ODU head Coach and former Super Mario impersonator, Blaine Taylor, famously said after VCU’s Final 4 run that the NCAA tournament can make rockstars out of average people. While that run certainly turned coach Shaka Smart into an overnight celebrity, the title of “rockstar” may very well belong to one of VCURamNation.com’s other favorite people.
Matthew E. White is a class of 2005 grad from VCU’s Department of Music, a former press row member at VCU home games (RVANews.com) and one-time guest (but full time homie) of VCURamNation.com.
As of a few days ago, he can add Rolling Stone “Artist to Watch” to that resume.
White is one of many VCU grads doing big things in his chosen field. His name is steadily making the rounds through all the major music blogs and publications, getting love on Pitchfork.com, NPR (National Public Radio), and the aforementioned Rolling Stone, as his recently released and self-recorded album Big Inner drops via the Richmond-based and (surprise) White-led Spacebomb Records.
White has been a fixture of the Richmond music scene for years now, building momentum first with bands like the Great White Jenkins and avant-jazz collective Fight the Big Bull. He’s recently been spotted at venues like Balliceaux in the Fan with a stripped down version of the 30-piece crew he’ll be taking to Raleigh’s Hopscotch Music Festival next Thursday (Sept. 6).
He’ll follow that performance up with an opening slot on the upcoming Mountain Goats tour, a tour with an October 9th date at The National on Broad and 7th street near the Richmond Coliseum.
So give him a look and a listen, some dap if you see him, and check out yet another VCU grad going pro and doing his best to put VCU on the map.
