From street to stage

For many years, bass player Milo Matthews didn't play the music of the streets. Instead, he played songs under the streets as a performing busker, or street musician, based in Boston. Before the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority banned amplification systems, electric pianos and horns for street musicians in December 2003, Matthews would take his bass, a small amplifier and some computerized sound loops down into the subway tunnels and play for the commuters.

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This weekend, Juneau music fans will be treated to two solo shows by Matthews, starting about 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at the Hangar on the Wharf. Matthews, who is making his fourth trip to Juneau, also will play a brief pre-open mic show at about 4-5 p.m. tonight at the Alaskan Hotel and Bar. He is scheduled to play on Sunday at the Pioneer in Haines, and he might play another show to be announced in Juneau on Monday before he heads home to Anchorage.

"I just hope this is going to be the start of a constant visit to Southeast, where I play more as a soloist," Matthews said during a phone interview last weekend.

Matthews said his Juneau shows will feature solo bass, some recorded looping patterns and vocals. He'll play some funk, jazz, R&B, some 1970s covers (such as Steely Dan) and even some folk.

"Since he's been up here so much, he's already developed a following," said Rob Sanford, the Hangar on the Wharf manager. "He has a good energy and he draws a good crowd. Everyone has a good time. He's just a talented guy who can play a lot of different styles."

Matthews came to Juneau in 2003 and 2004 with the Seattle-based Danny Godinez Band, a jazz and pop band led by the guitarist of the same name. Earlier this summer Matthews returned to town with Salem, which is fronted by former Danny Godinez Band drummer and singer Todd Anders Johnson.

"I fell in love with the state," said Matthews, who moved to Anchorage about 112 years ago. Matthews met his fiance, guitaristflute player Shawn Zuke, in Anchorage, and together they formed the band Earthshine.

Matthews grew up around music, and his father taught and played guitar and bass in Boston. But it wasn't until he was 13 years old that Matthews found his calling. That was when he first heard the Canadian rock band Rush and bass player Geddy Lee, who also plays keyboard and sings for the band. Matthews borrowed his father's bass and within a year he was performing with it.

Over the years, Matthews said he discovered noted bass players such as the late jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius (who played with Weather Report, Pat Metheny and Joni Mitchell) and Victor Wooten (a founder of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones). But he said his music is just as influenced by Seal, Prince and Kate Bush.

"The older I get the more stuff influences me," Matthews said. "I swore I'd never like country, but there are some songs creeping in. I'd like to learn bluegrass. I'm doing an upright (bass) and trying to incorporate it in."

An Emerson College student movie director, Rob Wilson, followed Matthews for a year about the time the MBTA was banning amplified music for "safety" reasons. Last year, Wilson produced an award-winning documentary film called, "Milo aka: Street Musician Documentary," which is being shopped around to distributors. Wilson even followed Matthews to Seattle to watch him work with the Danny Godinez Band.

"Busking has really changed, and now everyone wants a piece of the pie," Matthews said. "Now (local government officials) realize you can make some money busking."

Matthews will release a solo album, "Miles of Eva," in the near future and Earthshine has an untitled debut album coming out soon. Matthews said he's developing a Web site for his and Zuke's music. Until the site is up, people can find his solo album at http:www.cdbaby.com by searching for "milomusic".