Words by Chris Carriere & Matt Zadkovich
As the title says, tomorrow night is the one year anniversary of the Cuchulainn’s Open Mic / Jam Night. For all of that time, Matt Zadkovich has been its host. Without going too heavy on the sentiment syrup, Zadkovich (Zaddy to friends) is just a really nice, genuine guy who works hard to ensure that Mississauga musicians have a place to go and play Wonderwall for four hours at a time. I’m kidding, I’m kidding! There are some truly brilliant people who make it out to the Tuesday jam week after week, Zaddy included. Check out the links in the interview below to eavesdrop on the musical happenings in your own backyard.
Like most of Mississauga’s event organizers, Matt is an extremely easygoing guy who puts in the unsung hours necessary to make this city a fun place to live, so that the rest of us don’t have to. It sounds stupid and banal, but I’ve honestly never seen the guy direct an unkind word to anyone. That attitude is reflected in the atmosphere that’s accumulated around the Jam Night over the past year: positive but not geeky, cool but not snide. Also, loud as hell and packed. Clearly they’ve been hitting the mark, because the event has gained serious traction.
Zaddy was kind enough to answer a few questions for MississaugaLife. Check out the Open Mic / Jam Night tomorrow starting at 9 p.m.—or, you know, any subsequent Tuesday. (If you’ve never been and, like me, you’re busily at work on your first heart attack, order the Cuchulainn’s crisps with cheese, bacon, tomatoes and green onions. Eat it all yourself.)
You started out hosting the Marcello’s jam night before that bar shut down. How is the Cuchulainn’s night different?
Yes, I originally started hosting open mics at Marcello’s a few years ago. There were a handful of local artists who hosted there as well, including Luke Mitchell, Joel Martin and a few others. I found that the nights at Marcello’s were a lot of fun, and there was a loyal but small crowd that came out. For some reason despite my best efforts it only expanded to a certain point. Luck of the draw I guess.
When Marcello’s closed down, I sat down with the owners of Cuchulainn’s with a desire to keep these nights going. I found they were very open to the idea and even excited about it. I’m not sure exactly what is was, but there was a vibe in the air from the moment we started the jam nights there that was just magic. From opening night we’ve had steady crowds, a great group of performers, and the staff and bar take care of us very well. It’s a very welcoming environment.
Could you characterize a typical Cu’s jam for the uninitiated? What are you likely to see on a given evening?
Our jam nights are very non-exclusive. Everyone is welcome: no attitudes, no awkwardness. I do my best to introduce myself to everyone personally and to make everyone feel welcome. We normally start the night out with me performing a few tunes, introducing myself and explaining how the nights work: Anyone who wishes to is welcome to perform. If they have their own gear they are welcome to use it, but I also bring enough gear for a whole band to play. Normally we get a good mix of solo performers and full on band jams.
The music ranges from rock to blues, to jazz to country, and punk rock to hip hop on some nights. I have the privilege of performing with a good amount of the jammers. I try to make sure I know enough material so I can sit in on pretty much anything. And if someone really wants me to learn a tune ahead of time I make the effort. It’s what makes these nights special. We have anywhere from 5-20 performers each night.
What’s going on in music today that tickles the fancy of Matt Zadkovich?
There are a handful of things that have me really excited about music again: the popularity of prog metal and the revival of the motown sound.
I’ve always been a big fan of the fusion groups from the 70?s, both in the rock and jazz range: Weather Report, Mahavishnu, Yes, Return to Forever, and countless others. In the last few years the prog infusion in the metal scene has made me excited to hear what’s coming out. Bands like Cynic, Animals as Leaders, and Mastodon are creating what I feel has a real place in music history. And there are countless other bands I hear on a daily basis that are really bringing something fresh and relevant to the table.
The Motown sound has come back with a boom as well, and this has me really excited. I find that music from that era had a tangibility that has been lost in modern song arrangements and production. A slick high fidelity sound has become the norm, with overproduction and a formulaic experience that I feel drains the life and soul out of a great deal of pop music. Artists like Adele have renewed my faith in popular music. You can really feel the tunes and the artist in ways I haven’t felt in a long time.
I’ve also had an insatiable craving for acoustic music. I’ve been really drawn to tangible, natural sounds, music that makes you feel like you are right there listening to the artist. Ryan Bingham is near the top of the list for artists whose acoustic music has really moved me, and the local artists I hear always inspire me.
The local talent we have in Mississauga is always something that keeps me wanting to play and listen. We are truly privileged in Mississauga to have such a vibrant music community. Some of my regular jammers always blow me away, hidden gems. Check them out: Sleeping Tom, Chris Pozzi, Luke Mitchell, Make Haste to Live (Luke Mitchel/Matt Maidens), Jessie Burke, Jeff Craig, and the Dreamboats. And, of course the members of my cover band (The Infringements) make regular appearances: Jason Lyle Cabanaw and Joash Paul. There are countless others, which is why I always say to come check our nights out. There are so many great performers.
Cuchulainn’s, Franklin Pourhouse, and the Cock and Pheasant get into a fistfight. Which bar wins?
Haha, wow. Where to begin. I’d say that’s a tough call. I’d like to think we could avoid the fight and sort it out over a pint.
I had a dream last night, wherein the guy from Foster the People turned to me and said, in his squawky voice, “Guitar is dead because everyone plays guitar.” Is there still a future for those who just want to play rock and roll, even in the age of dubstep?
The popularization of an instrument does not make the artist or music any less relevant. Guitar is a medium for expression. I’d say this answers it well: “Everyone speaks, but how many people are really saying anything?”
Rock and roll is here to stay. What form it will take in the years to come, no idea. But there is something in that music that changed, and continues to change how we see music, and how we see the world. Its relevance is far from gone. I can see and hear it every time I perform.
Shameless self-promotion time. When is the Matt Zadkovich record going to happen?
Thanks for the plug! Things are well in the process right now. I’ve been writing a stack of tunes, and I’m trying to arrange them as both solo acoustic and for a full band to see which arrangement suits the tunes better. I expect my next release will be mostly solo acoustic. I’m demoing material right now that I’m really diggin’, and I anticipate having something ready for late summer. No matter what I will have a solo release this year, and I’m also working on my next metal record. It’s in me to write, I can’t fight it.
People can check out my upcoming performances at www.mattzadkovich.com.
Expect a steady regular amount of original performances leading up to the solo album release date, and hopefully some tours to support it.
Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub, 158 Queen Street South. (905) 821-3790.