Matter of Days is geared up to show a softer side of their band with an acoustic set at JT Walker’s Restaurant and Sports Bar on Wednesday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Jason Wetherholt and Todd Zastrow, who have been friends since they were 17, started Matter of Days in 2012. During the summer of 2012, Wetherholt wrote 12 original songs, and the group developed a show which included 80s and 90s covers.
As the demand for Matter of Days grew to include three shows per month, drummer Jamie Mauck and bassist Cliff Stoker joined the group in 2013.
“Early on people said you have to pick one or the other: original or cover,” Wetherholt said. “But that’s not what we want to do. I love music, so I’m glad to play rock music; we love to play covers and to have people singing along. But part of this is about arts, and our desire to write and be creative.”
Wetherholt said his experience growing up without a father, his love for his two daughters and wife, and Jeremiah King’s story inspired the lyrics behind Matter of Day’s music.
Mahomet resident Jeremiah King was hit by a car in 2012 while training for the Mahomet 5K with his family. While watching Jeremiah battle through a coma, Wetherholt wrote “Superman.”
“Anytime we get to play that in Mahomet, it’s very special,” he said. “We probably won’t do a lot of originals that night at Walkers, but we’ll definitely play Superman.”
Wetherholt who wakes up every morning to get his daughters ready for school, ends each show with the song he wrote for his eight-year-old.
“(She) asked if I could leave early (from a Matchbox 20) concert so I didn’t get home so late,” he said. “I told her bands will save their best song for last so you’ll stick around. She thought for a second and asked, ‘Is that why you always do my song last at your shows?”
Matter of Days will record their original songs in January.
Wetherholt said while he shares the dream of recording the one song which will allow them to travel the world, Matter of Days is content with being a solid local band which plays a couple gigs a month as a fun hobby. They have no desire to travel the country in a van while making no money.
Matter of Days is a regular at the Roadrunner in Monticello and Uncle Bucks in Mahomet. They will perform at Uncle Bucks on Feb. 2.
Mauck, a graduate of Eastern Illinois University, may be the exception.
“Jamie is going to go on to do big things,” Wetherholt said. “Someday he will not be with us anymore, and he’ll be a name that’s touring. We’re fortunate to have him right now.”
“In some ways the album will be a chance to cement what we’ve done here,” he said. “It’s a chance for us to have something from it, for us to share with family and friends, and hopefully when people listen to it, they will have a frame of reference for who we are.”
Over the last 14 months of performances, Matter of Days has learned what people want to sing and dance to. With guitar, drums and keys player, the group continues to look for ways they can separate themselves from other local bands. Their cover spread from Johnny Cash to Red Hot Chilli Peppers helps the group to interact with the crowd.
“It’s just fun to interact and create an experience,” Wetherholt said.
Lyrics to Superman
