MATB at the Saturn Bar
- Music Nola
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
It was a Wednesday and I had a feeling that it would be a good night. Miranda and the Beat (or I guess I’ll have to start getting my brain around the fact they’re M.A.T.B. now) were scheduled for the Saturn Bar. Can’t go wrong with one of the best dive bars in town. And one of the oldest rock clubs.
So I put on one of my best black t-shirts (what else would I wear?) and headed out to catch the streetcar. Route 47 Red. Which is also a great beer, if only Second Line would get it back on the menu. Where was I? Oh, streetcar. A buck twenty-five gets me down to the Quarter. On the oldest continuously operating street railway system in the country – take that San Fran trolleys.
It’s an easy ride, but once I get near the Quarter, I can’t take it. Too many stops. I just hop off and walk. Who cares if it’s 4,000 degrees and we have a tropical storm coming (NOTE: I knew we didn’t, but you know weather people. Plus, it’s summertime in New Orleans, there’s usually a tropical storm coming).
It turns out that the Saturn Bar is a 2.25 mile walk from Canal Street. Not ideal. You know, 4,000 degrees and all that.
But there is some sightseeing. Saenger Theater is a cool joint. Louis Armstrong Park - which is where Congo Square was. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, enslaved Africans were allowed to congregate in Congo Square and play their traditional music and preserve religious traditions. That kept the sounds from Africa alive in this country (most areas didn’t allow that).
Not far away from Congo Square is the Tomb of the Unknown Slave at St. Augustine Church. The church was founded in 1841 and is the oldest Black Catholic congregation in the country.
Keep going a bit and you can see where the last New Orleans Banksy existed in the wild. The Umbrella Girl was one of 14 Nola murals painted in 2008 by the graffiti legend, arguably the most famous artist in the world. She came down in 2024 and there are lots of rumors of a return but I’m guessing not. People tried to steal the entire wall it was on once. That wall is probably worth millions of dollars.
But anyway, I have to get to the bar. I don’t know much about what’s going on with the show. I know M.A.T.B. of course. Some of the best punk rock going in Nola. Miranda Zipse started things up with a friend in California. They made the move to New York City and expanded into a proper band. Now they’re New Orleans-based and rockin’ the city any chance they get.
According to the show poster, M.A.T.B. would be joined by Matthewadonna in support of Fine Mess. I know Miranda. The other two? Absolutely no idea. Which, honestly, is half the fun of nights like this.
So keep on walking. St. Claude Ave is definitely a place to check out. Lots of bars and music clubs. It’s a more gritty part of the city and feels more genuine and fun (in other words, not touristy).
I made it! I’m actually early. I’d wander around more but...I believe I’ve contributed enough sweat to this Frank Turner t-shirt. So I pay my $10 cover – first one! And they have a new stamp. So I’ve got that going for me, which is nice. Until the stamp goes away because I literally have swamp water flowing off my body. Oops.
The Saturn Bar has been around since 1959 – the name is cool regardless, but when you remember the space craze of the late 50s and 60s, it makes more sense.
In the early 2000s, the Saturn Bar had an amazing juke box (a CD juke box). The only issue was that the screen was broken, so you’d put your money in and smack buttons and hope maybe you nailed songs you wanted. You never did but this was even better because you often heard unfamiliar stuff which is always good.
Okay, it’s tonight though, not the early 2000s. And while I was the first one to pay the cover, others are there including an amazingly chaotic little man – it appears that it’s either the best or worst day of his life. Welcome to St Claude! Also, foreshadowing!
I had some beers (including a freaking terrible Greek beer) and an Underberg. Underberg makes you indestructible which is always good. And it’s now everywhere in Nola. I’ve been on that little green wagon for many many years thanks to JT in Copenhagen. I do like to brag about that to all the Johnny-Come-Latelies. Sometimes I even tell them I have Underberg tattoos older than most of them. Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story.
I’m just chillin for a bit and then the bands start up. No clue who the first guys are but I’m pretty sure it’s the M.A.T.B. drummer Christian King on guitar and singing (but don’t hold me to that). Loud, fast, a little angry. Good stuff.
Did I toss some foreshadowing out earlier? Yeah, well, ok then. That little dude that seemed to be enjoying his night a bit too much earlier? He’s a mess for this first band. Check the video.
See? I wasn’t just saying shit.
Also, guitar/drummer dude Christian (if that’s who it is), did a great job of incorporating the dude into the show.
Well played.
Guessing Matthewadonna was up next. The poster said New Yorker. Not really sure. But it took some time for him to get into a song that I’m guessing is called “Everything Is Going to be Okay.” The issue was that he tried the makeshift prop thing to incorporate my messed-up little friend into the show. We better go to the video for this one.
He eventually shoved him off and things went smoother. But…pretty sure it turned into a 1970s David Bowie show or something. Not sure why I think that, not like I went to a 70s Bowie show, but that’s what popped into my head. I don’t know what the hell was going on. But I’m thinking, “Yeah, it was the right decision to come here.”
Intermission. What’s that? Underberg with beautiful girls? Huh, not going to say no to that.
So the show poster seemed to indicate that Fine Mess was the headliner but apparently they deferred that to M.A.T.B. Credit to the locals.
Okay then, I can wait a little longer for Miranda. Let’s see what this Fine Mess is all about (big reveal coming).
Big Reveal - Fine Mess is actually called Dustin Dollin’s Fine Mess. Dustin Dollin is an Australian skateboarding legend who also fronts a punk band.
Oh, and by the way, Dustin Dollin is known to party a lot. And, drum roll, the crazy messed up dude is Dustin. I never had the chance to see a drunken Jim Morrison performance so maybe this would be a similar experience? No matter what, this should be fun. Let’s sit back and see how it goes.
Uh oh. They can’t find their bass player. Can Dustin filibuster for a bit? I’ll transcribe a bit:
“Well, F off! (Drummer: All right, we’re waiting on Tommy). Come on in bitches and c-words and f-in arseholes. Or keep telling your friends how cool they are, how pretty they are. We actually don’t f-ing care.”
Then some loud cackling and some yelling and the drummer and guitarist (Julia Pierce, who rocks, we may have done a shot as well) just cranked it up. Dustin was confused at first, then not pleased. So they stopped.
“Has anyone seen Tommy?”
Turns out Tommy needed a beer, which seems reasonable.
I know this may sound made up, so take a look at six-plus minutes of the start of the Fine Mess.
I mean, sand bagging? All performance art? I don’t know and I don’t care. The amazing night continued. And that’s all that matters. They actually played a fun set.
And then the headliners. Miranda and the Beat (I know, I know) nailed an amazing show.
And don’t worry, Dustin stayed through the end of the show.
So yeah, M.A.T.B. and Fine Mess are now on tour. Sounds disgusting (I didn't say it, it's on their poster, jeez), so yeah, I’d highly recommend getting out to see them for yourself. Check their Instagram accounts for more info! MATB and Fine Mess.
Here are a couple of weird items from Saturn Bar.
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