Zac Mathews, mandolin player and vocalist with Hot Buttered Rum, announced his decision to leave the band on November 30.
Matthews will not continue the rest of Hot Buttered Rum’s tour, including the New Years Eve show scheduled in Denver.
Speculations are that Mathews has left to make room for a much larger rhythm instrument: the drums.
“Think about it, the band has a lot more potential with a drummer and a pianist,” said Kyle McCabe, a resident of Santa Cruz, Calif. and long-time fan of Hot Buttered Rum.
McCabe’s comment was in reference to the San Francisco Bay Area-based band’s potential of success and popularity.
He also referenced the parallel between the band and the String Cheese Incident, who, as the band aged and progressed, inched farther away from bluegrass and more into experimental jam music.
McCabe expects that Hot Buttered Rum will hire a drummer and possibly a keyboardist.
Hot Buttered Rum has been together for the better half of a decade. The members of the band are long-time friends and seem to have made a group decision about Matthew’s departure.
“I hope you will share in a feeling of excitement for me and for HBR as we journey forward along separate paths. I continue to be an advocate for HBR’s success, and eagerly await the new songs that my brothers and their future collaborations will yield,” said Matthews in his message released over the band’s Web site.
McCabe emphasized his confidence that Matthews will move on to further musical endeavors, as stated in his departure letter to fans.
“I also expect this time of change to recharge my own creative reservoir for music and other endeavors. I look forward to channeling many incredible connections into fruitful collaborations.” – Zac Matthews.
Click here to read Zac Matthews’ letter on Hot Buttered Rum’s Web site.
