Mattson Rainer

You got Mattson on the radio Playing Robert Earl and Billy Joe I love you even more than I love Texas ~Slaid Cleaves

You know you’re kind of a big deal when a songwriter like Slaid Cleaves drops your name in a song. Mattson Rainer just marked his 20th year at KNBT in New Braunfels and was honored when he heard his name mixed in on Cleaves’ newest album.

“I remember Robert Earl Keen was one of the first artists to drop a DJ’s name in a song when he sang about “Sleepy John” during I’m Coming Home to You,” said Mattson. “I thought I hope I’m a cool enough DJ that someone puts me in a song someday. Slaid is such a respected artist. It was great. I look at it as a fun thing. I don’t try to take anything too seriously.”

One thing Mattson, who serves as general manager and program director at KNBT, does take seriously is music and he makes it a point to stand up for artists and music he believes in while not letting the business side of music affect his passion.

“I just love music and I always have…”

“I’m a fan first. No matter how many laminates I’ve been given, how many times I’ve been backstage or how many tour buses I’ve hung out on, I’m a fan and I will not allow business to disrupt it. Ultimately at the end of the day, the one thing that just gets me going is a great song. Besides, being a DJ is a lot better than getting a real job,” Mattson joked.

Mattson has gained a solid reputation as an advocate for quality music and its fans, “An artist will respect you a lot more if you’re just honest and tell them that they have a little more to work on before you can play their stuff on air. I also get what it means to be a fan. I understand how fans love to get autographs, get to a show early to get a spot right in front of the stage and take pictures with the artists. I remember what that feels like.”

Let's Be Great! Not rest on our laurels. Townes and Guy have their place. This is our time to make our mark. Let's be better than them! — Mattson Rainer (@mattson_rainer) January 9, 2013

Mattson has been very vocal on Twitter about the Texas music needing more originality and boldness. He’s tweeted that fans are bored and complacent and that artists need to stop trying to be the next Robert Earl Keen and add some of their own originality to their music. He went on a rant in January and picked up more followers in an hour than he’s picked up since he’s joined the social media site, so he’s definitely on to something.

“I remember that twitter rant,” he said. “I was flying to New York City and I hate flying so I think that was a combo of flying combined with scotch. It was full of emotion.”

I don't want " A " music scene. I want " The " Music scene. It's slipping people. Young artists – forget Texas music. DO your OWN thing. — Mattson Rainer (@mattson_rainer) January 8, 2013

Some have called this a rant. This is 19 years of programming KNBT. I'm here to help keep us from turning into bullshit. ORIGINALITY people — Mattson Rainer (@mattson_rainer) January 9, 2013

Mattson points out that country music is the only form of music that has never split into different categories. It’s still one thing. Other genres have slow jazz and classic rock, but country music is still just country music.

He points out that Tim McGraw and Dale Watson, who are both categorized as country artists, couldn’t be more different, so maybe there is a need to recategorize country music.

“It’s just a matter of staying the course and being honest with both artists and fans.”

“Maybe we should split up country so that we could have Top 40s Pop Country, Texas Country and the Americana Country that deals more with the singer songwriter acoustic music,” he said. “After saying all of that, I do have to say that the music I’m playing right now is the best it’s ever been. I get amazing CDs sent to me all the time. That’s what keeps me passionate. When I get a Sean McConnell or Josh Weathers CD, I know that everything is OK with the world.”

Mattson, who recently switched to the early morning shift at the station, remains in his “fan shoes” while picking the music to play on KNBT.

“It really comes down to “does this song make me want to turn the volume up from 7 to 24,” he said. “When I first listened to Sean McConnell’s “Lie Baby Lie,” I started it at a low volume and I couldn’t turn it up enough. It’s not that complicated. Those are the slam dunks. You put it on and you know it’s awesome.”

“…the music I’m playing right now is the best it’s ever been.”

Mattson will be the emcee for Greenfest 2013 on July 27-28 and he’s more than impressed with the lineup… “It’s a great line up with a bunch of great guys,” he said. “Sometimes the problem with being in the music business so long is that you start to like someone more or less based on how well you know them and what you know about them, but this lineup is made up of all good guys, making great music.”

Ray Wylie Hubbard, Cody Canada, Tom Gillam, Walt Wilkins, Seth James and Wade Bowen.

{Mattson called me back right after the interview and asked me to list these names at the end of the story so his friends could see their name in print.}

JUST BE INSANELY ORIGINAL AND BOLD AND FEARLESS. All else will fall into place. — Mattson Rainer (@mattson_rainer) January 9, 2013