by Sheldon Birnie
The Reverend Rambler might not be an ordained man of God, but his passionate rhythm and blues inspired tunes will have you feeling the spirit something fierce. Whether he’s fronting blues-rockers the Red River Ramblers, folk troupe the Mass of Reparation or performing as a one-man-band, the Reverend — aka Matt Colpitts, of Winnipeg — delivers. Anyone who’s seen his live show can testify to that.
But juggling three musical hats has its drawbacks.
“I guess not writing for one specific style of genre,” ponders the Reverend, “just writing music that I like and that I’m inspired by… maybe that has something to do with why I haven’t been able to concentrate on just one thing and getting it done.”
While today it is impossible to lay your hands on a Reverend Rambler disc, in any of his incarnations, that day is not far away. In the works are records by the Red River Ramblers, and plans to record over the spring and summer.
“The Red River Ramblers are about eight songs into a ten or eleven song album right now,” explains Colpitts. “I already have probably two albums of [solo] material, so I guess it’s just a matter of what I want to record with a band, and what I want to do on my own. Probably it would be nice to do a recording that is more focused on the one-man aspect. Approaching that project would be top priority.”
Writing songs for the Reverend has been a project Colpitts has been involved in for over five years now. But the Rambler has been playing music much longer than that. Starting a Green Day inspired band in fifth grade while a student in Riverview, Colpitts went on to form skate-punk act Strip the Label in high school. Later, the two of us played together in a thrash punk band called Harper Youth.
“I was listening to the recording of Harper Youth the other day,” Colpitts says with a laugh, recalling the Old Days.
Currently completing teacher training at Red River College, the Reverend has yet to explore the Highway as much as he’d like, though he admits to setting his sights on the road in the months to come.
“I would really love to tour,” proclaimth the Reverend. “I think it wouldn’t be that smart, though, to try to do that without having an album recorded to present to folks, to show them “this is who I am.’”
And so, while we await a recording from Colpitts, folks here in Winnipeg can rest assured they’ll be seeing plenty of Rambler in the months to come. With a show at the Standard Tavern on Friday, and a jaunt to the Wheat City in the works for April, all ye wishing to be saved ought not to tarry. Git ye to an audience with the Reverend Rambler, friends, and mayhap ye shall find salvation. Amen.