Matthew Smith Returns: Outrageous Cherry Founder Unveils a New Psychedelic Constellation
After decades spent as the visionary force behind Detroit’s celebrated psychedelic stalwarts, Outrageous Cherry, songwriter/guitarist Matthew Smith is back with a stunning new chapter: the Matthew Smith Group.
This is is a continuation and expansion of the singular, sound-bending journey Smith started. For nearly thirty years and across a dozen albums, Outrageous Cherry was a fixture of the international underground, cultivating a loyal cult following with their deep-dive explorations into psychedelia, folk rock, art rock, and the shimmering pop sensibility of bubblegum music. The band’s run ended in 2017 following the passing of lead guitarist Larry Ray, leaving a distinct gap in Detroit’s storied musical landscape.
Now, Smith is ready to fill that void, not with a revival, but with a fresh sonic organism. The Matthew Smith Group is built on a foundation of familiar excellence, bringing back Outrageous Cherry’s formidable rhythm section: Colleen Burke (We Ragazzi, Smog) on bass and Maria Nuccilli (Deadbeat Beat) on drums.
Smith has brought in some compelling new players to round things out. The lineup now includes:
Ava East (from Shadow Show) on lead guitar, Chris Pottinger (of Cotton Museum, Odd Clouds, and Slither) on Moog synthesizer and avant-jazz composer/instrumentalist Molly Jones on saxophone.
This configuration promises to take Smith’s signature songwriting into thrilling and interesting territory. The way this lineup blends Outrageous Cherry’s garage-psych grit with the experimental fire of Detroit’s avant-garde scene suggests a pretty complex album. Check it out and enjoy it here:
Headline photo: Matthew Smith Group (Credit: Munaf Rayani)
Matthew Smith Group Facebook / Instagram / Bandcamp
Tall Texan Records Facebook / Instagram
