Bain Mattox is what Alternative Addiction calls, "hands down, the most tale… Read Full Bio ↴Bain Mattox is what Alternative Addiction calls, "hands down, the most talented unsigned artist in the country." Mattox sprung onto the Atlanta music scene in 2003 after winning Smith's Open Mic Madness. The twenty-one year old troubadour instantly became a favorite among locals and critics alike, with his every-man persona and an array of oddly tuned pawn-shop instruments. With the addition of a permanent backing band, a self-titled release under his belt, and a steady year and a half out on the road, he has developed gracefully into what Ernie Ball says, "is a highly innovative artist who is a "can't miss" in 2006.

In mid-2005 he began work on a second album with the intention of creating something organic, classic and real. True to his indie spirit, when it came time to record and funds weren't readily available, he called out to his grass-roots fan base for assistance. Loyal fans, eager for a second release, pre-ordered the upcoming album and a small back-log of unreleased demos, generating enough revenue for a completely fan-funded album.

Mattox's stunning sophomore release, Prizefighter [November 1, 2005] is already a knock-out with fans. "My goal was to spend the time and make an album that is easily accessible to people; something they could grasp onto and call their own," he says. He took the better part of 6 months off the road and came up with eleven tales of turmoil and triumph that bob and weave beautifully throughout this stark masterpiece. Mattox and his band recorded Prizefighter during an eight week lock-out with Producer John Briglevich (Goo Goo Dolls, Edwin McCain, Chuck D) at Sonica Recording Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. "I wanted Prizefighter to be very much about my personal struggles this past year," says Mattox "I needed it to reflect who I am as a person and stand as an example for what you can accomplish if you just get up, dust yourself off, and keep going."

Mattox and his band are currently out on the road in support of Prizefighter. "I have had the pleasure of collaborating with a lot of really good musicians over the past two years," says Mattox, "but there's nothing more powerful than sharing a stage and making a record with my best friends." His current touring line-up includes long-time drummer Andy Bauer, keys and rhythm guitarist Rivers Pearce, bassist Mike Lamond and lead guitarist Chris Skogen. Mattox lives in Athens, Georgia, while the band resides in Atlanta, allowing them the privilege of calling both places "home".

Mattox has seen national success on MTV's Real World, Turner Network Television's NASCAR, Delta Airline's Campus Movie Fest, "Good Morning Atlanta" on CBS, and has performed live on FOX Charlotte, Q100's "The Bert Show", and Music Midtown 2004 alongside the Foo Fighters and Switchfoot. His last two Atlanta performances at The Roxy Theatre had over 1,000 in attendance and he has recently seen airplay on The UK's SKY Channel 905, XM radio, Atlanta, Ga.'s 99x, Macon, Ga.'s Q106, and Auburn, Al.'s TigerFM.

Mattox currently reigns as an award-winning artist for:
"Best Rock Band" and "Best Singer-Songwriter" Flagpole Music Awards (Athens, Ga.)
"Best Front-Man" Atlanta Music Guide Music Awards
"Best Singer-Songwriter" and "Best Instrumentalist" Creative Loafing's Best of Atlanta
#1 on The Best Unsigned Band List Alternative Addiction
Creative Loafing says, "As long as Bain Mattox keeps writing simple, stunning, sad songs, he'll maintain both mainstream and indie cred."

Junkie Blues
Bain Mattox Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You get another fix
Straight-up cash for string
And you almost slit your wrist
From the glass breaking

It's the least you could do
To stumble on your junkie-blues
It's your stage

It's there for the take

You get another fix
Before dawn has been seen
And you send another fist
For what's mine you retrieve

It's the least you could do
To stumble on your junkie-blues
It's your stage
It's there for the take

If you neighbor subway trains
And a cup full of falling change
I'd pay to see
I'd pay to see what was ripped from me

It's the least you could do
To stumble on your junkie-blues

It's your stage
It's there for the take

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bain Mattox's song Junkie Blues describe the painful and destructive cycle of drug addiction. The first stanza speaks of the desperation of a drug addict who needs another fix, even if it means getting into dangerous situations and risking their life. The line "And you almost slit your wrist from the glass breaking" suggests that the addict is so desperate to get the drugs that they are willing to harm themselves in the process.

The second stanza speaks of the addict's dependence on the drugs, and their willingness to do anything to get their hands on them. The line "And you send another fist for what's mine you retrieve" suggests that the addict is willing to resort to violence or theft to fund their addiction. The chorus of the song, "It's the least you could do to stumble on your junkie-blues, it's your stage, it's there for the take," implies that the drug addiction has become the driving force in the addict's life, leading them down a destructive path where the only way to cope is to fall back on their addiction.

Overall, the lyrics to Junkie Blues are a stark reminder of the harsh realities of drug addiction and the toll it takes on individuals, families, and communities.

Line by Line Meaning

You get another fix
You acquire another dose of your drug of choice

Straight-up cash for string
You exchange money for a substance that is strung together or prepared for use

And you almost slit your wrist
You nearly hurt yourself badly enough to cause significant damage to your wrist

From the glass breaking
A glass object or container broke, leading to your injury

It's the least you could do
This action is the minimal effort you could put forth

To stumble on your junkie-blues
To move through life, struggling with addiction and the suffering that comes with it

It's your stage
Your life is your platform for this struggle

It's there for the take
The opportunity to live this way is readily available

Before dawn has been seen
You acquire another dose of your drug of choice before sunrise

And you send another fist
You use physical force or aggression to take what you need

For what's mine you retrieve
You take what belongs to others in order to support your habit