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Teen musician taught self on ‘Guitar Hero’

By Amy Townsend
Managing Editor

Matt Plourde started with “Guitar Hero.”

Like a Rolling Stone: Matt Plourde, 13, strums on his guitar during an intimate performance at Swift Creek Coffee House Friday, July 31. BARRY MOORE, GCNT

He mastered the video game — which simulates playing songs on a guitar-shaped controller — in about half a year, playing for two hours a day. The culmination of his efforts was learning “Through the Fire and Flames” on hard.

“That’s like the hardest song on the game,” Matt said. He couldn’t beat the song by English metal band DragonForce on expert, but he can play every other “Guitar Hero” song on expert.

Having beaten the game, the 13-year-old then took his interest a step further and parlayed his acquired musical skills into a productive hobby: playing real guitar.

Now a rising eighth grader at Cleveland Middle School, Matt got his first guitar November 2007: a beginner Carlo Robelli acoustic. The guitar was a gift from his mother, Vida Rollins. A year and a half later, he’s all but worn out the G string.

Matt hasn’t written any of his own songs yet (“I can’t remember them,” he says), but he can improvise riffs and tunes on his guitar in the moment.

“I mess around a lot on my guitar,” he said.

He prefers classic rock songs, but he also likes to work in some blues, such as “12-Bar Blues.” The Eagles’ “Hotel California” and Tesla’s “Love Song” are two songs he can play all the way through.

Matt gets opportunities to practice his guitar at Rollins’ coffee shop, Swift Creek Coffee House, where he also works to help out his mother. A couple weeks ago, he got to jam at the coffee shop with several other musicians. Matt says it wasn’t the first time he’s played in front of a crowd, but it was his first headlining gig of sorts.

Watch the audio slideshow of Matt’s first live performance

The show was a youth ministry event hosted by Sovereign King Church for Wake Tech Community College students. Nick Ferrell sang and played guitar, Matthew Calhoun played bass, and John Voss played drums. Though a lot younger than the other band members, Matt held his own on his guitar.

“I really didn’t do all that good in the beginning,” he said. “But toward the end I got really good, toward the last hour.”

Matt was introduced to the band through Sovereign King Pastor Gordon Duncan, who frequents the coffee shop. Duncan invited Matt to play with the church band, where Matt met Ferrell. Calhoun also plays in the church band, and Voss is a friend of Ferrell’s who travels from Michigan to play shows with the guys.

Rollins says her son has a lot of local admirers.

“People bring him music to listen to, music to play, guitar picks from famous guitarists, while others bring in their guitars and play a tune with him,” she said. Matt said some musicians come into the coffee shop and let him hook up his guitar to jam with them.

“He really is a special kid with a whole lot of talent and determination,” Rollins said.

Matt already has his next gig set up: a preshow for the Towne Players Teens’ musical “Seussical Jr.” this weekend at the Garner Historic Auditorium. He plans to play instrumental versions of “Hotel California” and “Love Song” on his acoustic.

Matt insists he isn’t nervous about his second show. Though young, he talks like a musician who’s been in the business for years.

“I’ve gotten used to it because I’ve played in front of people before,” he said.

Matt wants to pursue a career in music and would like to play guitar in a band when he grows up. But before he can do that, he plans to ditch his small, beginner guitar for a more advanced one: a Yamaha acoustic.

Executive Editor Barry Moore provided additional reporting.

Related articles:

• Wii bowling, Garner Idol provide mid-week entertainment
• Audio slideshow: Swift Creek Coffee House hosts party for Wake Tech students
• Audio slideshow: Swift Creek Coffee House hosts local musician

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