Matt Woods (solo) photos, poster, bio>>

Bad Luck City (duo) photo, bio>>

Reviews, Quotes & More

Matt Woods & The Thunderbolts’
Offering a blues alternative—really!

Iowa’s live music of choice is the blues, plain and simple. Our agricultural reputation may seem suited to a country tune, but that’s strictly a radio phenomenon. Our proximity to the Mississippi River and Chicago— the birthplace of electric blues — makes our fascination a fairly honest one, even if we see a lot of bands strong on covers and chops, but short on innovation. For every guru like Joe Price or Bo Ramsey, there are hundreds of others running through tired versions of Mustang Sally or the Stevie Ray Vaughan catalog... GET THE REST OF THE STORY (pg 8) >>

William Fare
ArtScene

Matt Woods & The Thunderbolts
Be My Friend****

4-Stars! The latest from the winners of the Iowa Blues Challenge is keeping alive the blues created by Southern bluesmen Son House, Sleepy John Estes, R.L. Burnside, and Fred McDowell, along with living legends Calvin “Skeeter” Brandon. Cedell Davis’s, "If You Like Fat Women", a favorite at live shows, is included in this set of 12 rowdy party tunes.  Matt and the guys do justice to the covers as well as the six originals they’ve included. Next time you need a boost — put down the Red Bull and put on Be My Friend.

Deeya, Capital 106.3FM, Des Moines
ArtScene Magazine

Matt Woods & The Thunderbolts’ Blues Strike Like Lightning

It’s difficult to imagine that it was only six years ago when Matt Woods picked up a guitar. Even though he had just started out, his love of music was already in place. Now, fronting Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts, his smoky Mississippi Delta groove... GET THE REST OF THE STORY>>

Jared Curtis
Des Moines Cityview

INTERVIEW Matt Woods is featured on the Scented Vinyl Show Scented Vinyl is a weekly show at Mars Café that is similar in format to a live radio show. The show features local artist interviews, performances and vinyl collections. Check out Matt's session, hear the interview, and listen to some of his performance  RIGHT HERE >>

Midwest, via Mississippi Matt Woods and the Thunderbolts bring Hill Country Blues to Iowa

"Matt Woods and the Thunderbolts has become known for its on-stage charisma—particularly Woods' wild stage antics—and its penchant for propelling any crowd to its feet." GET THE REST OF THE STORY >>

Bethany Kohoutek
Des Moines Cityview

"Woods' masterful fretwork and smoky, old-soul vocals are high in the mix, bolstered by the steady, swaggering rhythm section of Swanger and Cochran."

Bethany Kohoutek
Des Moines Cityview
Review of "If I Was a Fish"

"The 26-year-old bluesman from Des Moines dives into Delta tradition and invests his new originals with flair."

Kyle Munson
Des Moines Register
Review of "If I Was a Fish"

"Matt Woods is definitely not a one trick pony."

Tom Dorsey
Lizard Creek Blues Society

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Matt Woods & the Thunderbolts

choose a thumbnail below to download high-res files 11X17 poster 8.5X11 Flyer

Print poster on your own large format printer or email to Kinkos

Photo Credit: Rebecca Swanger

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The great Mississippi Fred McDowell once said, “I don’t play no Rock n’ Roll.” This is definitely something that can also be said about Matt Woods and the Thunderbolts. But, if you want to hear some down-home, juke house blues, look no further. From the delta to the hills the Thunderbolts thumping rhythm and stomping slide workouts will remind you what real party music is meant to be. Simple and straight ahead, with nothin’ but a low down groove that’s raw as a saw blade and guaranteed to make you shake your ass!

Matt Woods is a native of Des Moines, IA. Matt has dedicated countless hours to not only learning his craft, but learning an appreciation and respect for its masters. As a seasoned performer of many local, regional and national clubs and venues, Matt has developed a distinct, mature style while still staying loyal to his blues roots. Versed in traditional delta, hill country and urban electric blues, Matt’s travels to Mississippi and beyond have allowed him to learn first hand from his influences, in the fields, shacks and barrooms that are the true birthplace of American music. Matt’s first CD, “If I was a Fish” (featuring the Thunderbolts) has received critical acclaim, and finished in the top five of the International Blues Foundation’s, “Best Self-Produced Blues album” category in 2006. It continues to receive airplay on radio throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Michael “Thunderfoot” Swanger is a native of West Des Moines and plays drums for the Thunderbolts. The “Nilla Gorilla” as he is also known, kicks like a mule and thumps like a man possessed. A versatile drummer, Michael has played with anyone who’s anyone in central Iowa, from the Soul Searchers to the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame House Band. His stint with the Thunderbolts has not only shown that he is easily the best blues drummer around, but has shown why he is now known by many as “The Baddest Man Alive.” Like his influences, Ted Harvey, Willie Smith and Cedric Burnside, Michael’s style miraculously seems to toe the line between disaster and utopia, while always being right on time.

Scott “Boogaloo” Cochran who also hails from West Des Moines, is responsible for holding down the fat ass of the band-AND comic relief. Scott had been playing bass since glaciers created the North Atlantic Shelf, and it shows. Scott has a vast knowledge of all American roots music, and has been backing up central Iowa’s best, as well as several of the nation’s finest touring acts for decades. Scott has played with the great “Chicago Rick" Lussie, Sweet Betty and Beverly “Guitar” Watkins, just to name a few.

Sometimes wild… and always greasy… Matt Woods & the Thunderbolts will drag you kicking and screaming from the hills of North Mississippi to the streets of Chicago.

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Matt Woods (solo)

choose a thumbnail below to download high-res files
11X17 poster	8.5X11 Flyer	CD cover art
Print poster on your own large format printer or email to Kinkos

Photo Credit: Rebecca Swanger

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Matt Woods is both a native of Des Moines, Iowa and a purveyor of its local blues scene. As a seasoned performer of many local, regional and national clubs and venues, Matt has developed a distinct style while still staying loyal to his blues roots. Versed in traditional delta, hill country and urban electric blues, his biggest influences include the likes of: Son House, Fred McDowell, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and R.L. Burnside, among others.

Whether as a solo act or with a band, Matt brings a firm
understanding of the styles of these great masters to each performance. Matt is experienced in both electric and acoustic guitar, as well as slide guitar, lap steel and vocal performance.

Matt's music has been featured on KUNI Public Radio, and also can be heard on FM95 KGGO's "The Roadhouse", Des Moines.

Matt has opened for several national acts including: Dr. John, Kelly Hunt, Joe Price and Grinderswitch.

Often a "guitar for hire", Matt is available for studio and performance work as either a solo acoustic act or with his trio, "The Thunderbolts".

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Bad Luck City (duo)

Bad Luck City consists of two-thirds of Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts. With Matt Woods on guitar and Michael Swanger on drums, Bad Luck City will give you a full dose of REAL juke house party music. This duo knows how to deliver stomping slide workouts and Blues-ified country.  Coming from the North Mississippi hill country tradition, Bad Luck City promises nothin’ fancy, just a low-down groove that’s raw as a saw blade and guaranteed to shake your ass!

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