Monday, July 1, 2013

Mat McHugh & The Seperatista Soundsystem - San Francisco

Mat McHugh & The Seperatista Soundsystem
I have been a fan of The Beautiful Girls for as long as I can remember (not sure how I discovered them many years ago but I am glad that I did...), and after catching Mat McHugh solo and acoustic a couple of times in Austin, I was pumped to catch him with a full band at the Independent in San Francisco. The new "grown up" Mat McHugh (aka Mat McHugh & The Seperatista Soundsystem) has not forgotten what I loved about The Beautiful Girls, and that is that bass (lots of bass at the show), guitar, rhythm, and some horns can make you dance your ass off one minute, and make you feel the raw emotion and internal reflection of love, life, pain, and happiness the next.

While I truly enjoy all of TBG/Mat's music, I have a special connection to La Mar (the ocean), as it helped me get through the unexpected passing of my mom 7 years ago. I couldn't help but feel the pain in my heart watching Mat perform it live and plugged in (with horns!), and I have shared this song with so many loved ones who have lost someone over the years (and it has helped them sturdy up their heart as well).



As a fan of "good" music (my friends always say I have a great taste in music ---- plus I DJ'd my own wedding that featured a lot of TBG), I especially appreciated Mat's reference to "grassroots" music, and couldn't agree more that good music should be shared with friends and family to help keep music alive that isn't necessarily a top 40 hit. Sharing good music with friends and family is what I strive for with my music (along with keeping me sane), and nothing makes me happier than sharing the stoke that comes along with finding a good artist or sharing a good artist with a friend that you would almost certainly never hear on the radio. Cheers to the "Grown Up" Mat McHugh, and I will continue to share his good vibrations that help keep me moving at my own pace as I grow with the sounds of music.