Category: Press

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DFH in Rock Show Magazine

A little reading to go with your breakfast.

http://www.rockshowmagazine.com/articles/dfh.html

Dead Fish Handshake’s infectious intensity influences and inspires the listener while taking them on an emotional ride always cushioning each sharp turn with protective guitar progression and soothing each burn with cool lyrical intoxication. Wrapped in respect for the alternative 90s era, Dead Fish Handshake offers a sound so fresh and original it begs to be acknowledged independently while forcing you to admire the evolution of sound. The lead singers deep and sultry baritone vocal seduces the tempting guitar and the product is the perfect arrangement of dreamy story telling that erupts into an explosive textured sound, filthy and fervent, while completely scathing rock. This Molotov cocktail of blues, rock, and grunge, produces a sound quietly rigid and rough with a proud flaming ferocity of yesteryear. The fellas are hitting the road this summer to take their sound to the masses. Breaking free of the East Coast Metropolitan area will allow the boys a unique opportunity to excel and promote an already successful reputation and a well-received sophomore album.

With a sound all its own and a tangible feel of compassion and vulnerability, DFH’s debut attempt Across State Lines offered the band to its immediate fans as a safe place to rest while wrestling with emotions too intense to assume others shared. Singer Matthew Paul extends his lyrical hand and grabs firmly onto the feelings all so universally accepted yet whispered in a crowd. Music, the excellent explosion and blending of hard rock and roll and soft sentimental lyrics, is sometimes exactly what the doctor ordered. Screw pills. Screw therapy. Pop in your favorite cd and vibe from beginning to end. Dead Fish Handshake cures what’s ailing you every single time. Packed with powerful yet haunting melodic lyrics, penetrating guitar riffs, and pulsating drum beats, its hard outer shell slowly peels open with each original song and exposed is the true talent of experienced musicians bleeding real and raw rock to their core. The result is The Sixes; a rock rooted soundscape with the perfect rise and fall of the simple and the abstract, the need and the want, and the lost and the found. This second attempt solidified the DFH sound but still gave them room to experience and grow. It allowed fans of all creeds to find and follow them.

Add Clint Lowery (Sevendust/Hello Demons Meet Skeletons) as producer and Architekt Music Recording Studio (1 Boonton Ave, Butler, NJ) as the backdrop to this already ambitious band and The Sixes is a product that symbolizes passion, power, and a prevalence to not only succeed but also to surpass. Hits like “Turning a Blind Eye” and “The Blackest Skies” taunt the listener with a pace like an excited heart beat and lyrics that sooth and calm the highest of emotions at the same time. Dead Fish Handshake effectively exhibits power and conviction behind each mesmerizing song and offers a musical journey dotted with gut wrenching ballads, full of passion yet insulated with masculinity, and melodic crispness attacked by genuine authentic rock riffs. Alluring darkness and enticing reality in lyrics drenched in truth and kerosene ignite into fiery flames with the smash of the drums and burn hotter and brighter with each inescapable and poignant chorus. With words so tangible you swear you can grab onto them and suffocate the pain while trying to hold onto the slippery words of comfort and compassion, “Leave the Light On” and “E-Motionless” become the soul of the album. Matthew Paul, in a statement on their website (www.deadfishhandshake.com) said, “And as silly as it sounds my heart smiles when you all tell me how much you connect with what we do. Those songs are about pure misery and defeat and you all bring such a different positive outlook to it and I try to pay you all back by getting on a stage and being a voice for things maybe everyone else wanted to say but could never find the right words.”

The “Leave the Light on Tour” will kick off in Florida, circle up as far west as North Dakota and close with shows back home in New Jersey and Rhode Island, respectively. Dates are slowly popping up on their website and social media sites. If ever there was a band excited to meet new fans and firmly shake some hands (no pun intended) it would be these guys. They are by far some of the warmest and kindest rock and rollers I’ve ever met and know that their special brand of fan centered band will go over very well throughout the rest of the country. They are one of the best kept East Coast secrets and will soon become a national treasure. –

Unfortunately, it takes more than hopes and dreams to gas up a van and fill up a rockers stomach. Such as life, right? The boys said, “As most of you know, and have seen up close and in person, being in a band is not as glamorous as it looks. The reality is, we are about to cram in a van, have a steady diet of non-perishable food items, sleep in Walmart parking lots, and pray that it rains so that we can shower! All so we can bring you our special brand of good ol’ rock n roll! Combine all of that with some overwhelming overhead expenses and you have a recipe for living the dream!” Dead Fish Handshake has created a Kickstarter account as an interactive way to be a part of this project and to aid in their attempt to tour the country. Be a part of this journey and contribute whatever you can. These guys have it, and they are attracting attention from the industry. Be a part of it too. You don’t have to go broke. Just donate what you can and support creativity, local music, and all around a great group of guys. Best part is that each donation comes with some very cool incentives ranging from never-before-released music to private shows, to signed gear!

But hurry up before it’s too late. This project must be funded by July 1st. Take this opportunity to be a part of something. Something great! The sound is unique, the guys are real, and the “Leave the Light On Tour” will be a guaranteed home run. Step up to the bat. You’ll never miss with this band. Visit their Kickstarter page here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/deadfishhandshake.

~Stina Marie Harris
stina@rockshowmagazine.com

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Matt speaks to The Rag about Musicians Against Bullying

Matthew chatted with THE RAG and had this to say about the upcoming “Musicians Against Bullying” benefit show:

“The lyrical undertones of our music speak to those who have endured and overcome personal struggles. I personally believe no one shoul allow themselves to be victimized by the ignorance of others. DFH is about self-empowerment. In order to achieve that status you must have an outlet that allows you to find your true potential as an individual; skin that you feel comfortable in; the confidence to stand up for yourself and what you believe in. Music did that for us. Hopefully being part of this show will continue to allow us the opportunity to spread that message to those who need a reminder.” Matthew Paul

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“Speak Into My Good Eye”

Here’s a little DFH mention on speakimg.com
http://speakimge.com/dead-fish-handshake-use-single-leave-the-light-for-sandy-relief/

New Jersey’s Dead Fish Handshake has released a new single named “Leave The Light On” in hopes of using this subdued and uplifting piece of Alt-Rock balladry as a vehicle to raise funds for those affected by Hurricane Sandy.

The track originally appeared on the outfit’s 2011 EP Across State Lines [it was actually from the 2012 EP The Sixes (DFH)] but has since been plucked from that compilation for this special release. Stream it below, purchase here, and help make a difference. All proceeds will be donated to the Monmouth County Food Bank.

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Dead Fish Handshake: A Firm Grip on Music

A couple weeks ago, Matthew had a chat with Shanna over at NY Social Status. Read the interview here:

http://nysocialstatus.com/2012/11/05/dead-fish-handshake-a-firm-grip-on-music/

There is absolutely nothing more powerful in this world than music. It can draw people together, influence behavior, heal pain; the abilities of music are endless. With such an amazing power in their hands, musicians are in a much more significant position than they often realize. Dead Fish Handshake vocalist, Matt Paul has no trouble recognizing the impact music can have on its audience and is keen to ensure that his music leaves a good impression.

“I’m not trying to preach to anyone,” Paul explains. “The things I talk about in my lyrics are things that I’ve gone through. While the topics may be a little on the depressing side, the message is just to let people know that there’s somebody else who’s gone through what they may not be able to express. Hopefully as a singer I’m in a place where I can give their feelings some words. That, to me, is the best thing about music.”

It’s easy to understand why this is Paul’s favorite thing about music, but when it comes to Dead Fish Handshake, there is oh, so much more to admire. Composed of a collection of members from other bands in the area, Dead Fish Handshake is an effective combination of a variety of influences and excellent musicians with a message for their listeners.

Photo credit to deadfishhandshake.com

“In this band, it’s funny, individually, we’re all into such different bands,” Paul explains. “We’re all on different platforms, and when we put those genres together I guess you get Dead Fish Handshake.”

The music industry couldn’t have asked for a better combination. The DFH sound is a healthy blend of old school rock and decade influences underscored by soulfully written lyrics that simultaneously expose band members and embrace fans. Like any good musical group, DFH has witnessed the growth of their sound into the perfect blend of their individual interests.

“We wanted to have heavy aspects, but we’re also fans of acoustic, electric, classic rock, soul music,” Paul explains. “I think we’re still defining that sound. If you go to the first album, those songs were written acoustic and we built them up to make the rock songs you hear on the record. A lot of those songs touched on a lot of different sounds.”

As a result of their hard work, dedication and production work with rock staple, Sevendust‘s Clint Lowery, the boys from Dead Fish Handshake have just released a new album that captures their sound much more accurately.

“Clint brought the intensity of Sevendust to Dead Fish Handshake but let us be ourselves,” Paul notes. “When you’re inspired by people, you take things from them, and what was cool was that Clint let me keep what I was influenced by, what I was inspired by, but he kinda brought my own voice out of me. With The Sixes we finally created the DFH sound. As far as what our sound is, we’re not reinventing the wheel by any means, but hopefully we’re re-injecting some life into a genre of music that’s taken a lot of heat lately.”

Beneath all the effort and growth Dead Fish Handshake has experienced, the message of their music remains one of the most important aspects of what they do as a band, and their combined forces couldn’t be more perfect for such a mission.

“Mark and Darren, being the rhythm section, they’re what gives it life. They’re the heartbeat,” Paul says. “They’re there to give that emotion, that idea that Rob and I have, life. I’m a guy who writes introspectively. I pull from things I’ve gone through in my life. There are a lot of heavy topics, like suicide, low self-esteem, things like that. They’re just things I’ve gone through myself, and this record was an outlet. I’ve had a lot of heartache in my life. We’re not an emo band, but I do think music should be powerful and there should be emotion behind what you do. Hopefully the topics, while they focus on a darker side of life, it’s letting people know that they’re not alone.”

Perhaps one of the most amazing aspects of the DFH process is the cathartic and therapeutic effect the creation of music has on the band members themselves.

“You start out writing these songs for you,” Paul admits. “I wrote these songs to help myself. I never in my wildest dreams thought there would be people out there who took comfort from it. One of the things I truly love is interacting with fans. Music aside, I love meeting fans. That’s something I always make it a point to do. They give meaning to that stage. That’s pretty much my therapy. What they do for me is giving me that opportunity and helping me cope. When I go out and sing, in a lot of ways I’m bleeding out those things, and I need that as a human. I hope that when people come see that they maybe sense that, but in a positive way.”

The purpose behind Dead Fish Handshake is a testament to why music is so incredibly powerful, and why it is such an integral part of our lives. We are all human, and we feel so many things. So often, all we’re searching for is someone who understands those feelings.

“Everybody’s problems are all relative,” Paul says. “It’s based on what you’ve gone through individually. I think as a society, we don’t all have enough love for one another. That’s evident. If there’s anything observational in my music, that’s a big one. As beautiful as something like love can be, music can be just as beautiful. The best thing about music: it’s a timeline for what you’ve been through. Everybody needs that time to reflect or to re-evaluate.”

In line with this message and the idea that society should help, not hurt, one another, Dead Fish Handshake is participating in a benefit concert for Students Against Being Bullied on November 16 at Asbury Park’s Stone Pony. Just a few days after their upcoming November 14 showwith Hurt and Smile Empty Soul, DFH will join musician Apryl Evans to raise awareness of bullying in school and the devastating effect it can have.

In an era where mainstream music is focused on partying, physical appearance and meaningless sex, Dead Fish Handshake is a welcome respite and reminder of the impact music can and should have and the undeniable influence it has on everyone involved. Thank God for Dead Fish Handshake.

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Rob talks “Turning a Blind Eye” on antiMUSIC.

DFH guitarist, Rob Ferreira, gives a little insight on “Turning a Blind Eye” forthe latest edition of antiMUSIC.com’s ‘Singled Out’.

http://www.antimusic.com/news/12/September/24Singled_Out-_Dead_Fish_Handshake.shtml

Today Dead Fish Handshake guitarist Rob Ferreira tells us about the lead single, “Turning A Blind Eye” off their latest album, “The Sixes,” which was produced by Clint Lowery (Sevendust, Call Me No One). Here is the story:

After last year’s “Across State Lines”, it was time to start thinking about a new record and as we compiled a song-list of both new and existing songs, “Turning a Blind Eye” was one of those ideas that came together in the later days of writing and immediately became a band favorite. The end result is slightly different than the arrangement we went into the studio with. Credit to Mr. Clint Lowery (Sevendust, Call Me No One). Working with Clint was an incredibly rewarding experience. We’re a band that prides itself on not only finding the right balance of song and melody but doing it in different ways each time. That was the main focus of this new record. “Turning A Blind Eye” exemplifies that intent. With its infectious chorus, we thought it’d be a great first single to bridge lyrical substance and hook sensibility.

Lyrically, the song can be interpreted in a few different ways. It’s one of those fascinating things about music – it’s all relative to the listener and their life stories. Essentially, the song addresses that age-old topic of ‘ignorance is bliss’, what it means and how it’s experienced. The failure to seize that defining moment that’s presented in front of you as a result of unintentionally ‘turning a blind eye’ is an occurrence that we’ve all experienced at one time or another in our lives. They say that being none the wiser about our surroundings may sometimes be beneficial. But is it really? The passing of missed opportunities can sometimes make all the difference in our worlds. It could mean the difference between refinement or confinement. Arguably, what you don’t know can’t hurt you, right? But is that so or is it just an excuse to be less involved with important matters that shape our future? And does that shunning behavior contribute to our metaphorical nightmares or are we content turning a blind eye? It’s a topic that you can talk in great lengths about. Sometimes all you need is a 3 minute song to set the table for hours of contemplation.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the album right here!