By Keith Walsh
Eric Mattson of Good Luck, Ugly! and Makeshift3 has a lot to say. I’ve been chatting with him since doing our interview in March, and I’ve decided to publish a part two, using his statements that I didn’t use the first time. So here goes.
Perhaps the most controversial aspects of Mattson’s interview are his concerns about keeping lyrics and interviews free of vulgar language. He writes: “Obscene or profane speech should be completely avoided since it is contrary to the virtue of modesty in regards to speech for at least 5 reasons: It is unnecessary, it isn’t classy, it can cause someone to be scandalized by such talk, it desensitizes us, and because our words will be judged by God. Angry people instead need to focus on regulating their anger with reason by either forgiving the person who wronged them while also detaching themselves from the negative thoughts in order to heal. Rather than seeing how much vulgar speech one can get away with, they ought to strive to be full of grace and kindness in their speech. Anything less isn’t fitting for a true gentleman.”
Some might call Mattson’s views old fashioned, but it’s worth noting that he uses the platform made possible by his drumming work to reach out to others, evangelically, and part of the band’s mission is to be inclusive of those who might otherwise feel left out. After all,the name Good Luck, Ugly! was created by vocalist/writer/guitarist Mike Alvarez in an effort to put a positive spin on bullying he experienced growing up. I asked Mattson if it was challenging for the band getting media outlets to comply with the proper punctuation of the name. I told him I got a laugh out of the fact that Amazon’s Alexa device pauses for the comma and even seems to put an emphasis on the end.
He writes: “Haha … It seems I’m always having to request that people who post flyers, interviews, etc., update our band name by adding either the comma, the exclamation point, or both because one or both are often left out and forgotten!”
As Mattson is quite active in promoting the band, doing interviews with podcasts and YouTube influencers, I asked him how he became the de facto spokesperson for GLU. “I would actually say Mike Alvarez is the official spokesperson for the band,” he writes, “but I am always happy to communicate with people when the opportunity arises.”
I asked Mattson how GLU arrived at their energetic pop punk sound, and also about his (currently inactive) band Makeshift3. “Makeshift3 is a mix of pop punk and metal with Blink-182 and Pantera as main influences which I enjoyed because we liked the simplicity and catchiness of the pop punk style but we also liked the dark and edgy sound of metal which allowed for a bit more energy release onstage. Good Luck, Ugly! definitely is more pop punk with some ska elements and I enjoy playing something similar because it’s in my comfort zone but the ska elements are new to me which can make it challenging and interesting to play to in a good way.”
Mattson on the origins of Good Luck, Ugly! : “I posted an ad as a drummer looking for a band in the musician community on Craigslist and Mike Alvarez (guitar/vocals) contacted me to schedule our first practice at Bomb Shelter Rehearsal Studios. Mike also invited his friend Chris Benner (bass) to our first practice. The members in Makeshift3 weren’t interested in being in an active band at the time so Good Luck, Ugly! was a great opportunity for me to stay active playing shows, recording albums, rehearsing, being involved with social media, and hanging out with good musicians.”
Anyone hearing him play will notice the physicality Mattson brings to his role as drummer — he’s got stamina to spare, due to his work as a firefighter and his experiences doing BMX and snowboarding. He explains: “Aside from drumming I’ve always had a passion for snowboarding and BMX. I actually went on to release videos of my riding on YouTube that can be found by searching ‘Eric Mattson snowboard’ and ‘Eric Mattson BMX.’”
I asked Mattson about his musical training. “I started playing drums in 1995 with my first band, Makeshift3 from San Diego, CA. We released our debut full length album in 1996, an EP called ‘Mission Possible’ in 1997, a 2nd album called ‘Fuel For Life’ in 1999, a 3rd album called ‘Game Day’ in 2001, and a 4th album called ‘Fluorescent Black’ in 2005. We were able to get on a lot of compilation CDs with bands from Epitaph Records, Fat Wreck Chords, Nitro Records, Hopeless Records, and Fearless Records with bands such as Thrice, NOFX, Thursday, Yellowcard, Strung Out, Anberlin, Good Riddance, and Slick Shoes.”
“I’ve also been on multiple national tours including a spot on the Vans Warped Tour and have been featured in magazines, online interviews, ESPN, a Warner Bros. TV show, along with radio play worldwide. Some of my favorite bands that Makeshift3 has played with are Thrice, Project 86, Slick Shoes, Sagoh 24/7 (now Anberlin), Dogwood, The OC Supertones, Off the Record, Value Pac, Sick of Change, Born Blind, Hangnail, PAX217, and Too Bad Eugene.” He says that though GLU has played in California so far, they’re open to playing in other states, doing small tours.
I also asked how the California punk scene has changed in the decades he’s been active in it. “The punk scene in the 90’s seemed like younger bands in their teens and 20’s playing a more new school punk rock sound that revolved around the skate, surf, and snow scene. The punk scene now seems like older bands in their 40’s and 50’s with a more old school punk rock sound that revolves around the bar scene.”
Do you think Mattson’s views and the approach of Good Luck, Ugly! are old fashioned or do they make sense? Leave your comments below! Thanks!
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(Featured Photo by Steve Vasquez of S&L Vasquez Photography)