THE STORY
In the music world of pretenders and throw backs, including glossy whiny Rock bands who wear jeggings (denim tights for men), Americana - music by groups who look like they belong in the 1700's, cliche white Blues acts consisting of lawyers and bankers who play "the real Blues", yet another lame Rockabilly band (who sounds just like the other lame Rockabilly band) and retro and "roots music" repeats who also enjoy playing '50's dress up and glorified cover music all the while calling it original or Rock - comes a band who champions the notion that new, real music can still be created and rock with dignity and soul. Do you ever wonder, "what ever happened to original bands with no gimmicks, who came only to make great music and to rock as hard as possible"? Look no further. The Low Counts have no desire to fool you, be clowns, traditionalists or to replicate old music, only to make new music without forgetting their roots or the best parts of those roots (rural blues, rock, rockabilly, psychedelia and soul). But the mere fact that the band made up of Matt Walsh and Austin Hicks, are a guitar-drum duo happened pretty unexpectedly...
The Low Counts conception came as a fluke rather than an idea – Matt Walsh began writing and working on new material that furthered the originality of his music with the goal to combine all of his influences into a single rather than a separate sound.
Not long after, by chance, Matt decided to move ahead with his new material with Austin Hicks. They met on Craigslist in October 2012. Upon their first time playing, they knew instantly that they had connection musically that continues to deepen. "Matt and I picked the duo format not because we thought it'd be cool to be another cliche guitar and drum duo or to show off, but because we could do it musically and still put out a strong sound that gets our point across". Matt continues, "After I heard Austin's drumming and saw that he could fill space as well as I could on guitar, it was like damn, why do we need anyone else? We were ready to play shows and didn't want to wait on finding some other guy who may have or may not have worked. I'm glad we did because, I think our music allows for what we do to make sense and backup the purpose for our approach".
Matt's style of finger picking coveres all the bottom end and the two also felt that adding a bass might also take away from the raw sound they both were getting and enjoying. "It's also nice to have one band mate who totally sees eye to eye with you musically, rather than justifying ideas and songs to one, two or three other band members. Me and Austin get stuff done as a duo, producing lots of original material and results quicker. I can take an idea to him, sometimes with lyrics, sometimes without,, and within five minutes, we have a new song. Other folks would slow that down and hinder our work". After deciding that, the duo remembered that most of their favorite old Rock and Blues records didn't have bass players anyway, or they were inaudible if they did. After doing three live shows in a duo format and getting a grand reception at all of them, it was obvious that it would be ridiculous to turn back, the deal was sealed and the Low Counts were officially birthed. The common man agrees, "I can't believe there's only two of you".
- Ronnie Stutts (Nonzine Magazine)
The Low Counts conception came as a fluke rather than an idea – Matt Walsh began writing and working on new material that furthered the originality of his music with the goal to combine all of his influences into a single rather than a separate sound.
Not long after, by chance, Matt decided to move ahead with his new material with Austin Hicks. They met on Craigslist in October 2012. Upon their first time playing, they knew instantly that they had connection musically that continues to deepen. "Matt and I picked the duo format not because we thought it'd be cool to be another cliche guitar and drum duo or to show off, but because we could do it musically and still put out a strong sound that gets our point across". Matt continues, "After I heard Austin's drumming and saw that he could fill space as well as I could on guitar, it was like damn, why do we need anyone else? We were ready to play shows and didn't want to wait on finding some other guy who may have or may not have worked. I'm glad we did because, I think our music allows for what we do to make sense and backup the purpose for our approach".
Matt's style of finger picking coveres all the bottom end and the two also felt that adding a bass might also take away from the raw sound they both were getting and enjoying. "It's also nice to have one band mate who totally sees eye to eye with you musically, rather than justifying ideas and songs to one, two or three other band members. Me and Austin get stuff done as a duo, producing lots of original material and results quicker. I can take an idea to him, sometimes with lyrics, sometimes without,, and within five minutes, we have a new song. Other folks would slow that down and hinder our work". After deciding that, the duo remembered that most of their favorite old Rock and Blues records didn't have bass players anyway, or they were inaudible if they did. After doing three live shows in a duo format and getting a grand reception at all of them, it was obvious that it would be ridiculous to turn back, the deal was sealed and the Low Counts were officially birthed. The common man agrees, "I can't believe there's only two of you".
- Ronnie Stutts (Nonzine Magazine)