Matt Chase is the drummer for Mackenzie Heights and the ex-drummer and backing vocalist for A Black Tie Affair.
Contents
Instruments
Early Drumming
Matt began playing drums on a practice pad he got for his 13th birthday, but before then he could tap steady beats and bounce and bop steady to songs that would play on radios or cd's. He went into Tiger Music in Grade 8 and got chosen to play the drums, out of almost the entire class who wanted to play the instrument. In the middle of his freshman year of high school, Matt's parents bought him his first drum kit, a Taye RockPro drum kit. Also in Grade 9, he met Riley Cummine, who later that year, began an unnamed band with him. They played together for almost a year, before the first year of Superior Rock Camp. In Rock Camp, Matt began a band with guitarists Mike Murray and Brady Geurts; bassist Graeme McMaster; and guitarist/vocalist Sara Collison. Calling themselves Illness To Cure, they went on to play after Rock Camp, replacing Sara with Courtney Wall.
Illness To Cure and A Black Tie Affair
Almost a year later, having done one show with Illness To Cure, Matt went back to Rock Camp and was put in a band with Riley Cummine, Brady Geurts, Dalton Thompson, and Darren Lammi. This band would later become the hard rock band we know today as A Black Tie Affair. Calling themselves Nothing Special at first, they played a show at the end of the camp at the Community Auditorium. Matt played with the band for two and a half years, playing shows at Kilroy's, Black Pirates Pub, and the Kakabecka Street Fair. He also recorded drums on the band's first recorded song, I Wanna Come Home.
Departure From ABTA and Mackenzie Heights
In December 2011, Matt quit A Black Tie Affair, due to conflicts between band members and wanting to try new styles of music. Two months after leaving the band, Matt received an email from Tanner Bell to play drums for Mackenzie Heights in the January cover show at Black Pirates Pub. Matt said no but offered to play full time after that show, craving to be in a band again. Tim Albertson, lead singer for Mackenzie Heights, emailed Matt that night asking for something to judge him on. Matt then sent him a YouTube video of him playing Clockwork by Autopilot Off. Time, impressed with his playing, told him he was in. Since then, Matt has played with Mackenzie Heights, being the heartbeat in the band and keeping everyone in time. They have since then played shows at Black Pirates Pub.
New Album
In May 2012, Mackenzie Heights announced they were entering the studio to record their newest album, featuring Matt on the drums. On May 23, Matt announced via Facebook that the drum tracks for the new album were done.
Equipment
Matt has a total of 3 drum kits. Two acoustic and one electric. He uses Taye, Pearl (snares), and Westbury drums; Sabian, Zildjian, Dream, Stagg, Orion, and Alchemy cymbals; Taye, Network, and Gibraltar hardware; Evans and Remo drumheads; Toca, LP, and Mano percussion; Pintech electronics; Shure and Behringer microphones; and Pro-Mark sticks.
Influences
Matt plays many different genres of music, from jazz to metal and from funk to progressive. His main influences are Neil Peart, Mike Portnoy, and Mike Mangini. Other influences include Mike Wengren, Gene Krupa, Teddy Campbell, Tre Cool, Thomas Pridgen, Jojo Mayer, Benny Greb, and Travis Barker.