134: Matt Mundy on ARU, Widespread Panic, and His Bluegrass Roots

In episode 134 of The Bluest Tape, hosts Harvey Couch and Jeff Kolath welcome a special guest with deep connections to Widespread Panic history - mandolin player Matt Mundy, formerly of the Aquarium Rescue Unit and the musician who played on Panic's "Pickin' Up The Pieces."

Topics Discussed:

• Matt's musical journey from his bluegrass upbringing to joining Colonel Bruce Hampton's Aquarium Rescue Unit
• The story behind Matt's mandolin playing on Widespread Panic's "Picking Up The Pieces"
• Recollections of the early days with ARU and being part of the Capricorn Records roster in the 1990s
• Matt's experiences on the H.O.R.D.E. festival tours in 1992-93, including the legendary collaborative jams between bands
• What it was like to rejoin Widespread Panic on stage at the Fox Theatre in 2022 after a nearly 30-year absence
• Memories of playing with Jimmy Herring and Michael Houser
• Matt's bluegrass roots, his family's musical history, and the Louisville and Lexingtoni Holiday Inn circuit where his parents performed alongside future stars like Tony Rice and Ricky Skaggs
• His current musical projects, including an upcoming album featuring his mother on bass and a mix of bluegrass and swing tunes

Guest Info:

• Matt Mundy - Former mandolin player for Aquarium Rescue Unit who has played with Widespread Panic numerous times, including a session on "Pickin' Up The Pieces." He continues to perform bluegrass music and is currently working on a new album with his family.

Musical Influences Mentioned:

• David Grisman, Sam Bush, Colonel Bruce Hampton, Bobby Osborne
• The Louisville bluegrass scene featuring JD Crowe, Tony Rice, and Ricky Skaggs

Hosts' Recommendations:

• Harvey: "Adolescence" on Netflix - a four-episode drama filmed in single takes
• Jeff: The first four songs of Jason Isbell's new album (with mixed feelings about the rest)

Notable Quotes:

• "I gig quite a bit, but I've held a day job for years... Music's a lot of fun, but there's very few mandolin players in your square mile that earn a living." - Matt Mundy
• "Bluegrass has been in my life all my life... Still I'm playing bluegrass music. I started when I was probably 11. It bit me a little bit right in there." - Matt Mundy
• "You're basically just doing it to have a record, a record of something... It's not to make money. It's not to promote a tour. It's just to do, and we have a studio, so why not?" - Matt Mundy on recording his new album

At the end of the episode, listeners are treated to two new unreleased tracks from Matt's upcoming album, "Flatt Lonesome" and "Island Hop"

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