Dear Friends and Fans of Hot Buttered Rum,I am writing to let you know of my recent decision to part ways with HBR. This decision was by no means an easy one, nor a sudden one. After a great deal of introspection and band discussion, our separation emerged as the only viable way for everyone involved to move forward.
I want to take this moment to express deepest gratitude to you, the Butter Community, for your infinite love and support. This incredible community has always been as important to me as the music itself. You, more than anything, have allowed and encouraged me to pour my heart and soul into HBR, and you have given me great hope that people can make the world a better place. For this I offer sincere thanks.
If you feel sadness, I empathize with you over what is being lost -- the unique synergy between the five of us was indeed magic. But certainly music and magic live on. I hope you will share in a feeling of excitement for me and for HBR as we journey forward along separate paths. I continue to be an advocate for HBR's success, and eagerly await the new songs that my brothers and their future collaborations will yield.
I also expect this time of change to recharge my own creative reservoir for music and other endeavors. I look forward to channeling many incredible connections into fruitful collaborations.
Further down the road we'll meet again. But for now, this is it, high times...
Zachary Matthews
November 30, 2008
My heart breaks with this news. I love HBR, but find it hard to still love them as much with my favorite member gone. He sings all my favorite HBR songs. I wish you the best Zac!
I agree, it is going to be really hard to love HBR as much with Zack gone....... This year alone I have already been to 15 HBR shows in 4 states....and was planning on goning to their NYE show, but now I don't know if I can see them again, because it just won't be the same.
The reason Zack sang all of your favorite HRB songs is because he wrote them.... He, in my oppion, was the most tallented lyrist and musician in HBR and he had a butiful singing voice to boot. I seriously don't know how HBR will be successful without him. From what I understand HBR will not be playing any of the songs he wrote anymore... Very Sad...
I know Zack got engaged recently so I don't know if he left becase he is wanting to settle down and start a family, or maybe he was just tired of touring all the time. Both Zack's and HBR's statements on their website were pretty vague as to why this was happening. I also heard that Zack might have left because the band is wanting to get big and they are wanting to incorporte a rhytem section including drums and keyboard..... that mean no need for a mandolin anymore. If this is true I am definitly not going to anymore HBR show, because this means the band is sellling out.
In the words of Zack Matthes "and in the end - did you make it rich or make a friend"..... I don't know I feel the rest of the memebers of HBR may prefer to make it rich. But maybe I am wrong. Eitherway I am going to miss Zack dearly and hopfully "Further down the road we'll meet again".
I will miss you Zack......
Zac is a phenomenal musician and contributed SO MUCH to HBR's sound and synergy. I'm excited to see what the future holds for the band,,, especially with Matt Butler filling in some of the void with another layer. The show will go on!
DITTO.
Zac was the heart of the band.
His songs were the most unique & were the ones which really made me start listing to HBR. His sound, his vocals, his fresh modesty all created an irreplaceable presence on that stage. No matter what they do, the four other members will never be able to be "HBR" without Zac.
DITTO.
Zac was the heart of the band.
His songs were the most unique & were the ones which really made me start listing to HBR. His sound, his vocals, his fresh modesty all created an irreplaceable presence on that stage. No matter what they do, the four other members will never be able to be "HBR" without Zac.
Now, let's give Nat credit where credit is due, he's written a lot of great HBR tunes as well. What seems to be missing the past 2 months is their phenomenal harmonies. Zach and Nat's voices blended so beautifully together. The loss of the mando, the addition of the drums, and the loss of Zac's beautiful voice (and songs) has left HBR with a bit of a void that is definitely going to take time to fill. We'll see what happens with this new recording. I wish Zach the best but I miss him so much already!
Saw HBR Last nite in Chico CA. Born to Rock w/ a Banjo in My Hand......really? I've Got a Feeling? Really?
Several songs were very poor. The pickin' and ALL the pretty songs were simply not present. What a shame.
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