"It’s a crying shame that the world at large isn’t familiar with this guy yet. It’s time for that to change. Country, Americana, Southern rock, call it what you want to call it. I’ll just call it bad-ass." Fred Phillips somethingelsereviews.com
Dubbed as the "Hemingway of the Highway" by fans, singer-songwriter Mathew deRiso has written, recorded and performed original music since 2006. Vocalist and principle songwriter for the roots rock band The Profane Saints from 2006-2019, Mat is currently at work on his first solo album since 2010's critically acclaimed "Plank Road Drag". Critics have hailed him as "A Young Steve Earle with a more powerful set of Pipes" "Lynyrd Skynyrd meets Rob Zombie" and "Gritty, Soulful Hard Luck Americana" Mat has shared the stage with Chuck Berry, the Neville Brothers, David Alan Coe, John Hiatt, Stoney LaRue, Cody Johnson, The Bottle Rockets, Bruce Hornsby, Michael McDermott, Ziggy Marley, The Reverend Horton Heat, Bonnie Raitt and the Avett Brothers.
Born and raised in Aurora, Colorado - Mat moved to Minnesota in his early teens and started playing bass guitar and writing music in a local punk band in High School. During his college years Mat split time between Saskatoon, SK Canada and Minneapolis, MN. Following college Mat relocated to Sioux City, Iowa where he saw Bob Dylan perform at the Orpheum Theatre in 2001. The performance inspired him delve into American Folk, Blues and Old Time Country music- prompting him to pick up the acoustic guitar. A few years later Mat began performing covers and originals in local bars and clubs.
In 2005, Mat was introduced to percussionist Jeff Deignan and lead guitarist Kurt Mullins. The trio began working up full band versions of Mat's acoustic songs and by Fall of 2006 the Profane Saints were a full fledged roots rock band. Several albums and line ups followed to critical acclaim, international radio airplay and regional success. The band performed and toured throughout Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota before disbanding in early 2019.
Mat currently lives and works in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He is currently working on a new solo album for release in 2020.
"I've been in and around music and the business of music, since the early 1970's. In all that time I've heard a lot of bad music, a lot of good music but very little GREAT music. This is GREAT music; well written, well played, solidly produced...from beginning to end the finest example of Americana Rockabilly I have ever heard... It stacks up with Haggard, Johnny Cash, Elvis, and kicks the liver out of most major label attempts in this genre" - Jim Pipkin Hickorywind.org
Singer-Songwriter Mat D’s tracks
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