Drumming his way to the Whisky a Go Go

Beginning with the cello in the second grade, Woodmere resident Matt Hass has been a musician for most of his life, and now is the drummer for two bands, Ryder and Reluctant Mortem. 

Ryder will perform at the renowned venue Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood, Calif. on New Year’s Eve on the same bill as Faster Pussycat and L.A. Guns. Television and radio host Riki Rachtman will emcee the event. The bands Brittany’s Rage, Negative Void and Sluts and Saints are also scheduled to appear.

Hass, 21, graduated from Hewlett High School in 2013 and earned a certificate in sound recording technology from Nassau Community College in May. He has been drumming with Reluctant Mortem, a “melodic death metal band,” as described by Hass, for four years and Ryder, a hard rock/metal band (the band’s description), for about three months, he said. 

“I’ve actually lost sleep over being too excited,” Hass said, of the upcoming shows on Ryder’s “All IV One Tour” two-week southern California tour. The Whiskey a Go Go first opened in 1964. The Doors, Janis Joplin and Led Zeppelin, and many more have performed on its stage. 

James Ryder, vocalist and guitarist, of New Hyde Park; Andrew Bloch, guitarist, of Kew Gardens; and Dennis Torrent, bassist, from the Bronx, are also in Ryder. 

Hass recalls one of the first times he ever played the drums being with Brian Bell, the guitar player from Weezer, a rock band formed in the early 1990s. Hass, then 13, was an eighth-grader at Woodmere Middle School. He was visiting his cousin, Eric Dubowsky, in Los Angeles who was in the band The Relationship with Bell. Dubowsky is a musician, songwriter and record producer who has worked with Weezer and other artists. Hass loves that he is returning to California since that influential musical experience took place on the West Coast.

Ryder’s debut EP, a shorter version of a complete record, “IV” will be available on New Year’s Day. It was engineered and produced by Anthony Esposito at Obscenic Arts Studios in Dillsburg, Pa.  Esposito is a bassist for the band Red Dragon Cartel. 

Two versions of “IV” will be released: standard, $5, and deluxe, $7. The deluxe edition will include live tracks in addition to the tracks on the standard version. Hass said “IV” includes the songs “Do or Die,” “Slave to Love,” “When It All Comes Down” and “Don’t Lose Your Heart.”

James Ryder said that the band is in the process of planning shows. “Nothing beats getting in front of a packed house and having people coming up to you afterwards and say they enjoy what you’re doing,” he said, adding that the compliments are his favorite part about performing.

The band performed at the Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie on Dec. 9,  and is slated for the Doll Hut in Anaheim, Calif. on Dec. 28 and the Gramercy Theater in Manhattan on Jan. 14.

“As far as I’m concerned his drumming is pretty amazing,” Matt’s mother, Heidi Hass, said. “It gives me hope that he’ll make it as a musician, which is his dream,” she added, about her thoughts on Matt playing at the famous Whisky a Go Go.

For more information on the band, go to facebook.com/ryderband, twitter.com/ryderrockband and instagram.com/ryderband.