Tag: Matt Joe Gow

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Matt Joe Gow Strips Back “Light My Way”

Break, Rattle and Roll was one of my favourite releases of 2018. I still find myself coming back to it periodically, like an old friend that’s comforting, familiar, and so good to spend time with. Now Matt Joe Gow is reminding us just how good one of its tracks, “Light My Way” is with an acoustic reimagining.

If you’ve read my blog for any period of time, you’ll know just how up my alley this is. When you strip a song back you get to appreciate its essence, its lyrics, its simple melody without the big production. Recorded in Matt’s new studio “The Woolshed,” this single does down easy.

Matt Joe Gow is ringing in the new year with a string of headlining slots and festival appearances. Catch him at the following venues in the coming months.

6 December 2019 – Music On The Hill @ Red Hill Pavilion, Red Hill (with The Dusty Millers)
7 December 2019 – Bayview Country Art Club, Bittern (with Andrew Swift)
21 December 2019 – Buster Greens, Dunedin
3 January 2020 – Western Weekender @ Spotted Mallard, Melbourne
4 January 2020 – Bayview Country Picnic Festival @ Bayview Country Art Club, Bittern
14-16 February 2020 – Riverboats Festival, Echuca

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Matt Joe Gow Delivers Stunning Kate Bush Cover

I love a great cover. They started to get a bad wrap around the height of the reality TV singing contest craze, but I think it takes real skill to interpret a song everybody knows and put your own stamp on it. Matt Joe Gow’s take on Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” is the latest cover to delight my ears.

It’s more subtle and sultry than Kate’s version, with a great Americana feel that really brings out the emotion behind the lyrics. If you want to hear it and his fantastic originals live, make sure you catch Matt Joe Gow at one of his upcoming performances.

15-17 November 2019 – Healesville Music Festival, Healesville
7 December 2019 – Bayview Country Art Club, Bittern (with Andrew Swift)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Break, Rattle, and Roll” – Matt Joe Gow

In 2016, Matt Joe Gow released Seven Years, the long-awaited follow-up to his debut solo work The Messenger. It was one of my favourite releases for the year, a fantastic slice of classic Americana that I’ve found myself listening to time and time again. That record was seven years in the making. Thankfully it’s taken just two for Matt to bring us another album, Break, Rattle, and Roll. Another blessing, it’s every bit as good as the collection of songs that came before it.

Break, Rattle, and Roll starts so strong, with “Bridge Over Concrete.” It’s the perfect opener for this album, such a feelgood slice of Americana, all jangly guitars and honky-tonk piano. The single “Ride On” continues the up-tempo alt-country vibe.

Matt Joe Gow is so good at making those feel-good road trip songs, but there’s so much more to the music he makes than that. Break, Rattle, and Roll gives us glimpses of his softer side in vulnerable tracks like “Details,” the stripped back “Old Hotel Room,” and the exquisite closing song, “We Got Lost.” These beautiful tracks provide the balance, stirring our heart while helping us enjoy those singalong moments a little more.

The press releases categorise Matt Joe Gow’s music as Americana, but he plays free and loose with the genre. There’s a great old school soul feel about “Ransom.” A reprise of an earlier single “House That Burnt Down” takes blues back to its gospel roots. I went back to the original 2010 release and was so impressed by how much more complex and intricate the new recording is. It feels like one of those great spontaneous jams.

I’ve been listening to Break, Rattle, and Roll for a couple of months now, falling a little more in love with it each time. It’s wonderful to get the jump on other music lovers and listen to something fabulous first, but I’ve also been anticipating its release, the moment I can insist my friends hear it too. It’s that sort of album, the kind of recording that makes you want to sit down with people and share how special it is.

Break, Rattle, and Roll is released on October 5. Matt Joe Gow will play the following shows here and in New Zealand celebrating its release.

4 October 2018 – Skylark Room, Belgrave
6 October 2018 – The Mane Event Festival, Geelong (Midday)
6 October 2018 – Curtin Hotel, Melbourne
7 October 2018 – The Westernport Hotel, San Remo
12 October 2018 – Basement Discs, Melbourne (FREE)
18 October 2018 – The Triffid, Brisbane (FREE)
20 October 2018 – Dog With Tails, Dunedin
21 October 2018 – Starfish Cafe, Dunedin (FREE)
25 October 2018 – Albert’s Post, Auckland
27 October 2018 – Clarence Town River Country Hoedown, Clarence Town
28 October 2018 – Songwriters In The Round, Wenty Leagues, Wentworthville (FREE)
4 November 2018 – Public House, Albury

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Matt Joe Gow Sounding Better Than Ever With Brand New Single “Ride On”

With two solo records under his belt, Melbourne-based muso Matt Joe Gow is a seasoned performer. His experience shows in his latest single “Ride On,” an accomplished slice of Americana that feels like an instant classic.

“Ride On” is the first track lifted from Matt Joe Gow’s new album, Break, Rattle and Roll. Out October 5, it sounds like it’ll be something special.

“I wanted to throw everything I could at this record,” he explained, “to do these songs justice and make the best record I could. And I feel I achieved that.”

Matt will announce some shows soon to bring his new music to the masses.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Matt Joe Gow Releases Video for “Bottle It Up, Pass It On”

Matt Joe Gow has reminded me just how much I love his music with the release of a new music video for “Bottle It Up, Pass It On.” This song was one of the many standouts of his 2016 album Seven Years. I love its Springsteenesque vibe, with its raw lyrics, quietly powerful vocals, and that Americana feel to the instrumentation. This is quality stuff.

Matt Joe Gow will play Melbourne’s Northcote Social Club on July 22 and Geelong’s Pistol Pete’s Blues Bar in August (date TBC).

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Matt Joe Gow Drops Clip For “Flowers In Your Hair”

Matt Joe Gow’s Seven Years was one of my favourite albums released in 2016. So I’m thrilled to see he’s released one of the tracks from this impressive release, “Flowers in Your Hair.” Featuring guest vocals from Katya Harrop, a member of Matt Joe’s touring band, this song is a real charmer.

The video is lovely too, with Matt Joe and Katya both starring as they sing about a relationship that’s broken down. It was shot in North Melbourne last year and directed by Joanna Strong.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Seven Years” – Matt Joe Gow

It’s been seven years since Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Matt Joe Gow released his first solo album The Messenger. He joined a band and suffered some health complaints that took him away from the industry for a while, but now he’s back with a collection of solo songs penned during his hiatus, appropriately called Seven Years.

Seven years is a long time for an album to gestate. The luxury of time has allowed Matt Joe to put together 12 beautiful songs. There are no filler tracks or numbers that don’t feel like they fit. This is quality work that is instantly accessible, with a great Americana feel that puts you right at ease. Think Ryan Adams meets Bruce Springsteen with an Aussie bent.

The first song and lead single “I’m Your Man,” charmed me, raising my anticipating for what was to come. The following song “Running on Time” is a great upbeat number which had me tapping my feet. It’s the ideal song for a Friday, making me think of raucous nights out in bars with great bands and beer flowing.

While Seven Years has its fair share of positivity, Matt Joe Gow has a knack for creating heartbreakers. “Bottle It Up, Pass It On,” is a stunning song about the end of a relationship where both parties still feel so much. The raw power of “Right By You” also packs an emotional punch. I love the poignant way the closing track “Bye” captures a moment.

Ordinarily when I’m listening to albums for review I comment on the handful of songs that really move me. As I listened to Seven Years I noticed I was taking notes about every song. That’s a testament to just how special this album is.

Seven Years will be released on October 20. He will play the following upcoming shows in Australia and New Zealand.

14 October 2016 – Rochester Hotel, Fitzroy (Ryan Adams Tribute Night)
15 October 2016 – Out On The Weekend Festival, Melbourne
20 October 2016 – Melbourne Festival, The Toff, Melbourne (supporting Grant Lee Phillips)
22 October 2016 – Melbourne Festival, The Toff, Melbourne (supporting Grant Lee Phillips)
5 November 2016 – The Spotted Mallard, Brunswick, Vic (Album launch)
18 November 2016 – Cromwell Gold n’ Notes Hoedown, Cromwell
19 November 2016 – Dog With Two Tails, Dunedin
20 November 2016 – The Starfish Cafe, Dunedin
1 December 2016 – Unicorn Hotel, Sydney
16 December 2016 – Ric’s Bar, Brisbane

Image used with permission from Matt Joe Gow

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Matt Joe Gow Releases Awesome Americana Single “I’m Your Man”

It’s been seven long years since Melbourne-based muso Matt Joe Gow released his debut album The Messenger. But it’s making a welcome return to the music scene with the release of “I’m Your Man,” the lead single from the forthcoming and highly anticipated new album, aptly titled Seven Years.

This song is a real charmer with lyrics and rich vocals that have me smitten. If you are too, make sure you catch Matt playing with a full band at Brunswick’s The Retreat Hotel on September 2.