Know Your Neighbor: Rock Out with Nate Mott

Local indie rocker Nate Mott has done a lot of living in his twenty-eight years. His background is as dynamic and eclectic as his music. He was born in Springfield, MA, spent the first half of his childhood in Vermont with his mother and the second half of his childhood living in New Jersey with his father. The summer before freshman year of high school, Mott was the new kid in town. Summer isn’t an opportune time to meet kids, so Mott became acquainted with a recently purchased guitar. He’s made thousands of friends and fans since, but the guitar hasn’t left his side.

Mott would create two albums by the time he graduated high school and another in college. He studied literature and creative writing at both William Paterson University in New Jersey and Emerson College in Boston. While studying at Emerson, Mott also worked for a Cape Cod construction company. During this time, the impassioned musician found time to create another album, Washashore, which is Cape Cod vernacular for someone who lives on the Cape but wasn’t born there. It was the perfect theme for Mott’s bohemian lifestyle. Mott was only twenty-one at the time, and the solo album taught him a lot about the kind of music he wanted to make.

Mott’s music has been described as a mix of indie, alternative, and surf rock. He credits his early influences as Ben Harper, Sublime, and Jeff Buckley, which can be heard in both his vocals and the pastiche-like sampling of songs such as “Say It.” Like any good artist, Mott’s style of play is always evolving and he currently attributes his influences as The Killers and Kings of Leon.

Mott and his wife Carly met while living on Cape Cod. They relocated to Bristol so that Carly could attend  earning a degree in environmental science. Mott found himself in a familiar position, being in a new place, knowing very few people with whom to play music. Mott began working on another solo album. Shortly after, he gained the amazing opportunity of performing live on NPR. Mott gained much notoriety and even sold some albums. He gained the attention of Warner Records. They told Mott to form a band and get back to them. He started The Nate Mott band.

Since then, the band has landed some great gigs. They’ve played Battle of the Ink at the Dunkin Donuts Center, opening for State Radio. They’ve also played events at Paradise Lounge, Bill’s Bar, and Harpers Ferry. Mott notes that one of his favorite places to play is still right here in Bristol at . Mott also notes that he has now lived in Bristol longer than he’s lived anywhere else. It’s become his official home and this sleepy New England town could use some rock and roll shakeup.

The Nate Mott Band is currently making an album with the label Sound House. You can see them locally once a month at Stella Blues Restaurant and Lounge in Warren and at Judge Roy Bean this coming St. Patrick’s Day. You can also follow them on Twitter and visit their website to join their mailing list.