The first time I ever encountered Matthew Logan Vasquez (or also known as MLV for short) was in the living room of a friend’s home in Southern California. He had agreed to play a special set for her birthday (these were in the early days of Delta Spirit, the band that put MLV’s notable and unforgettable voice on a larger, more popular level) and we all sat around while he played some of his favorite tunes — both ones that he had written and songs he loved.
Since then, I’ve remained a steadfast fan of Delta Spirit, MLV, and all of his other projects, following him from his cross-country trek from Long Beach, California to Brooklyn, New York and from the East Coast to Austin, Texas. Through out it all, however, the same spirit has remained in MLV’s songwriting — an ode to the south in his bloods and the parts of the country he’s experienced and grew with. His songs have that same feeling — the drifting, cross-country-trekking feel that holds bits and parts of every city he’s seen, visited and lived in within every verse, and the solace where he finds home in each chorus.
In the title track from MLV’s 2015 EP, Austin, he sings “I was too young to fear / the danger was near / not born but raised / in the mid-’90s rage / in my suburban cage / just south of the lake.” The seemingly timely lyrics, due to the aftermath of the election seemingly felt worldwide, prove MLV’s writing to be reminiscent of a folk Bob Dylan style with traditional rock and roll elements. Whatever you may call it — his full band is one not to be missed.
You can catch MLV live this week at Sweetwater Music Hall AND enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets below.
To enter for a chance to win tickets to see Matthew Logan Vasquez at Sweetwater Music Hall on November 17, email contest@thebaybridged.com with “Matthew Logan Vasquez” in the subject line and your full name in the body of the email. A winner will be selected at random and notified via email.
Matthew Logan Vasquez, Marit Lasen, Rob Fidel
Sweetwater Music Hall
Thursday, November 17
7pm, $16 (all ages)
