Matt Willis is from Austin, Texas and is the world-class bagpiper in the band. An experienced player of the great Highland bagpipes, as well as the Scottish smallpipes and Irish uilleann pipes, Matt has competed internationally at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. Matt was a longtime principal member of the Silver Thistle Pipes and Drums in Austin, and was a piping instructor for the Austin Youth Pipes and Drums organization. He has won numerous awards and is a former competitor with the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association. Matt’s bagpiping precision rounds out The Killdares’ large Celtic sound, and his versatility allows for seamless transitions between pop-rock ballads and fire-driven jigs and reels.
 
Thirteen Questions with Matt
 
Musical Influences? Jethro Tull, Simon & Garfunkel, Black Sabbath, pre-St. Anger Metallica (yes, I even liked Load and Reload)
 
Favorite Food? Breakfast food. Eggs, ham, English muffins, fruit…
 
Favorite KD song to play live? The whole beginning of the show from the pipe intro through “Farewell to Decorum” and “Spanner in the Works”.
 
Favorite song on Secrets of the Day?“Along Came You”
 
Favorite Bands Now? Fiona Apple, Oysterband, Dogs Die in Hot Cars, Afrocelt Sound System, Norah Jones. For piping, I’ve really liked Ronan Brown’s last few solo uilleann pipe records. Both Willie McCallum’s and Jack Lee’s World’s Greatest Pipers CDs are in regular rotation.
 
What instruments do you play? Highland bagpipes, Scottish smallpipes, electronic pipes, Irish uilleann pipes, concert flute, whistles (regular and low). I’ll sometimes break out the old saxophone or clarinet from the junior high band days…
 
First tune you learned on the pipes? I think the first melody I played on the highland pipes was the opening riff to Tull’s “Bungle in the Jungle.” It would be nearly two years before I started learning proper pipe tunes on the instrument.
 
What do you usually do when you travel to the next show? When I’m not driving… Zone out to the iPod; probably one of the only times I just listen to music without doing something else. Play Movie Trivia with Tim (and lose). There’s always at least one conversation about health, wellness, food, exercise, etc…
 
Favorite thing to do when you’re not playing? I’ve become the health and fitness guy for the band, and spend much of my time reading about all things relating to wellness. Needless to say, that also means I spend perhaps a too few many hours in the gym.
 
Last Book Read? The Ultimate Diet 2.0 by Lyle McDonald.
 
Last Movie Seen? Live and Let Die. Been watching all the James Bond movies in order (love Netflix). I think I may be the only guy around who thinks George Lazenby made a fantastic Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
 
What do you think your role is as the piper in this band? The pipes are clearly an integral part of the traditional Celtic sounds of this band, but at the same point I want to bring a modern sensibility to how they’re used in a rock band. It’s a difficult balance; I use the pipes for trad tunes, rock riffs, and also as a textural element under the music at times. All the while fighting with tuning.
 
Favorite Quote?
“A flute without holes is not a flute. And a doughnut without a hole is a Danish”
-Ty Webb (Chevy Chase), Caddyshack