International Man of Leisure - Santa Monica, CA - Summer 2019
This week we have new tracks from Toy Cars, Last Night Saved My Life, Tennis System and more brought to you exclusively through Apple Music!
Check it out now!
Music saves.
-YourFriendMatt
Let’s go get a margarita - Venice, CA - Summer 2019
This week we have new tracks from Sanction, The Dangerous Summer, Reunions and more brought to you exclusively through Apple Music! Oh, and plus a throwback too Alkaline Trio. I just couldn’t stop listening to A3 this week. Check it out now!
Music saves.
-YourFriendMatt
This week we have new tracks from The Suitcase Junket, Summer Wars, Knope and more brought to you exclusively through Apple Music! Check it out now!
Music saves.
-YourFriendMatt
unedited - santa monica ca - 2019
This week we have new tracks from Nightmarathons, New Found Glory, Field Medic, Knocked Loose, and more brought to you exclusively through Apple Music! Check it out now!
Music saves.
-YourFriendMatt
National bike to work day 2014 - Shot on iPhone 6 - Santa Monica
This week we have new tracks from Have Mercy, The Sonder Bombs, Broadside, and more brought to you exclusively through Apple Music! Check it out now!
Music saves.
-YourFriendMatt
Happy Friday - hang out with a cool dog today - Spring 2019
This week we have new tracks from Blink 182, Free Throw, Aaron West, and more brought to you exclusively through Apple Music! Check it out now!
Music saves.
-YourFriendMatt
The dude abides - Santa Monica, CA - Winter 2019
Tough week? Well, here is the newest installment of the 6-Pack! We have six new rock-indie-alternative tracks exclusively on Apple Music to help you get into weekend mode - including new singles from Table Talk, Cold Wreck, Terror and more! Check it out now!
Music saves.
-YourFriendMatt
Busy at play - Early 2019 - Santa Monica, CA
Happy Friday! This weeks rock-indie-alt playlist includes a new track from American Football, Elephant Jake, Hey Thanks, Point North, LAVE, and Bearclaw Camp! Enjoy!
In a sea of awful releases this week, these bands stick out to us.
-YourFriendMatt
Macungie, Pa - December 2018
Happy Friday! Here is this weeks rock 6-Pack, including tracks from All Get Out, Kill the Clock, American Football, and more! Check it out now!
Music saves.
-YourFriendMatt
Arches National Park - Utah - Fall 2018 - Honeymooners
FRIDAY! We have some new tracks from Angel Du$t, Locals Only, and a chill one from Philly locals - Sleepy Limbs! Plus new tracks from SHADED, Rarity, and Modern Chemistry. Check it out now!
Music Saves.
-YourFriendMatt
Where you want to go? - Santa Monica, CA - Summer 2018
Friday! Friday! Friday! This week’s alternative-rock 6-pack playlist brings us new tracks from Super American, The Flats, Eyes Eat Suns, and Mom Jeans. It' feels like the 90’s are back, and I am okay with that. We also have some faster-paced punk-rock singles from The Home Team and Single Mothers. Check it out!
Music saves.
-YourFriendMatt
New Orleans, October 2017
Great week for some new pop rock jams. We were lucky enough to see Dashboard premier their new track "We Fight" while living in Nashville and now its available for all to hear! We also have a new pop-punk single from Real Friends, as well as a great track from Stacked Like Pancakes dedicated to the "fearless" leader of these broken states, 45!
Music saves.
-YourFriendMatt
Let's do a beer.
Only a few weekends left in Nashville. Going to make them count and let some great new music be the soundtrack. This week I am excited because there is a ton of new releases I am enjoying, including tracks from Can't Swim, Sleep On It, and Such Gold. Check it out!
-YourFriendMatt
Shot on iPhone 8 Plus
I took a few weeks off from creating playlist and writing. A lot has happened in the few weeks, but the quest for good jams never stops. Here is a quick list I have been playing non-stop on Apple Music.
-YourFriendMatt
Slim & Husky's - Nashville, TN
Another Friday and another awesome 6-Pack. I had to give it a few listens, but the new Paramore REALLY grew on me. This week's list starts off with one of my favorite tracks from After Laughter. We also have some new more groovy jams from PA's own Tigers Jaw and Macseal. We even have a new track from unknown (for now) Philadelphia crew, Captain, We're Sinking.
A lot of PA love in this 6-Pack!
-YourFriendMatt
Took some time off to get centered...so much music to catch up on and curate!
Here are some alternative-pop jams I found while I was away including The Maine, Bearings, The Menzingers and more!
Share. Listen. Enjoy!
-YourFriendMatt
New release from LA-based rock band Lost Sons up now! The Lost Sons twosome are recent transplants from Boston who take their craft seriously. Lights is a driving, pop rock ballad perfect for a long drive up the coast or cool evening in. Check it out now!
Plus, I played drums on it!
Photo: Roger Ramirez - IG: @rawgerrrphotos
In a time when people are using Tinder for last minute hook-ups and free pizza, one SoCal DIY band is using the dating app to build a tangible fan base conveniently co-located to their live show circuits. I stumbled upon these guys while surfing Tinder (I had just come out of a serious relationship, don’t judge!). The profile of a faceless (and probably) cute guy in a sharp graphic tee with an adorable puppy peaked my interest. Sold, swipe right. Admittedly, I didn’t read the bio until after they started messaging me about what sort of music I’m into. Once I realized it was a band, I had to meet up with them to get the inside scoop on their music and why they were using dating apps with ulterior motives.
I met up with Christian (Drums) and Danny (Guitar). The explain it has been Christian’s idea to join Tinder as a band while brainstorming ways get their name out to more local fans. Their fan base has been spread through other countries and states from Youtube traffic and other social media campaigns, but how to get more LA folks was the new mission. Tinder was a perfect way to connect with fans locally and increase attendance at their shows.
Dating sites and musicians both have a proven track record of bringing out a few crazies (sorry mom!). As a result of their Tinder fan-scouting, they have invited some intense fans. “There was one fan that showed up by surprise, and drove about an hour and a half to see us,” they told me. “She was very persistent on trying to hang out with one of us after the show, and several times after that night.” The girl has since backed off, but there’s bound to be a few more as they continue to grow in popularity.
The band name (which can be Googled - PAPERFOX - all one word) was actually inspired by the Thrice song “Paper Tigers." They don’t mind sharing their name with girly shoes, though (now Google PAPER FOX - 2 words). “It's amazing! Hope they start making men's shoes so we can rock them during our shows.”
While this band isn’t a first for any of these guys, their roles in PAPERFOX have given them new challenges. Their singer, Richard, had previously been a drummer until they couldn’t seem to find the right singer to front the band. Danny suggested Richard try singing and as you can see he turned out to have a great voice, so it’s worked out so far!
Check out the bands melodic, indie-rock EP Dreamcatcher here now!
Laughter. The best medicine.
"Well, shit." As I turned the key and the engine sputtered. Then died.
It was a great night. A fantastic night. I achieved another goal. I checked something off my bucket list. I have played two different House of Blues locations. Once at the House of Blues in Atlantic City playing with Run DMC (yeah, seriously. I have pictures to prove it) and now playing the House of Blues in Los Angeles (where I met Blues Brother himself, Dan Aykroyd. I don't have pictures to prove it. Just believe me).
Most people think being in a band must be glamours. But actually unless you are friggin' Coldplay you are driving for more than half the time and getting made fun of by security when no one is around. And broke, almost always, but for some reason I keep coming back for more. The show was over and everyone had left. Sweaty and tired we loaded out our gear through a half-ass service elevator with each trip, which should have been a few moments at most, taking about 15 minutes.
After what felt like forever we were finally done and I was tried. We said our goodbyes and ran to get in my car to drive home. Whipping my keys out as fast as possible I jumped in the drivers seat and turned the ignition. Nothing. The sound of you car not starting, that almost-going-to-start-clicking noise, made me feel like the car was laughing at me. "Oh, you wanna go home? Well, I guess you shouldn't have left the headlights on the entire time you were loading out your gear! Moron! Ha-Ha!" My car whispered to be as the clicking played on. "Fuck you, car!" I yelled back as Jamie turned from the passenger seat to asked who I was talking too. "Uh, nobody." Having been caught talking to an intimate object but still turned back to the engine to flip it off.
Luckily one of the other bands that night was loading out and their girl singer/bass player was a mechanic. Sure? Why not. The security laugh at me as I accidentally touch the positive and negative ends of the jumper cables while sparks flew and I jumped (and screamed like a little girl).
Huge thanks to Jason at PopCultureRenegades for jumping me and our new friend, bass player mechanic girl!
