue October.
So, how much does Noveskey miss Northern Michigan?
“A lot. I have been all over and this place is special. I miss my family and friends the most. I talk to at least one person a day in Traverse City. So it was a real treat to come home for the day because I don’t know when that will happen next.”
Noveskey said that discussions are underway for a possible Cherry Festival appearance in 2007. In the meantime he is enjoying life as a rock star, though he said that recent success hasn’t changed him or his bandmates.
“I guess being dropped by the label a few years ago sits with us,” said Noveskey. “Plus we are so busy flying in and out of gigs that we haven’t really had time to think about any of this.”
So is another album in the works?
“Not right now; we are going to do what we know best and that is to be out on the road,” said Noveskey. “Maybe late next year we will go back in the studio.”
To keep up with Matt Noveskey and Blue October visit their myspace site: myspace.com/blueoctober.

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A Few Words with Robbie Schaefer

It’s been 11 years since Gopherwood—a group of Cadillac music enthusiasts—invited folksters Eddie From Ohio to perform during the organization’s annual fall/winter concert series. The band was a hit on stage and off as they attended a local house party to the wee hours of the morning before piling into their old motor home and making the 14-hour drive back to Virginia.
Eddie From Ohio has enjoyed much success across the country and has a certain fondness in their heart for Cadillac and the Gopherites. The band last performed here two years ago and shortly after that performance they were hit with bad news. Their lead singer, Julie Murphy, was diagnosed with breast cancer.
 The band took a hiatus and decided after Julie enjoyed a full recovery that they were going to change some of their priorities. One big change was cutting their live performances down considerably, making it a necessity for band members to look at other opportunities. Lead guitarist Robbie Schaefer released a solo album and does some occasional dates without his buddies. He performed November 18 at the Elks Club in Cadillac as part of the Gopherwood concert series.
So what is the difference between Schaefer’s solo show and a EFO concert, besides the obvious?
“Obviously, since I am going to be on my own it is going to be infinitely better,” said Schaefer. “No, I am kidding -- Julie is sitting right next to me we are having lunch in Seattle as we have two EFO shows out here. In my solo show I do a lot of EFO material. Instead of Julie singing I am singing, so there is a different interpretation of the songs.”
“It sucks,” blurts out Julie.
“You know you are getting a two-for-one interview here,” laughs Schaefer.
Schaeffer recently released a CD, “Songs For Kids Like Us,” with all sorts of fun tunes and lyrics like “Is there a vegetable called a candy bar?”  
As Schaefer looks back on his musical career he feels both blessed but also reflects that he isn’t where he expected to be at in his life.
“I am not sure that you are ever where you thought you were going to be,” said Schaefer. “I never thought I was going to be a professional musician, let alone still being at it today. I never put a timetable on EFO.”
 EFO’s success on the folk circuit stems from the group going against industry norms. They avoided the trappings of signing a label deal (they have been offered) and remained independent so they were able to generate more profit from the sales of their albums, which collectively are closing in on 150,000 copies sold. They treated their band like a business with four partners and divided up responsibilities. It is a formula that has kept them going for 15 years and kept them in demand on the circuit.
“Yeah, as a band we wanted to build things slowly and remain in control. So to that end I guess we are where we had hoped to be,” said Schaefer. “We have a national following, we play lots of great festivals and we sell lots of records. Plus we get to have kids, spouses, homes, carve pumpkins and Julie has gotten real good at balloon animals.”
It has been a couple of years since you released your CD, “In The Flesh,” are you working on a new album?
“This winter I will go into the studio and record a new album which should be out in 2013,” chuckles Schaefer.”
You sound like Bob Seger.
“Hey, don’t dish Bob Seger,” said Schaefer.
Schaefer performs Eddie From Ohio classics along with his own originals. So, is it safe to say that EFO will be back to these parts soon?
“I wouldn’t want to say that it is safe to say that,” said Schaefer. “Based on what happened a year and half ago we learned that couldn’t envision the bands touring or recording schedule. I do know this we do consider Northern Michigan near and dear to our hearts. There is something special about you people up there.”
Other upcoming Gopherwood concerts:
-- Jan.13: K. Jones & the Benzie Playboyz.
-- Feb. 3: Shout Sister Shout.
-- March 10: Millish.
For tickets or info www.gopherwoodconcerts.com or call 231) 775-2813.