Matthew J. Tow

Matthew J. Tow
Matthew J. Tow performing at the Brick And Mortar Music Hall, San Francisco (02-23-2013)
Background information
Also known as	Matt Tow
Occupation(s)	Musician, Songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, Sitar, Autoharp, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Glockenspiel
Years active	1991-present
Associated acts	The Lovetones, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Colorsound, Drop City, Splash

Matthew J. Tow is an Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Perhaps best known as the singer and guitarist of 1990s Sydney indie band Drop City, Tow currently fronts international neo-psychedelic rockers The Lovetones.

Rolling Stone hailed Matthew J. Tow's songwriting as being worthy of Ray Davies, Bowie, Lennon and McCartney.

Matthew's first experience as a recording artist came with early 1990s Sydney indie band Splash (which also included singer-songwriter Gavin Mclean), who released a 4 track EP titled Pendulum in 1991. The Tow-Mclean songwriting partnership would spill over onto early Drop City releases.

Matthew formed Drop City (also known as Drop City Three) in Sydney, Australia at the beginning of 1993. Later that year they recorded their first album A Revolution Of Purely Private Expectations which was released on the Red Eye label through Polydor in 1994. Two more albums were to follow; Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow and, Chiaroscuro. After 4 well received full length LP's, a handful of EP's, 2 Big Day Out appearances and tour support for artists such as The Stone Roses, Stereolab, Yo La Tengo and Manic Street Preachers, Drop City disbanded in late 2000 amid what Tow described as a 'tidal wave of indifferance'.

Drop City Discography:

In 1994, Tow recorded a solo album You’re Only As Good As Your Sound under the moniker of Colorsound which was picked up by Summershine Records in Australia. The following year it was released in the US on Sub Pop. He has since released a further 4 albums in this guise. These releases are typically instrumental and far more experimental than Matthews other projects.

Colorsound Discography:

In 2003 Matthew had the opportunity to join long-time friend Anton Newcombe and his legendary San Francisco based psychedelic outfit The Brian Jonestown Massacre, touring the United States and the UK with them for 3 months as a guitarist. He also contributed 2 songs to their 2003 album '...And This is Our Music'. Tow's opening track "Starcleaner" later also appeared on the BJM retrospective Tepid Peppermint Wonderland.