Matt Wertz joined us for a special acoustic performance on July 31st at our office in San Diego, CA. He treated us with some delicious coffee and a four song set that Wednesday afternoon. Coming down from a secret show in LA, the singer/songwriter chatted us up about his upcoming projects, our business, and live music around San Diego.
Starting out with his hit tune from his 2008 release Under Summer Sun, “Everything’s Right”, Matt breezily strummed along singing “Until we’re there crank the radio, we’ll join in with the songs we know.. Hey, everything’s right, said everything’s right tonight.” This song is a perfect backdrop for a summer road trip or BBQ, making everything feel, well, right.
Taking inspiration from the greats Richard Marx and Bryan Adams, Matt jokingly informs us his upcoming record Heatwave is going to sound incredibly “progressive OR dated.” His next song, “Get To You” was a prime example and, from the nostalgia inducing melody to the 80’s influenced guitar riffs, he’s set to land gracefully on the side of progression.
What needs to be stressed is how incredible Matt’s vocals are. His voice can go from sweetly quiet and emotional to soaring powerfully right at the tip of his range ordering our attention through his poignant lyrics.
Matt closed us out with the last track on his new record titled, “Thing About Freedom.” This ballad felt like an old folk song that had been passed from generation to generation around the blazing campfire underneath the stars. The sincere lyrics tell a beautiful story and deliver a profound statement about freedom, love and the complexity of life itself: “The thing about freedom, it’s so misunderstood. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” Songs like these make one appreciate the “small” things that are given to many of us that we often take for granted in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
After his performance, Matt thanked us and took a few pictures with our Music Design staff in San Diego before heading back up to LA to continue his promotional tour. Matt’s charming personality and sense of humor only added to his likeability and made us hope he’d be back to play for us again soon. His promotional clip for the new record proves he’s ready to take the industry by storm.
Check for him out on tour in a city near you and for his latest release Heatwave set for August 27, 2013. In the meantime, you can grab his latest track “Loved By You” by preordering Heatwave on his website here.
Thanks again for the great performance Matt!
– Submitted by Tristan Bolden, Music Designer