The Runes

This Austin, TX. quintet boasts influences ranging from the Beatles to Loudon Wainwright III, and it shows. The band consists of Matt Kjeldsen (vocals, guitars, percussion) helped by band mates Brian Collins (electric, acoustic, and lap steel guitars), Carrie Miller (cello, violin), Jimmy Holloway (drums, percussion), and Julie Carlton (bass and fretless bass).

Since 1994, the Runes have performed and recorded predominantly in Austin, Texas.  The Runes started out as a coffee house acoustic ensemble for singer/songwriters and artists and developed into a very entertaining performing rock band and finally, morphed into the eclectic group of recording artists they remain to this day. Using artistic styles of melodic pop, straight ahead rock, salsa/reggae, and acoustic balladry, The Runes take their virtual cornucopia of instruments (too numerous to list) and expertly construct various musical backgrounds for intelligent, witty, thought provoking, and sometimes humorous lyrics.

Discography

Lost Songs
Dancing with Ghosts
Radio Banned
Specters in the Mist
What Remains
Last Songs

Gravity Jacket

Gravity Jacket is Matt Kjeldsen compositions with the production of long-time musical cohort, Mac McNabb.  McNabb also plays guitars, bass guitars, organs, and percussion.  Ian Bailey plays the drums.

With every pop hook, guitar run, chord change, arrangement refinement, genre blending style, lyric sensitive song, Matt sits down with us as Gravity Jacket brings forth the musical finesse of Crosby, Stills, & Nash, topped with a vocal that lends itself to James Taylor. I don’t know how else to describe it.

Discography

Arlyn Sessions
Hangin' on the Edge

Exploding Brains

The best way to describe Matt's latest side project, Exploding Brains and Exploding Brains 2, is Truth music.  You could say angry, revolutionary and protest as well, but the lyrics speak to the darker, controlling influences that seek to enslave us.  The music provides the energy for a lyrical assault of the controllers and a call to arms for the controlled.

Exploding Brains is hard-edged, neo-alternative-punk.  Exploding Brains 2 is toned down amplitude and much expanded musical roads, better heard than described.

Discography