Mathews, who recently left his position as Midtown and Studio C’s music and programming director, reveals the albums that have sparked a lifelong love of music.
From Folk to Ska-Punk: Quinn Mathews musical lovers cover a lot of ground. (Courtesy Photo)
EDITOR’S NOTE: All musicians and music industry movers and shakers can trace their inspiration to key recordings that influenced their careers. Writer Ross Boissoneau today showcases music that changed the world for musician, concert booker and broadcaster Quinn Mathews. Scroll down for a Spotify playlist of his picks, including a current favorite.
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Music has been a focus for Quinn Mathews throughout his life.
Not only is he comfortable on stage — for many years as part of the Channing & Quinn indie-folk duo — he also has been active behind the scenes.
For more than two years, he led community radio station WYCE-FM as its station manager before leading operations of the new Grand Rapids concert venue Midtown (formerly Listening Room) starting in 2018. He left his post as director of music and programming for Midtown and Studio C in October.
Today, he works as a freelance talent agent for music and comedy.
“I grew up in North Carolina. Then I got into music and moved to Nashville for 10 years,” Mathews continues.
“I got started performing in my teens as a guitarist. When I moved to Nashville, I thought I’m going in as a performer, but I got a crash course in the music business – setting up tours, how you release (music), digital, streaming.”
That was in the early 2000s. It wasn’t until 2010 he set foot in the Great Lakes State when he was touring. Four years later, he found himself living here, immediately impressed by the community, local talent and collaborative nature of West Michigan’s music scene.
“I was looking for work in music. My degree is in broadcasting. WYCE needed a station manager. I got the gig,” he said. “I didn’t know how long it would last. Now I’ve been here (in Grand Rapids) 10 years.”
1. Mississippi John Hurt, “Today!” – It’s one I still play often. I love fingerpicking and old folk. Doc Watson was like our god of fingerpicking, Jerry Garcia … I learned a lot of the traditional songs came from Mississippi John Hurt. Listening to that, I think of all kinds of traditional folk, the thumb on the bass and (fingers playing) melody. It’s one I discovered 25-ish years ago and it’s been rotation since. I played it this morning.
Listen: “Pay Day”
2. Gillian Welch, “Time (The Revelator)” – That’s still in the folk world. I was working in a theater in North Carolina in the 90s with different acts, comics, speakers, movies. At a Gillian Welch/David Rawlings show I’d never seen so many people in so many different facets of life. They were touring in support of that album. It is haunting, it is beautiful. I never heard a singer like her. David Rawlings’ guitar playing – I don’t go deep enough in theory, but he plays and it’s not even in the key, but it works.
Listen: “Revelator”
3. Rancid, “And Out Come the Wolves” – It’s out of left field. I came up in the 80s and 90s and first liked a lot of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, etc. in my teens. I liked folk, bluegrass. I vividly remember going with a guy (friend) to a record store. I was into folk, he was into punk. We each had to get a record the other had to listen to. I played a Grateful Dead (album). In about 30 seconds he said get it off. He put on Rancid. It was fast, two-minute songs, the bass in triple time. “You’re going to hate this,” he said. But I loved the album. It’s so cool. Songs you can sing along to. It led me down some different rabbit holes I wouldn’t have gone down. It opened me to other styles of music, looking into the lyrics, how they’re written.
Listen: “Maxwell Murder”
Currently Loving: Amythyst Kiah, “Still + Bright” – I’d seen her name pop up on a few things. We had her at Midtown. She’s the Mississippi John Hurt of today. It’s the new album with Billy Strings on it. In 2024, you still get artists like this.
Listen: “Empire of Love”
ALBUMS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD: Quinn Mathews’ Playlist on Spotify
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