Matt Murphy (Canadian musician)
Encyclopedia
Matt Murphy is a Canadian
musician
and actor. He is perhaps best known as the vocalist and guitarist of 1990s band The Super Friendz
.
, a power-pop act that became a prominent part of the Halifax music scene, which at that time was often referred to as "Seattle
north". Murphy formed the band with fellow King's College students Charles Austin (bass) and Drew Yamada (guitar). The three shared singing and songwriting duties, as was common in the democratically-oriented scene at the time, but Murphy emerged as the standout performer.
After the Super Friendz dissolved in 1997, Murphy relocated to Toronto
and formed a new band, The Flashing Lights
. That band featured a more polished rock sound than the Super Friendz, and achieved a degree of fame in Canada. Its members were bassist Henri Sangalang, organist Gaven Dianda, and drummer Steve Pitkin, along with vocalist/guitarist Murphy.
Murphy also appeared on The Virginian
, the 1997 debut album by Neko Case and Her Boyfriends
, and also played lead guitar on ex-Inbreds
singer Mike O'Neill
's first solo album What Happens Now?.
Murphy now splits his days between Halifax and Toronto and his musical time among a variety of projects. In 2003, The Super Friendz reunited for a new album and a brief tour, and Murphy played a show with his old Halifax country side project Little Orton Hoggett.
Flashing Lights are currently on an indefinite hiatus. In 2004, Murphy became a member of Toronto band City Field, in which he plays a smaller role, providing mostly backing rather than lead vocals.
film The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico
; he also scored much of the film's music. He later had a small role in the 2009 film Leslie, My Name Is Evil
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and actor. He is perhaps best known as the vocalist and guitarist of 1990s band The Super Friendz
The Super Friendz
The Super Friendz are a band from Halifax, Nova Scotia, active between 1994 and 1997, reforming in 2003. Contemporaries of Sloan, their early work was on Sloan's Murderecords label.-Origins:...
.
Music career
Murphy first achieved notability for his role as leader of the mid-1990s Halifax band The Super FriendzThe Super Friendz
The Super Friendz are a band from Halifax, Nova Scotia, active between 1994 and 1997, reforming in 2003. Contemporaries of Sloan, their early work was on Sloan's Murderecords label.-Origins:...
, a power-pop act that became a prominent part of the Halifax music scene, which at that time was often referred to as "Seattle
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
north". Murphy formed the band with fellow King's College students Charles Austin (bass) and Drew Yamada (guitar). The three shared singing and songwriting duties, as was common in the democratically-oriented scene at the time, but Murphy emerged as the standout performer.
After the Super Friendz dissolved in 1997, Murphy relocated to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and formed a new band, The Flashing Lights
The Flashing Lights
The Flashing Lights were a Canadian alternative rock band, active in the late 1990s and early 2000s.Originally a side project that primarily played as a cover band when Matt Murphy wasn't occupied with his primary band The Super Friendz, the band consisted of Murphy on guitar and lead vocals, Gavin...
. That band featured a more polished rock sound than the Super Friendz, and achieved a degree of fame in Canada. Its members were bassist Henri Sangalang, organist Gaven Dianda, and drummer Steve Pitkin, along with vocalist/guitarist Murphy.
Murphy also appeared on The Virginian
The Virginian (album)
The Virginian is a 1997 alternative country album by American vocalist Neko Case, whose backing band at that time consisted of a rotating group of musicians referred to as "Her Boyfriends"...
, the 1997 debut album by Neko Case and Her Boyfriends
Neko Case
Neko Case is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her solo career and her contributions as a member of the Canadian indie rock group The New Pornographers....
, and also played lead guitar on ex-Inbreds
The Inbreds
The Inbreds were a Canadian indie rock band formed in 1992. Originally from Kingston, Ontario, Canada the band relocated to Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1996. Three of the four albums released during the band's existence reached number one on the Canadian national university charts, and the band...
singer Mike O'Neill
Mike O'Neill (musician)
Mike O'Neill is a Canadian singer-songwriter. He is originally from Oshawa, Ontario, but has been based in Halifax, Nova Scotia since 1996.-Bio:O'Neill was a founding member of Canadian indie-rock band The Inbreds along with drummer Dave Ullrich in the 1990s...
's first solo album What Happens Now?.
Murphy now splits his days between Halifax and Toronto and his musical time among a variety of projects. In 2003, The Super Friendz reunited for a new album and a brief tour, and Murphy played a show with his old Halifax country side project Little Orton Hoggett.
Flashing Lights are currently on an indefinite hiatus. In 2004, Murphy became a member of Toronto band City Field, in which he plays a smaller role, providing mostly backing rather than lead vocals.
Acting
In 2005, Murphy branched out into acting, playing the lead role in the Canadian mockumentaryMockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
film The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico
The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico
The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico is a Canadian mockumentary film, released in 2005. Written and directed by Michael Mabbott, the film stars Matt Murphy, a musician previously associated with the bands The Super Friendz and The Flashing Lights, as Guy Terrifico, a country singer releasing...
; he also scored much of the film's music. He later had a small role in the 2009 film Leslie, My Name Is Evil
Leslie, My Name Is Evil
-Plot:Leslie is a troubled 1960s teenager who eventually becomes a follower of Charles Manson and is charged, convicted, and sentenced to death in the August, 1969, murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca...
.