A Blues-Rock group that goes by the name ‘Motel Shuffle’ were recently formed this year all the way from Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town! The band comprises of three four amazing musicians by the names of Joburg’s very own Dan Rosenthal (solo artist), Ryan Matthews on bass, Calvin Beukes on the drums as well as the man who handles the strings of the guitar, Kyle Maloney.
The musical band blends influence from Steve Ray Vaughn through to legendary rock band ‘Foo Fighters’, The Black Keys and Jack White. With their seductive blues boogie and indulgent pop sentiment, Motel Shuffle seek to entertain and delight audiences with their accessible blend of modern nostalgia.
Having the opportunity to sit down with the band members, we asked them how they started the band that we know as Motel Shuffle and how their musical talents can come together. They simply stated, “The band started with Dan and Kyle meeting on a local online musician’s group around November 2021. Kyle was also jamming with Ryan in another project. It became apparent that the three of them should join forces and find a solid drummer to complement their style, and after a few auditions found Calvin in February 2022.”
Wanting to also know more the musicians background, we asked them what sort of musical sounds and artists they are aspired by and they went on to say, “Dan is a singer-songwriter influenced by blues and pop-rock, Kyle is a huge Stevie Ray Vaughn fan, but also into the more complex guitar virtuoso subgenres. Ryan is a pop, grunge, does-it-make-people-happy, playing, and Calvin is into accessible commercial rock, pop and indie sounds. Mostly, the band creates music of the blues/rock variety, but with some pop-rock elements thrown in for good measure.”
When it came to any musical projects they are working on, they commented by saying that at this present moment, they are solely focusing on playing the good music that they like to produce together and with that, the more they play together, the better they feel at the end of that session.
When it comes to events as to where they would mostly perform their craft, they went on to say, “Mostly private functions and intimate venues, but there are some opportunities on the horizon. Feedback has been positive – Motel Shuffle are accessible, allowing even the grumpiest of grumpy folks to tap their feet and bob their heads.”
Those who aspire to start of their own musical band, Motel Shuffle freely advised readers by saying that you should appreciate how much hard work and dedication it takes to be in a band. They also continued to say that nothing happens overnights, and the more you play, the more you will be exposed to new ideas, the more you learn, that is only the way you will progress further in your craft. So, they simply stated that you should have fun, work hard and enjoy the musical journey.”
When it came to their long-term goals and ambitions, they went on to say, “Write more songs, play more gigs, have more fun. The band are looking to collaborate with others, work out how to throw some interesting gigs, and generally just have a good time.”
Where you can find the band, Motel Shuffle and follow them when it comes to all of his social media platforms is Instagram: @motel_shuffle and Facebook: www.facebook.com/motelshuffle.