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Rich Mattson and the Northstars

by Rich Mattson and the Northstars

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    First album on compact disc by Rich Mattson and the Northstars, in digipak package.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Rich Mattson and the Northstars via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Full Digital Discography

    28
    releases

    Get all 28 Sparta Sound releases available on Bandcamp and save 30%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Live at the Guthrie 3/24/03, Out There, Trepidation, Greetings From the Island of Guitars, Skylights, Totem, Aeroplane Mode, Starmaps, and 20 more. , and , .

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1.
This Town (Ghost Town) 03:17
lyrics
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THIS TOWN (GHOST TOWN) ©2014 Rich Mattson This town - is becoming like a ghost town Me and my baby, we go and walk around And take pictures of the rotting houses Not much left To this ghost town This town - used to be such a fun town Crazy little kids, playing and running ‘round Now they sit at home smoking cigarettes And they’ve left This ghost town There’s an old lady living on the corner And she still keeps her grounds in order While everybody else moves on She never will... This town - was built upon some precious minerals And they’re coming, to dig them up! Not tomorrow and it’s not today I think I’ll stay..and wait and see.. What happens to this ghost town
2.
Muslin Gauze 03:50
lyrics
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Muslin Gauze (©2014 Rich Mattson and Germaine Gemberling) You feel a fire burning though it’s time to go to sleep You get up every morning on the schedules that they keep Your muslin gauze Is dragging in the street It’s getting dirtier The more he sweeps you off your feet He twirls you ‘round there is no sound but shuffling in the gravel He stops you there in a frozen stare, Orion swings the gavel It’s such a cold dark night, down here in Genoa And you can feel it in the air, and know it Goodnight my lover, til we meet again Your muslin gauze, is wearing thin ..It’s withering in the wind Your muslin gauze Once was so neat It’s getting dirtier The more he sweeps you off your feet The days are long, the nights are longer, images remain The grass, the rain, the words, the tender touch, it goes away
3.
It's Serious 02:39
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4.
Old Gene 03:14
lyrics
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OLD GENE ©2015 Rich Mattson He said all his life he was a pacifist So they knew that they could bring him down He always turned right up in times of need Was the last person you’d expect to see They came to his neighborhood and arrested him They didn’t even read him his rights He always said it was gonna come to this They take you from your property and add you to a list It’s amazing to think what’s out there All the big and loud and scary machines Different colored imaginations Different sordid regimes But not old Gene He said all his life he was a momma’s boy He said he’d never hurt you for all time And that he’d jump to take a bullet for you Sprawled out on the couch how I adore you And we’ll never know what happened to old Gene He disappeared, gone without a trace I’ll walk on by the farm that he was raised on Some times I’ll see his ghost among the maize It’s amazing to think what’s out there All the big and loud and scary machines Different colored imaginations Different sordid regimes But not old Gene
5.
Hither and Yon 03:46
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6.
Gadgetboy 03:54
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7.
They'll Never Find Us 03:21
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THEY’LL NEVER FIND US I wrote a poem about the rain I wrote a song about the pain I wrote a song placing the blame And I sang it - to you You said “That sounded very nice” To this I said, “Oh, Jesus Christ - So very nice to say ‘I can’t admit I need you’ Can’t you read between the lines?” It can’t be over We’re so dug in They’ll never find us They’ll never win The more we try the more we hold out We keep denying that the sun’s out Been too many years of just having to keep - up Been too much fun just being a fuck-up And singing songs about the rain And writing poems about the pain And writing songs placing the blame And singing them To you ©Rich Mattson 2014
8.
Blue Marvel 03:37
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9.
Last Hurrah 02:27
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10.
Points North 02:49
lyrics
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POINTS NORTH ©2014 Germaine Gemberling & Rich Mattson Your rust colored earth and your beautiful birch My home, the Iron Range, no longer I’ll search You took my hand, my compass, my guide And pointed me north Led me deep in the woods in the shelter of trees Your promise would make a believer out of me No doubts I will have, a chosen path These whispering trees Sing a song in the breeze Sounding so sweet And a home is where you return to Home - you can be Home - you sleep soundly Home - where you can dream (musical interlude) When I arrived here I didn’t yet know Of chamomile carpets and dreams that would grow It twirls all around you if you listen close (to the) whispering leaves A song in the breeze So simple and sweet And home - is where you return to Home - you can be Home - you sleep soundly Home - where you can dream Your rust colored earth and your beautiful birch My home, the Iron Range, no longer I’ll search You took my hand, my compass, my guide And pointed me north
11.
Everything Has Been Done 03:00
lyrics
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Everything Has Been Done Everything has been done The last daylight has cut and run Might be time to play Bottled up lightning blown away I’m walking in light Everything has been done Say it one more time Nothing has been won Everything has been done That last daylight has cut and run Maybe it’s time to stay That little old feeling has gone away chorus
12.
Songs of Chaos 04:33
lyrics
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SONGS OF CHAOS ©Rich Mattson I’m listening to the songs of chaos in my mind I’m listening to the songs of chaos in my mind Memories romanticized Miseries re-realized Payment for every lie Chaos fidelicized Singing out so righteously Changing stations instantly First I thought it was easy Take me back through history Spins itself so joyfully Voices a cacophony Why are you so near to me Please don’t interrupt me ‘cuz I’m listening to the songs of chaos in my mind I’m listening to the songs of chaos in my mind In my mind In my mind In my mind

about

Rich Mattson is the great cosmic northwoods singer-songwriter rock and roll freak, and Germaine Gemberling is committed not only in love but to their wild adventure in all things musical. The two of them left the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul 10 and 18 years ago, respectively, and
hooked up at Mattson’s recording studio in Sparta MN in 2007. This is their “hauntingly beautiful” cosmic folk group featuring acoustic guitar, strings, and their unique vocal harmonies.

Mattson is best known for his work leading the bands Ol’ Yeller, the Glenrustles, The Bitter Spills, and the Tisdales. These bands have performed alongside many big-time acts: Wilco, Trampled By Turtles,
Soul Asylum, Low, The Jayhawks..and he has rocked stages from the Troubadour to the Mercury Lounge to Minneapolis‘ own Guthrie Theater. He is also known far and wide for his contributions to hundreds of artists’ recordings at Sparta Sound, which is a former church in northern Minnesota. Germaine Gemberling fronted an all-girl punk band called Smut (Twin-Tone/Spanish Fly Records) in the early 90’s before heading for the country and the Americana-tinged songwriting role she assumed later. Iron Range folk legend Paul Metsa calls Rich and Germaine the “Johnny and June of the Range.”

The Northstars began as a desire to expand the acoustic duo with Rich’s young nephew Curtis, who was growing up to be a fine drummer with a sublime feel and great musical awareness. Also the addition of exquisite gypsy jazz violinist Eli Bissonett (from Ely MN), who had performed on various recording sessions at Sparta Sound. For a bassist, Mattson called on his childhood friend and former Glenrustles bandmate Russell Bergum, who lived in the area and was performing with the Mesabi Community Orchestra. The goal was to create an original, eclectic, acoustic band to play some new songs, some old songs, keep it real and keep it Minnesota.

Recording for this album began at the band’s inception and continues as an ongoing project. This collection features eight new original numbers penned by Rich Mattson and Germaine Gemberling and four songs reworked by the Northstars from Mattson’s expansive back-catalog: “Blue Marvel” (Ol‘ Yeller), “Last Hurrah” (Glenrustles), “Songs of Chaos” (the Tisdales), and “Everything Has Been Done” (Dave Rave and the Governors).

credits

released June 2, 2015

Rich Mattson: Vocals, guitars, harmonica
Germaine Gemberling: Vocals, acoustic guitar
Russell Bergum: Bass, vocals
Eli Bissonett: Violin
Curtis Mattson: Drums and percussion

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Sparta Sound Sparta, Minnesota

Hello, my name is Rich Mattson. Here are some bands that I sing, play guitar and write songs with at my studio in northern Minnesota. Enjoy!

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