S4: E12: Matt Sebastian - (Matt Sebastian Band) - The Names Have All Changed

Matt Sebastian Mixdown Master

Fri, Apr 07, 2023 1:15PM • 1:06:16

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

song, play, band, people, music, hear, writing, day, acoustic, listen, listeners, talk, backstage pass, country, shows, nice, rock, cyprus, called, artists, Cypress, Texas, Cypress Texas, Matt Sebastian, Matt Sebastian Band

SPEAKERS

Matt Sebastian, Adam Gordon

Matt Sebastian  00:00

My guest today is East Texas born and raised and now call Cypress, Texas home. Hey, you guys, it's Randy Hulsey with backstage pass radio. And today I will be chatting with a local singer, songwriter and guitarist that plays local shows as well as full band shows in and around the greater Houston area. Stick around and we will chat with local artists Matt Sebastian of the Met Sebastian band when we come back.

Adam Gordon  00:24

This is backstage pass radio, the podcast that's designed for the music junkie with a thirst for musical knowledge. Hi, this is Adam Gordon. And I want to thank you all for joining us today. Make sure you like subscribe and turn the alerts on for this and all upcoming podcasts. And now here's your host of backstage pass radio. Randy Halsey.

Matt Sebastian  00:52

Bad What's up, brother? Good to see you, man. Sandy, buddy. Thank you for having me. My pleasure. So you made the long drive from Cyprus to Cyprus. Right. So I don't know, kind of are you guys on the other side of 296 Golf Course area? Okay. I gotcha. We were just over there this weekend, in the lakes of I think the subdivision was called the likes of Rose Hill, which is probably not too far. Right? Yeah. Well, yeah. Welcome, man. It's, it's good to see you glad you stopped by to share your story with the listeners. Before we get going. I'd like to thank the listeners who tune in each week, the show is now heard in over 60 countries. And I couldn't have done without you guys, Sharon, and tuning in week after week. So thank you all for that. So how's the family man? Everybody? Good, everybody. Well, spring break is here spring break in this week. Yeah. Right. So everybody's good man. Have two birthdays this week in the family. So it's gonna be a busy week. That'll take a few days right there to celebrate birthdays got through half of it this weekend. And one more tomorrow. So yeah, no, so no plans to venture outside of town. Just staying local. You probably got some shows. We'll talk about the for the for the month of March. But I think you're pretty busy this month, aren't you? Absolutely. So you're a cypress guy now, of course. But you grew up in East Texas. Talk to the listeners a little bit about where you grew up. What part of Texas you grew up in and talk to me a little bit about the upbringing. What was Matt Sebastian doing as a young kid? Sure. So I was born in Port Arthur, Texas in fourth grade, we moved to a small town called fernet, Texas. And I stayed there from fourth grade till my senior year of high school and was big into sports as a kid, tennis football, baseball, basketball played at all was super competitive in that mindset and thought that I wanted to be a coach when I went to college, and then, you know, eventually talked myself out of that and got into sales. But yeah, yeah, went to Lamar University for a couple years. realized I didn't want to be a coach and, and I was playing in some bands at that time. Okay. Yeah, just. And then about 11 years ago, we moved out to Cypress, okay. It's kind of funny. We all go to college for certain things, and then we wind up never doing those things. I pay good money to realize that I'll do that the rest of my life. Absolutely. And my dad still gives me shit about that today. Like my put my consent through college and he doesn't even do geology anymore. I was a geology major of all things. And don't do anything with geology, not even remotely close. You know, growing up there in East Texas in the Port Arthur area, what kind of music were you listening to? As a kid were in the formidable years? What was shaping you, man? What were you hearing that? Yeah, really. My dad was huge, CCR. late 60s, early 70s, kind of swamp rock. And it was either that or Leonard Skinner, or to the other mindset of Garth Brooks and George Strait, like 90s country, that kind of thing. So I liked both of those. And then I went to my first rock concert with my sister. And then that's when I was like, Okay, this is what I want to do. Right. And that was actually the toadies and I'll hook Texas, right. And that was my first like, Rock Show. Interesting. So that's what kind of made me want to get a guitar and started learning, right? Yeah, absolutely. That was that was the summer going into my freshman year. Yeah. took about a year to convince my dad to get me a guitar because I was a sports guy, and he was like, You're not gonna go to play? Sure. And I didn't really know either. Like, I think every dad probably has aspirations of their kid growing up and being a professional ballplayer of some sorts, right. But at the end of the day, the odds are really low of most people ever getting to the professional level. My son in law was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates right out of high school and played for Pittsburgh for three and a half years. And it's just you know, if you're not in the big show, and you're in the minors, man, it's a grind and those guys yeah, they may beg to differ but they're not making a whole lot of And I think that they'll tell you that it's for the love of the game in hopes that they would get, you know, to that next level. And I think, you know, you, you have to determine Am I really going to go to that level where I'm going to actually start making some money but, you know, my parents were my mom was a pianist and they always supported the music but you know, I grew my hair long and I was playing you know, guitar and my dad's like, are you going to when are you going to stop listen to that hippie stuff and blah blah blah it's like I'm just I love music. It was entrenched in me and instilled in me and I never really thought too much about doing it for a living but I like you was a big sports guy and then got into music and kind of never looked back so we're kind of poured out of the same mold so to speak. Absolutely. Yeah. Well, I wanted to see if maybe you'd kick us off with a with a song of your choice I don't know if you have a one of your own or a cover I know that you do a lot of both in your show for the listeners out there of course Matt does some great covers and his shows and a lot of his own stuff so whatever you feel like playing kick us off with a song if you don't Yeah, so this is an original tune called running away

06:33

when he told me that you never let me go and now it seems you

06:51

what zone

06:57

go in Greece and the Scottie shoe

07:25

you you're new to me unless you never let me go now let's seem to meet you What zone nine No no, I'm going fucking greasy starting shoe down by the river

08:27

everything I've ever

08:34

Well, I can see so we're searching for the word 34

08:57

starting over new in the unknown town is on zc grid that Uh, no I don't know what it is. Jason ameliorative John the girl spots down by the river.

09:58

Everything Whatever

10:14

we're searching for word for word for

10:41

you remember when he told me to never let me go

Matt Sebastian  10:59

brilliant man that sounded really nice run it running away is there right on with now? I know you had a EPL the four song EP was that part of the four song? Okay? Tell the listeners a little bit about the song and kind of what inspired that particular song. So that one is it's basically a storytelling man it's kind of mixed with rock and roll with the storytelling aspect of it but someone who lost it all and had a good life was married everything and goes down to the river and does drugs all day homeless. I don't know what you want to however you want to let your imagination I like to make people wonder like what's going on and make it their own? Right? Yeah, you can use it, you can make it your own. But yeah, just someone that had it all, and then lost it all, which is not an uncommon store. Now. You live seen it on TV shows. You've seen it in real life. I mean, it's so yeah, it's just. But then with the band, it definitely rocks a little more and more upbeat. But I still like the storytelling acoustic aspect of it too. I have shared that sentiment with multiple people that have come in here in the living room and played and it's a treat for me to get to hear guys like you play like, you know that I sit on that side of the mic, you know, night after night sometimes, but it's always good to be on this side of the mic, where you're just a spectator and you're just to intake or you're just ingesting the music and and I always tell everybody I get inside the song. I'm trying to figure things out. And that's how I listen to music. I don't listen to a beat. I don't listen to a rhythm. I hear everything. I hear the three and a half minute story that's told right now. And I don't know like what's your take? Do you like doing the acoustic stuff? Just the raw stuff more than the band are they? I know they're two different things. But do you enjoy one kind of more than the other talk to me about the band's a lot more fun. Just because I've got the guys with me. I've got a really strong group right now that I'm really proud of. They've worked really hard. And you know how it is some shows are great, and some aren't so great. But even when the band's there, they're not so great shows are still fun, shoot, we're still together. It's like a brotherhood, you're doing the solo thing when you go and it's not so great. You're by yourself. It you can't you can't hide behind it. Same thing when you go kill it by yourself. It's like dang. Yeah, like and get the money's a little better when you're by yourself. Because it's, you know, I'm sure you're not splitting four ways. That's right. Do you write mostly on your own? Or do you collaborate pretty heavily with the guys in the band on the songwriting piece. So usually, the lyrics so far have all been me. I'm always open to things they can bring or ideas, the newer stuff that we're writing, because the first seven or eight that I wrote, it was what I brought to the table kind of thing. And they added to it, they're probably the last seven or eight that we've written as the music part of it. We've written together practice. Okay, so I'm excited about the show, it'll be a different element. You know, so I'm excited about where it's where the process is heading. And then we have a new bass player now, Wade ultimate, sure. And he's going to be helping with the writing process as well. Okay. So when you and I will talk a little bit more about you and I play together. Sure. But we were having that discussion then about that change was going to come or or Wade was going to be joining in I wasn't going to bring that up because I didn't know if that cat had been let out. I figure you would the Senate if it wasn't it wasn't official, but we'll chat about that here shortly. It's my understanding that you played for some time and then you kind of took a sabbatical from the business. What took you away from the scene for a while so sure. And this is before I ever started singing and writing my own stuff. I was The bass player and two bands in Southeast Texas. First one was called demagogue, we were sort of regional opening up for man's like nonpoint in the hunger back in Osho, early 2005 area, and with some really talented guys, they've all went their own way now but really proud of the music that we made back then. But I was just the bass player, right. And then same thing with the blue Bruce our band, we would open up for bands like Crosby, ragweed, and Wade Bowen and nice Eli young band, Roger Crager. They came through Beaumont, we were one of the bands, open it up for these guys. And then got married, had kids focused on career life happened, right? Yeah, no. And I have always wanted to get back into it and 2020 and with the COVID shutdown, I finally started writing my own stuff, finding the time for it. And that's all my wife, I sort of play one show a month. See if I'm good enough. That's that was the goal when I first started because I didn't know, right? I mean, I didn't have a PA I didn't have. So I had to save up for gear and kind of a pipe dream. Oh, no doubt. Yeah. I mean, if you'd have told me three years ago, I'm playing 1520 shows a month in Cyprus, I would have laughed at you. Oh, I get it. And I think I think it was 2016. For me. You know, I spent some time in bands back in the 80s and whatnot. And then I kind of went on that sabbatical where life happened were three kids kind of thing, right? And you just, I was always playing, but I was never thinking about bands and playing professionally. And I got a bug around 2016. And I think that's right around the time, this whole Facebook Live thing started to happen in and I'm not like a pioneer. I'm not saying that. But I was probably one of the first that I had seen really doing the live things because this was around a time when I wanted to play in front of people. But I didn't know if I was ready to go out into the public to play. So I said, let me do the Facebook Live with a select audience and just kind of work out some, you know, the cobwebs. And then later, as you know, we get to COVID around 2019 That's when the whole Facebook Live thing really blew up. You know, artists were supplementing income by playing live shows and doing the whole Venmo and PayPal thing. So it was a great way to cut my teeth through the Facebook Live thing. But I had those reservations to just like you did and Mike air. Yeah. Like, like, how are people going to receive it? Like, What song should I play because I was never really a country guy myself, I was always the rock guy. And I said, you know, I did my homework. And I'm like, I have to be a little more versatile than just be a rock guy. Like, you're gonna have to bring something else to the table. As a solo guy. That's when I really started listening to the Texas stuff, the Americana genre, which I've fallen in love with since I opened my ears and started listening to it. But you sound like you had a little bit more diversity in your music with the country and the alternative stuff. Yeah, you know, going into it right. I'm also huge in like 80s pop songs, even though as cheesy as they are. They're still catchy. And but then I like making my own spin on them. Yeah. And switching it up. And it's something different for the audience, because a lot of Houston is at 90% Country. Yeah, I agree with that. It's at 90% rock. And so I feel like if you can do a good blend of that, pop some country and then throw in some of your originals at some different shoe audience. Absolutely. And I've heard some of I will of course, I've played with you. But I've also been to a show or two of yours. And it's nice to hear your your take on those covers, you know, I'm more of the conventional give it to the listeners, like they loved it on the radio, right and that kind of thing. And you do some of that, but you also put some spins on it and and do some mashups, which are pretty cool, too. So thank you, you. You spoke a little bit about you know, life happening. You had some kids, how many kids are running around the house for you these days? So we have 4411 short of what I had. That's that's a handful and I'm sure are they all in school right now? It's like a senior to kindergarten, honestly. Okay, so you got them like you got them go into three different sixth grader in between the third grade? Yep. Oh, wow. Well, that gives me more gray hair than I have just thinking about having to do that all over again. Yeah, I'm tired. Just talking. We'll move on. We just move on. Well, so you were recently we got to play together recently out in spring, and I wanted you to share a little bit of you know, with the listeners about how the fortress show came about, or that gig for you how it came about, but more so how you turned it in to kind of a resident song swap? Right, right. So when they initially reached out they wanted somebody on Thursday nights. I live in Cyprus, it's in Spain. It's a little bit of a hall, but it's a really fun place because they have a cornhole League, you get a lot of happy hour people that come in at the beginning, and then some more of the regular crowd that flows in afterwards. And then they have a coordinate League. So it's always kind of a built in crowd for Thursday night show. It's, it's an ideal situation, because I've played some Thursday nights where it's not so great, you know. And I get the option if I want to bring somebody with me or not, but I generally try to bring somebody with me, because when you're playing there once a week, you know, you're gonna burn people out. So it's always nice to bring in or keep it fresh. Yeah, just bring in new new ideas. New. I brought a kid with me last week. Dylan Reese, okay, 14 years old. Oh, wow. Nice. I'm brought to you I brought my children's with me. And, you know, and then a lot of the other people that a song swap with constantly, but it's a good way for me to and meet new people and be able to offer that. Absolutely. Somebody will come back to me and say, Hey, come to my show with me. Absolutely. You know, it's it's a networking thing. But fortress is gracious enough to give me the flexibility. Yep. Well, and it's nice that you're open minded enough as a, as an artist to be willing to share the stage with others. I don't think that everybody has that same mindset. I'm open to that myself. And I would always encourage it, I mean, I would probably want them to probably be an established artist and not be their first time on stage playing with me, right. But to open it up to another musician to come sit in and song swap. I've done that with my friend Sandy, June, down and out of Santa Fe and some others as well. But that's cool that you kind of open that up for other artists. When I first started, I was having trouble getting engaged because nobody knew I was there because I was literally playing on the patio for my friends. And so now when I see people struggling, or if it's something that I believe in, I feel like they're talented. I'll bring them along to see how that goes. Very cool. And I as a musician, appreciate you doing that. Back in the day. I played several shows out there when I was doing owed up with another female artist here in Cyprus that I don't play with anymore. But we had played some, I think probably three shows out at fortress. And then it just kind of became a hall for us. And we found some stuff a little bit more close to home. So I think that's why that fizzled out. But great place a cool place. My buddy and I don't know if you know Travis Volk or not but he he was instrumental in in helping me get on. He's working with some of the beer companies, the craft beer companies around town and spent some time over Creekwood grill. So that's where I got to know Travis, you and I are also resident artist at some of the same establishments, share with the listeners, some of the places that they can find you around town. What are some of the main places that you're playing at these days? Yeah, so backyard grill was one of the first shows or venues to give me an opportunity to play there. So I do that almost once a month. Now. It's probably about every six weeks. That's a Friday night, a small intimate setting. Great food, great beer. It's a lot of fun. A lot of the regular customers that have become friends with them because they seem and then they come out. I agree. And they're their loyalty by the barn and cypress Andes Bar and Grill and cypress. I mean there's there's a lot to name. I hate to leave anybody out. But yeah, just Cypress spring, Katie. Yeah. And then we play in Beaumont once a month as a band. Nice. And that's where half the guys are. They live in the Beaumont area still so to do one weekend a month over that area, whether it be Sam Rayburn resort, Madison's on down Dylan's and Port Arthur, with by almost all the venues over there, in that Port Arthur area you you're pretty spread out. You're getting certainly out of I mentioned you as a local artist being that you are local to me here, but certainly you don't just play in Cyprus. Of course, I wanted to clarify that when I mentioned that earlier, but I wanted to see if maybe you'd share another song with the listeners song of your choice. Okay, on this one I'll do it's called for you. It's also on the EP that we've already got out. It's the first track on it. And this is just again, I like to let the listener use their imagination on what they think the song is about. But basically what I wrote it about was seeing someone you love struggle and let them know you're there for him. Simple as that but maybe a little more in depth. Let's give it a run

24:56

the oceans ways crashing down

25:11

rain is pouring down to you

25:28

see you there to save you never want to see you cry you can

25:53

promise that I'm never

26:00

be till the day

26:16

is arising I know for you

26:28

the sun setting for the final time for you

26:41

to tears flowing

26:50

I'll be there to save you and never want to see you

27:03

again

27:16

love you till the day

27:32

your Sean's waves are crashing down for you

Matt Sebastian  27:49

Nicely played man, I liked that that was annual song. And I think I've heard you play that live before. But you had my full attention sitting right here across from you. So it sounded really good. And it had a had a nice alternative feel to it. That's a lot of people. It's a mix of, I guess you'd say Texas country, Texas Music and an alternative for sure. I still try to rock the acoustic and but adding the band and man it adds a different layer and dimension to it, you know? Sure. But also, like you said, I like sitting there and storytelling. Yeah, that was a great one. And that was a song called for you all for the same EP? Would you say that? You're a structured songwriter? And by that I mean, are you one of these guys that wakes up on certain days and says I'm writing from 10 till 11 today or Saturday mornings or whatever? Or is it just kind of when the mood strikes you? Not at all it is when totally when the mood all over the place? Yeah, I don't ever write because I feel like I waste time. I feel like the best time to write is when you really feel like you need to get something off your chest and say something. Sure. I don't want to make up stuff about pickup trucks and dirt roads and drinking beer. It's not what I want to write about now and write something that hopefully people can feel when they hear exactly. Well. I think the market might be a little saturated with those types of songs. It was it was kind of funny. I went down to Galveston this past weekend and I hung out with a buddy by the name of Zack Perry. I took the electric bikes from the sponsor down there and we were riding around and we stopped this little place to have a beer. And they had some country music kind of pumping out of the speakers and we kind of started joking about I wonder what the song is going to be about, you know, the whole mama trains you know, beer drinkin, and it's like, every one of them that came on was just a little different variation of the last one that came on. It's like, good God like we're, I mean, it's writing that shallow these days where that's all that people can think of is drinking whiskey and, you know, come on, branch out, so it's nice to hear a song like This that has that feel. But it's not about the cliche things that you think of in country music, right? What mindset goes into deciding on? What new covers that you'll learn for? Either the band or solo shows? And you'll have to educate me a little bit. Does the band do any covers? Are you guys strictly your original music? First talk to me about that. And then the second part of that question would be when you decide to add a new cover, does it have to inspire you? Do you do it because it's popular, like talk to the listeners a little bit here, the band does do covers, my goal is to eventually be to where I've just played my stuff, right. But when you're playing three, four hour gigs, it's hard to do that. So of course, we try to sneak in some originals. Luckily, we do have some friends and family that follow us around that will ask for the originals because they like them. Absolutely. When you're playing in front of people you don't know and you're trying to keep their attention. That's why we branch out and do the 80s and 90s. That kind of thing, though, in Texas country, though, in a rap song, you know, if you're just to keep people kind of guessing what you're going to do next, and it's fun to watch the audience's reaction to it. What goes into it is generally I try them out and my solo shows to check for feedback, like how did it go? How was the response that I get claps? Or were people still talking or texting afterwards? Right? And when I've read the room, and I feel like things are going well, after a couple of times, then I'll bring that to practice and then bring into the band set. Sure. But I guess you even before you take it to a live show. It has to have inspired you or it had to have been fun for you to play just in your house or in your room at home. Right? You're like oh yeah, I kind of did Jack and Diane by Mellencamp or whatever, right? It has to, it has to give you that. Something that makes you feel good. And then so a lot of the country songs I cover are slower sad songs, right? So then you get told by either your friends anyway, they either pick it up or the venue to pick it up. So that's when I'll throw rocks set or Britney Spears or Christina glare at you like okay, well let's pick it up. Like I'm gonna give you a totally left field but I get it man that's we're playing rock song playing Linkin Park play. You know, I don't want to put words in your mouth but it's it sounds like then do correct me and say I'm off base but I am that. That slower, melancholy, deep, depressing lover of real songs like that versus the jovial upbeat stuff and Terry gets on to me all the time. She's like Randy, you every song can't be like that. I'm sure you have to do that. And I get it. But those are my songs. Those are the ones that register with me and resignate with me are you kind of the same way do you like that are present dark Yes. Stuff like it's not it's not healthy songs? Yeah. I hear songs. Sure. Sometimes you can feel it on a happy song but generally it's the sad stuff that gets me man or the this wondering where he was going with that shoot. I'm sure that's huge influence on me but then again, when you're playing for three or four hours and you're playing for people that are trying to sell beer exactly, I get it and I always joke that you know stick around for the Justin Bieber part of the show but it's really a joke I don't know when he Justin Bieber I don't do any Justin Bieber but I'm thinking maybe I should probably learned a Justin Bieber song, too. Right? He's He's mega popular. So you know I'm sure somebody out there would like somebody would love it for sure. When you go the band's probably a little bit different. But when you go to play let's just talk about solo shows. You don't you're not a setlist kind of guy. You just go in and and wing it. I can't read the room. Gotcha. I've never never prepared a set let me know I might have ideas like all the songs if I'm drawing a blank Yeah. And then lately I've been trying to get better about asking the crowd to participate What do you want to hear? You know that seems to help financially and sure when people feel like they're part of the show. And so and then it also challenges me to try new things you know, but no, I have a idea of songs but no with the band we we try to attend more to the setlist because it keeps things flowing quickly then is talking about what we're going to play next but exact a little bit different of a the acoustic is more of a kind of storytelling thing you can tell a story about the song and then play bands people don't want to hear the stories behind this man was going from one thing right into another right and it might be a 90 minute intro or two minute guitar solo and we did a lot of times we will wing that on stage depending on how we're feeling and how the crowds filling it. But yeah, we still try to stick to a certain amount of songs that were that we're all comfortable with it because also when the band and people come up and request something, I might know it. But if the bass player guitar player doesn't, then we're all gonna look like fools. You know? Yeah, drummers never played it before. But while I would love to play everybody's requests, I don't think non musicians understand that we as musicians don't know every song that's ever been written. And even though we know the song, like Stairway to Heaven, we couldn't do the song justice. And it hasn't been practiced enough to where I mean, there's going to be somebody new sitting in the audience listening to Matt Sebastian, and the last thing that Matt wants, is that person to walk out of a Lambos or something like that saying, Man, we heard that guy play two songs, and they were absolutely horrible, right. And it's because you took a request that you weren't prepared to take. So I'm kind of funny about that myself and what I take. So I don't usually open myself up to x. Okay. You know what, I'm gonna get that too. Yeah, yeah. So that's my side of the. And now when I play a brand new venue that I've never played before, that's totally different. I used to go with the strong guns and like, this is what I'm good at you're and if they want to come request stuff, and if I know it, I feel comfortable doing it. But it's more of the like the every Thursday night of fortress, those kinds of things when I'm playing the same shore or the same regulars. That's what I'm trying to open myself up to try new things. But you're right, though, when it's a new place, and you're really trying to make an impression 100% Stick to your guns. But yeah, you don't want to come in there looking like you're just practicing songs on their dime, right? No, I totally get it. And I and I have those, those venues like you that we've been playing it for years and years and years now. And you could probably go in there and pretty much just stand on your head and they'd still have your back. You know, there's been that kind of relationship built with those establishments. But then there's some where you would never dream of doing that. You got to you got to set your mark. Sure. You know, you didn't really start writing. I think you mentioned this earlier, you didn't really start writing your music until, like, post COVID. Right, coming out of COVID. Awesome. Listen rezone summer 2020. And like you said, like it, I probably wrote nine songs in three weeks, came out fast. It came out really fast. 2020 was a tough year. And a lot of people think everyone can agree with that. And it brought out the kind of songwriting I wanted to put out there. And since then, I wrote, written some happy songs. I've tried to change things up and do a little more at beat on a couple. There's one that's very blues driven, that's going to be on the next EP, I'm excited to excited to share that one. But that's definitely a band song. Because it's a lot of there's a lot of layers to this stuff. Yeah, I wrote it on acoustic but it's I want I want people to hear the full version of that. I'm excited about the way that's coming out. So it's just 2020. So going on three years now. Yeah. And it's interesting that you spoke of layers and for I guess the listeners when you come and see a solo guy play, you know, they'll say things like, can you play queen or something that has been layered to death in the studio and your, their ears have heard all of these Queen songs over the years, and they're expecting certain things and those songs that you and I will never produce an acoustic show. So there's always that expectation. You don't want to leave them with that bad taste like you know, there's no Mamma mia, Mamma mia, right? You're not going to get all that with my rendition? You know of that Queen song right? So of course, hopefully they're their expectations are set properly. share with the listeners why you think it is you waited so long to start writing? Because as a young kid, you love music? You played in bands, but you really didn't get into the songwriting until post COVID. Is there a reason why it took you so long to get into it? I think it was the fear of second. Okay, honestly, no, that's, that's a legit legitimate fear. I was afraid people would like it or get it. And I always I've always been able to play cover songs and seeing them on the patio. But to me, it was it was a lot, a lot different putting out your own stuff. And then people listen to the words and know it came from you. Right? Yeah. And they said it was it was just the right time. And it all came out at once. I mean, I wrote one song that was on our live album that the band did is called I remember I wrote that one in 2011 2012. And never mess with another original till 28 years without writing another one. And I still had people ask for that song. And I think it sucks. But I still have people to ask for that shows. I mean, that's funny that that's a that's a real fear because I think I don't know if egotistical is the right word musicians, I think have an image that they want, or a light that they want people to see them in. And if for some reason they think they're going to suck at something, they tend to probably shy away from it like anybody would, whether it's songwriting, or throwing a baseball, or whatever the case may be. But I think people are receptive and really liked the original stuff just as much as the covers, but we probably are a little brutal on ourselves about how they're going to be received and what the perception of the song is gonna be. We don't like failure, either, right? Oh, no. 100% I believe you released the live album in 2021. Correct me if the date is wrong there, but it's an album called Live at Seven Oaks events, garden or event garden. And I wanted you to share with the listeners a little bit about how this came about or how did how did you choose the venue for the live? It was actually in our hometown of it's in the belt, Texas, but it's awesome listening room. Okay, where several famous people have played in there and it's a really cool setup. It's at these, Courtney, Hillary VA and her husband it's at it's on their property, but she she wanted a listening room atmosphere, at their house to go to have concerts and really beautiful setting. And we were looking to get our music out there. And honestly, it was a cheaper route than going into studio. Absolutely. And it was just a trio show. It was with our previous bass player Gavin Gonzalez, and we didn't have our lead guitar player yet. And so it was we probably weren't even ready to do it. But we did it. Anyway, we had about 40 people in the audience with this. And one of my old friends his name's Scott Greiner. Scott, if you're listening, thank you, buddy. But he said he wanted to pay for the whole thing for the whole cost. So then everybody got to come for free and nice. It was a it was a it was a fun night. But we you know, we were still brand new with the band and everything. Yeah. Well, I need some friends like Scott, too. That's awesome. Well, fast forward a little bit to 2022 you have the four song EP that we talked about. That one was called for you correct? The, I know, you have the song called for you. But the album was titled for you as well. Right? Not that artists like to label their music. But if you had to, if you had to put yourself in a box. What what genre? Would the matt Sebastian band fit into this alternative? Alternative? Alternative Rock, right? Because I can't. And I know we're in Texas. And I know that's the way to get on the Texas music charts is to label it country and everything. I can't fake it. I can't fake it. twing in my voice to probably sound more country when I talk to him when I sing. Yeah, but I want it to sound like I feel like it should sound not me trying to add a fiddle or violin just to make it country. Yeah. And I definitely think that's the vibe that that we got out of that four songs was definitely alternative. This one, like I said, there might be a more blue song, there might be an acoustic song with a backing band, like behind that. We're talking about it. But I think definitely the first four that we put out, and the EP for you was definitely more alternative. So I was gonna say the same thing. I don't think that you could fake that. I think that your voice is properly suited for that alternative genre. And it sounds nicely in in that parameter. I mean, I've heard you play country stuff before. And it sounds great. Right. But I think the original stuff is your being you and I think you're staying true to that. And I liked that. I liked that the songs that you play there. Thank you very alternative sounding and I think it's a good fit for you for sure. Thank you not the what not that my feedback means anything but from one artist to another i to myself and not change. And I've got people trying to get me to go to Nashville. I'm all for it. For that experience. Sure. But I don't want to change the way the songs are right now. If we want to go write some new stuff, and we want to put some out there and I believe in it. I'm all for that experience. But I don't want to go to Nashville. Just to say I went to Nashville. Well, you can still go to Nashville as an alternative guy and record a Nashville a hand out there. And all the pros. They're all rock guys. Right? Exactly. You've got the Vince Neil's from Motley Crue Kip winger from Uyghur in the 80s Those guys are all out in Nashville. You don't have to wear boots and chaps to be out in Nashville. Okay, there's one of everybody out there and it would be like me saying I'm going into the studio I'm really gonna, I'm gonna record this rap album because, you know, I think that's what's gonna sell. Like who's gonna buy that? Who's gonna listen to it? I'm sure you wouldn't make fun of me like I get it, man. I mean, I need hecklers, just like everybody probably needs hecklers. But why do something that isn't you at the end of the day, you know, your wheelhouse, you know what you're comfortable with, and you stick to those guns. And I think that that will ultimately pay out for you. In the long run, you know, stay true to what you what you feel in your heart. Thank you so much. Yeah, you got it. And as far as music today, you know, you turn on Spotify, you turn on Pandora or the radio. What's doing it for you these days? What do you listen to as far as new stuff new genres? Talk to the listeners a little bit about that? Yeah, not a lot of new stuff. kind of stick to playlists that I've made over time. And air Lewis is probably my favorite singer, the guy from stage or now he does country so it's kind of like me, I've gotten older. I used to be more into rock but you know, I've gotten older and now play the acoustic guitar. Yeah. I love St. Louis I love turnpike troubadours Cody, West Cody, Jenks co Wetzel, the more rock stuff, it would Reagan Benjamin Seether, that's what I was. Smile, empty soul. That's when I was in high school. That's where I would listen to and so I still listen to that. Okay. And then we all went through the Limp Biscuit and corn phase and everything were the rap rock stuff. Yeah, I loved all that too. Sure. But that's not what that's not what's gonna get me rebooked to venues out here. No, no, I mean, that's what I'm listening to hanging out by the pool, you know, but again, do you want to listen to some sad uncle Lucius. I like a lot of this stuff. This kind of all over the place. I'm like that too. It's very an eclectic of tastes, so to speak. If you went in there and look through all the vinyl that I have the vinyl collection, you'd be like, Randy, dude, what do you not like? Like, I've got Motown in there. I've got one of everything, right? And it's great to not pigeonhole yourself into a into a genre. And I that's what I love about the show is because it has forced me out of that 70s 80s 90s Classic Rock mindset and opened me up to genres like Americana. I'm a huge Jason Isbell in the 400 unit fan, probably, in my opinion, one of the best songwriters on the planet, like you said, Turnpike, troubadours, you know, there's, there's so much good stuff out there. There's another one there, he played a lot of that, and I love him. I just love him, you know, and I, if you would have told me 10 years ago, you're gonna fall in love with this genre. I would have said, You're smoking crack. There's no way that I'm going to listen to that, much of that, because it's not what I grew up with. But it's this show, has opened my mind to so many new things. I've had wrapped people on my show. I've had artists from New Zealand on the show, like pop artists like things that you would say, Randy, where did that interest come from? Like, you've never listened to any of that before. But I've learned so much. And my ears have been opened up to so much great music since I started the show two years ago, stuff that I would have never listened to. And I love that like, it's just it's a new world for me. And it's really cool. It's really cool to live in it. I wanted to change gears a little bit, and do a quick kind of tech talk with you and chat for just a moment about the gear you use. So you know, maybe like a little Rig Rundown if you will. And I'll give you a topic and you can kind of share at a high level. We don't have to get into the gory details, but maybe some of the gear that you're using in the band or solo show so so from a guitar perspective, what does Matt Sebastian play? What what do you favor? What do you play the most onstage, so I have to tailor to 14 sees what one's a sunburst and one's the lighter wood and I don't know exactly what it's made of this shirt. I'm telling myself here, but then I have the Gibson SJ 200, which is by far my favorite. Okay, but it's not a workhorse that the battery packs inside take strings off to change batteries. So if it goes up mid show, you know ya have to be prepared. You know how to fix that though, right? Yes. You bought to another one. Yeah, exactly. Maybe Kim will let you carry on. That's another conversation. Yeah. Let's talk about that and see how this one goes. No, but that thing's beautiful. But it's it's not an every day. Every show guitar. The tailors have been great for that good actually. And then with the band I do have a PRs electric guitar that when the band plays I'll play that a couple of songs mainly on the originals. Okay then I'll switch to the acoustic after usually seven or eight songs I feel comfortable playing on the electric and then I'll go back to the acoustic exactly so the Paul Reed Smith that's Are you pretty exclusive with that when you're playing the band shows you don't jump over you don't play tele or strat or anything like that guy. I gotcha well PRs great wonderful instrument right I mean, it's baby blue. Yeah, it's semi hollow it's it's beautiful. Carlos Santana brand right, right big player of Paul Reed Smith guitars from a strings perspective for the listeners out there that are kind of gear heads around the guitars what what kind of strings are you playing on on the acoustic these days exterior so basically what the strings that come on, most all over the tailors they're pretty exclusive with elixir and I've grown to love elixir to you know a coded string I had a buddy years ago say dude, you gotta try these dia Dario non coded or they just sound great. And I look up to him, like he's 50 times the guitarist that I will ever be. So I'm like, Okay, well if he says so let me do it and I put them on there I'm like, I don't think I kept them on there three days different field you know your fingers don't move on, like you know, a coded string so it's almost like what would you say like a golfer using somebody else's clubs there's a field to hitting striking the ball the way you know how to and when you use something that a club that's not designed for you from a loft perspective or a pitch perspective it's different right? You tell it right away right? About from a PA perspective what do you use in for your solo shows? The Bose L one pro eight systems and I have actually have two and so when the band plays or sometimes at my song swap shows will will set up to so both of us couldn't hear on stage Yeah, yeah, you had to set up the night we played at fortress Yeah, very nice. How about from an effects or a pedal perspective? I've got a guitar pedal board that I usually bring with me to the band shows because I'll go back and forth to the electric and acoustic and have some acoustic preamps on and then some electric distortion or clean that I like to use it's very simple it's not I don't have a big actual pedal board like lead guitar players have this is a a preamp unit I believe it's called okay. Do you remember what the brand of line six line six of the pod go line six Yeah.

53:11

A thought we filmed two more hours in a kick the shakes in our names you needs you Do you miss me when I'm not around? Are you out there running around when I need you?

53:34

I need you show me show me that kid. When I close my eyes I've known Julie the one

53:55

bizarre you know you're here with me no you and me

54:18

found someone who loves you write a letter good into good I miss you. I miss you. Live Assad enough without the added stress. Out of swan song. You couldn't care less. I miss you you need to show me show me that. When I close my eyes knowing that you will be the one

55:04

Do Bhama say no you're here with me and no you hear me

55:24

show me show me that when I close my eyes I know that you're the one Zol do by myself I know you're here with me know you're here with me I know you're here with me

Matt Sebastian  56:13

that was here with me off the four song EP. Yeah, they're all three of the ones that play tonight we're off the off the first EP. Okay, hopefully if they like what they hear they can check out the new one coming out soon. Well, Bravo on those three. Thank you so much. I you know, I listened to them on Spotify before. Well, in weeks leading up to the show. Sure. Love the band stuff. But there's there's something about that acoustic and just the wrongness the straight from the heart song with just somebody in a guitar, you're vulnerable. And it just it takes on a whole new meaning for me. And I'll have to say that I really enjoyed you play in the songs. For sure. I'm not gonna say I'm a fanboy. Like I don't want you to leave in here thinking like I'm a weird dude or nothing right? But Good job, man. All the same. I say that and love but good. Good stuff. I really enjoyed it. Thank you so much. Yeah. What's new and exciting coming up for you in the boys as it relates to new music shows? studio time, anything you want to talk about? Either from a solo perspective, or from the matt Sebastian band? Yeah, let's focus on the big picture, which is the band I think, studio, we have some dates booked in April, we're going to do another four songs. I would eventually like to do another acoustic album with some covers, kind of what I do, at my live shows by myself right on. But the idea would be to eventually get enough to put together full band album, music video, you know, do a whole run at it. You know, I'm sure. And I don't know what the goal is, you know, the goal right now is to play good shows and put out good music that's, you know, making decent money doing it. I'm having fun with it yet. Still, I'm tired, but I'm having fun. Well, the good thing about it though, Matt, I think guys like you and I are not under the pressure to go out and tried to throw a bunch of things quickly together like videos and this and that. There's been artists on my show that have done some amazing videos and have spent copious amounts of money on doing all that for guys like you and I that and and I'm going to leave myself out of that equation because I'm not ever going to look to make a living in music. That's not a mystery. But guys like you, you can kind of take your time and think about how you will want to attack it save the money so that you just don't go broke doing all the things because for those that are not in this game that we play around in, and for some make it a living. It's not it's not a cheap hobby or not a cheap, you know, career to be in because you have to spend a lot of money to make money, right video production, new music studio time, studio time is not cheap. It's like going into a tattoo shop and think you're gonna get something for $5 an hour that's not going to happen, right? It's going to cost you some bread to get out of these places. So and like I said, there's no actual goal to be on the radio. It's just to put it out there. If it happens. Somebody likes it. Hopefully it'll open some new doors and newer, bigger venues if they hear the original stuff. You know, it's mean we're not printing CDs. Now. I would like to do some vinyl. Eventually. I'll take one when you get it. Right. But right now it's it's on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, all that good stuff. We have some cool shows lined up this Friday. We're playing at the barn with opening up for Corey Morrow. Nice. So that's gonna be a good one. And again, we're more rock than curious but I think that we have enough in our set that we can fit in. And I think it'd be cool. How long will that opening show be for you guys? Is it like 45 minutes to an hour? 90 minutes? 90 minutes. Nice. Good for you. They were playing 335 Okay, good for you. Good for you. And then in May we haven't announced it on Facebook yet, but I don't know if you are familiar with mega donuts. I'm sure we're opening it for them at most places in Katy. Okay, perfect. I'm excited about that. We'll have a nice following for sure. Oh, yeah, it's gonna be wild. Memorial weekend. Good for you. Well, that'll be a good one to give you some exposure for sure. I think that's it, and sometimes organic, you know, just letting things happen organically and non forced. Like, I got to do this by this date. Do that by that date. Just taking your time and letting things just fall into place. Sometimes that's just the best way to do it. You know, there's no rush I say that's this the goal is played by good yeah. Good shows a good venues and put out as much as as much content as we can. That's, do you have the songs already written for the new record? Are you still in the process of putting material together? 10 record for the new four song. Yes, they're done. Okay, nice. But there's still 10 more out there. I'm just trying to put out a little bit of time in. Like I said, one of them's kind of a blues, Southern rock riff when I'm going to be a slower ballad type, like I'm trying to space it out. So it's not for Alternative Songs. Yeah, it all kind of sounds similar. Yeah. Kind of split that up and see where it goes. Good idea. I always like to ask artists that I talked to, to recommend to me somebody an artist that maybe I haven't heard of that you would recommend sitting in that seat like who's Is there somebody that comes to mind where you say their story needs to be told people need to know who this guy is. It can be a local person, a friend. A big you know, worldwide musician. There's there's no parameters around the question, but I didn't know if you had one that might come to your mind. Set played a private party one time with Casey chestnut. Mark chestnut son. Okay. heard of him? I haven't heard of. I actually yeah, because I see the post on Facebook and stuff. Right. But as far as the music, I couldn't tell you anything that he does. He's very good. Okay. Sounds just like his dad. Really. And, and when your dad's Mark chestnut, that helps. Okay, he's played Billy Bob's next month with his dad. Okay, but I think that would be a great interview for you. I mean, I'm trying to think of not Houston area people that you probably already know so well if my memory serves me correct and educate me if I'm wrong, but they grew up in your from your old stomping grounds with Beaumont around that area. Over there. Okay. Casey chestnut, okay, well, I'll see what happens there. I'll listen to some of the stuff and who knows that might be I'm always looking for some cool people and we're in cool cool new music to hear where would the listeners find yourself and the boys on social media if they were gonna go looking for Yeah, Facebook, this Matt Sebastian ban Instagram, we don't do a ton on there, but it's also a massive extra band. And then we have a website we're currently working on revamping it's open right now but we haven't updated it working on that right now. So we can have all our shows everything I usually just share out my weekly calendar for my page and then share it from the band page just so I have different followers on each But absolutely. Just and I try not to blast and be obnoxious on social media man, I tried to be chill with it all but that's how you get it out there. You know, I've kind of battled that all the time of not being too out there. But yeah, yeah, got to put where you're playing. I get it and there's a fine line between between being like oh my god, another post from him. Right? I don't want to be that guy either. But if myself and my team aren't promoting my show, who's promoting it right now who's promoting your music? I'll post some pictures of the weekend recap you know, but I just try not to go overboard. Yeah, well, you have to do that due diligence but it's a fine line between being annoying and not but you know, the way I see it too, if people can post what they're eating for dinner every other night I can certainly post you know who's coming up on my show. Like I give no shits about that at the end of the day, right? Well, Matt, listen, thanks so much for stopping by it's been a it's been a treat for you to stop in and finally share your story I know that we've probably been needing and trying to do this for some time now you know, we're we're like passing chips right in the night with all the places we play a lot of them of the same places but I'm I'm glad we finally made it happen. I I'm just sharing the tunes with this. Thank you for that, of course, and I asked the listeners to like, share and subscribe to the podcast. Also make sure to follow Matt on all of his social media outlets including the website at WWW dot Matt Sebastian band.com. You can follow backstage pass radio on Facebook at backstage pass radio podcast on Instagram at backstage pass radio, on Twitter at backstage pass PC and on the website at backstage pass. radio.com. Thank you guys for tuning into the show. And make sure to take care of yourselves and each other and we will see you right back here on the next episode of backstage pass radio.

Adam Gordon  1:05:40

Thanks so much for joining us. We hope you enjoyed today's episode of backstage pass radio. Make sure to follow Randy on Facebook and Instagram at Randy Halsey music and on Twitter at our Halsey music. Also, make sure to like, subscribe and turn on alerts for upcoming podcasts. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to share the link with a friend and tell them backstage pass radio is the best show on the web for everything music. We'll see you next time right here on backstage pass radio