Veteran guitarist and songwriter Matt Murphy has been writing original music and playing in both original and cover bands since the early 90’s. In 2002, with “Melodic Exile”, Matt recorded and released some of the pop-rock, acoustic style original songs that he had been accumulating. The band’s self-titled debut album featured a female vocalist and keyboards, perfect for the pop nature of those songs. In 2004, Matt formed “Stalking Sally”. This time around, Matt was able to record some of the more aggressive, hard rock songs he had been compiling in his writings. In 2006, the band recorded and released its 15 song, all original debut album titled “Hard to Find”. “More Sugar” music magazine reviewed the album and some of the quotes from that review were as follows: On "Hard To Find," Stalking Sally offers up a fascinating dichotomy of sounds. They rock harder and heavier than "Alice In Chains" on one track and then perform "unplugged" on the next. At their best, they combine the two. "I Keep Falling," written by Murphy, exemplifies the group at its zenith. Starting out with up tempo, multi-tracked, acoustic guitars on the verse, the band slows down and crunches heavy into the chorus -- shades of "Helter Skelter" guitar. The intricate song construction cries out for an elaborate stage production.
Highlights abound. Oddly enough, "And" evokes strains of America’s "Ventura Highway." Great wah wah guitar by Murphy. The acoustic "Love Is the Reason" marries Jimmy Page acoustic guitar with Eddie Vedder vocals. Sometimes the music says it all like the instrumental "Sticky Fingers," a demon cross between Edgar Winter’s "Frankenstein" and ZZ Top. "Wrecking Ball" takes "slow and heavy" to the Black Sabbath/Metallica level. Outstanding guitar sounds. Murphy likes to let a note ring and then pull it slightly sharp a la Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath.
The musicians polish this complex music into a brilliant diamond. Guitarist Matt Murphy creates unique guitar sounds for each song. The intricate arrangements and attention to detail bode well for the group’s ascension to the concert stage.
Matt has continued to write throughout the years and is in the process of completing a professional recording studio in his home. He hopes to commercially market his music in the years to come.
After some important lineup changes within the band during 2008 and 2009, Matt and the other members of Stalking Sally are now fulfilling another life-long musical goal by joining forces to become the next GREATEST live band on earth!!! See you all out there! |
