I’ve been in crush with Matt Pond (usually of Matt Pond PA) since the mid 2000’s, when a track called “Kc” came out on their album Emblems around ’04 or so. Really, any angsty musician singing “There’s no way to the heart / better than awkwardly” in the opening lines of a haunted-chord laden ditty would have won me over, but Matt’s earnest tones coupled with that verbage — plus a cello accompaniment — mixed up the run-of-the-mill sad alt.indie sound of the time very much to my liking, and it stuck. It’s a mixtape staple if there ever was one from that timeframe to be had.
Cut to now, and we’ve got said heartstring-yanker taking to the road on the heels of his latest release, The Dark Leaves, with none other than our local love-slash-Barsuk member Rocky Votolato. They’re taking to the road for a winter tour, with Matt accompanied by Chris Hansen and cellist Shawn Alpay. Sadly, there’s no Seattle date on the tour, but if you can push your friends and loved ones out there to pop into a show that hits their city (Connecticut, I am looking at you!), please do. Given the intimate nature of these venues, it’s a lineup well worth your time and money.
February 25 – Anaheim, CA – Chain Reaction
February 26 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
February 27 – Phoenix, AZ – Rhythm Room
March 01 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s BBQ [indoors]
March 02 – Oklahoma City, OK – Conservatory
March 03 – Springfield, MO – Outland Ballroom
March 04 – Memphis, TN – Hi Tone Café
March 05 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In
March 07 – Atlanta, GA – Drunken Unicorn
March 08 – Gainesville, FL – Common Grounds
March 09 – Ybor City, FL – New World Brewery
March 10 – Orlando, FL – Back Booth
March 11 – West Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern
March 12 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
March 13 – Charlottesville, VA – The Southern
March 15 – Washington, DC – Black Cat
March 16 – Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
March 17 – Hamden, CT – The Space
March 18 – Poughkeepsie, NY – The Loft
March 19 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
March 20 – Boston, MA – Middle East [downstairs]
March 22 – Montreal, QC – La Sala Rossa
March 23 – Toronto, ON – Drake Hotel
March 24 – Lansing, MI – Mac’s Bar
March 25 – Chicago, IL – Subterranean
{Photo courtesy of Matt Pond.}