Matt Pond PA is often categorized as “Chamber Pop,” especially heavy on the chamber.  It appeared the band tried to dispel this notion with their sanguine, peppier 2005 release, Several Arrows Later.  With comparisons to bands and artists like Belle & Sebastian, Arcade Fire, the late Elliot Smith, and Sufjan Stevens, mpPA, with a new release on the way, appears to be headed for perpetual fanfare in 2007.     

Prior to the Several Arrows Later release, Rolling Stone magazine listed Matt Pond PA in their annual “10 Artists to Watch” list.  The veteran band has continued to rake in the accolades since their most recent release.  This past July, iTunes featured “So Much Trouble,” their latest video, as the video of the week.  Currently, the video is receiving regular showings on Canada’s Much Music and Fuel TV.       

In 1998, the original lineup for Matt Pond PA was formed in Philadelphia; hence the PA.  In recent interviews, Pond has expressed regret over the band’s name, stating that it is very much a collective effort.  He often jokes that the PA in the band’s name was conceived from the P.I. in Magnum.  After several releases, in 2003, Pond yearned for a different setting and moved to Brooklyn, where he reformed mpPA with its current lineup.  Many have argued that this is their strongest lineup yet.  It consists of Pond (lead vocals, guitar), Brian Pearl (guitar, keyboard), Dan Crowell (drums), Steve Jewett (bass), Dana Feder (cello, keyboards).   

I caught up with Matt, via the phone, while he was trying to sort out technical difficulties just prior to the band’s Salt Lake City show.   

How’s the current tour going?   

It’s going well.  There have been some curious things that have happened lately.  Our amp recently broke.  I was working on that when you called.  A couple shows ago, the venue wanted us to load our equipment right after the performance.  The amp went down while we were rushing to get our equipment loaded up.  There are definitely some shady people that you run into on the tour. 

Reading the journal on the band’s website sounds like tales from a movie or sitcom. 

Right now it’s really hard to put positives on the website.  When it gets cold and wintry while on tour, you kind of stop thinking-there’s not a lot to look at on most highways.  It’s like television, but less entertaining. 

How long do you plan on touring for the Several Arrows Later (released in 2005) record?