Culture
William Matheny and Adam Remnant to Kick Off Intimate Stage Door Series
By: Rachael Beardsley
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Ohio University’s Memorial Auditorium will be home to a different type of concert this month, one that invites the audience on stage with the artists. On Thursday, September 20, this year’s Stage Door Series will begin by hosting William Matheny and special guest Adam Remnant.
William Matheny’s rock music is best known for retelling common events in original ways. His lyrics, though about experiences common to many people, seem fresh and new because of his deft word choice. For instance, his song “Living Half to Death” perfectly captures the strain of anxiety and mental strife on one’s life. Or, take the song “God’s Left Hand,” where Matheny articulates that feeling when actions seem futile and there’s nothing left to do but wait for a gift from a higher power.
William Matheny released his first solo album, Strange Constellations, in 2017. The 11-song album is full of works that turn a critical and realistic eye on everyday life. The accompanying EP, “Moon Over Kenova,” is a collection of 14 songs that can stand both on its own or beside Strange Constellations, offering live recordings, new material, reinventions of previous songs and more.
“I guess, more than anything, the thing that keeps me writing is trying to understand the world a little better,” Matheny said. “It keeps me curious, it keeps me thinking, and so it keeps me striving for something, and that’s probably the thing that influences me more than anything else.”
He went on to say that he’s looking forward to the Stage Door Series performance.
“I would say our shows seem to fall under the title of more intimate, […] but I’ve never been to one of these particular concerts,” Matheny said. “I’m really excited about it, it seems like a nice setup. It makes it more personal.”
Opening for William Matheny’s performance will be Adam Remnant, a local artist who has also recently begun a solo career. Remnant writes and records original music in his home recording studio, and in 2016, he released his first solo work, an EP entitled When I Was a Boy. His latest release, the full-length folk rock album Sourwood, explores the desire to seek out new opportunities while still feeling the pull of home. The lyrics of each song drift between these two waring forces “as one might drift between a waking and a dream state.” Remnant’s earnest lyrics create a story rich with conflicting yet loving feelings toward home.
“There’s an old-timey fiddle tune called “Sourwood Mountain,” Remnant said. “I thought [the name Sourwood] had a nice ring to it. I thought it was kind of a fitting title for a town that you might have mixed feelings about.”
Remnant said he will probably play some songs from Sourwood, but incorporate other pieces as well.
“The nice thing about playing solo is, I don’t have to worry about other musicians knowing how to play the song, so a lot of times it’s a good opportunity for me to play songs I don’t normally play,” Remnant said. “So there’s going to be some songs from Sourwood, and maybe some new things I’ll try out as well.”
Remnant stepped onto the music scene in 1999 with the band Southeast Engine, a group he created with a friend in his hometown of Dayton. Remnant was inspired by the underground music scene in Dayton, but after moving to Athens for college, he found his sound merging with the traditional folk music of the region. The band picked up new members as the years passed, including Matheny, in 2008. Though they began by playing in local clubs, they eventually toured both regionally and nationally, gaining praise from like likes of NPR and AV Club.
Although they both share a background with Southeast Engine, Remnant said they had not planned to play anything from the band’s discography. Matheny agreed, saying that, though their paths still cross quite often, both he and Remnant are ready to focus on their new projects.
“We hadn’t talked about singing any Southeast Engine stuff together,” Matheny said. “We’re probably going to focus on the new material.”
The show will begin at 7 p.m. on September 20. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for general admission. For more information, or to buy tickets, visit this link.