Matthew by Rich Orris / Michael by Thomas D. Lindsay / Tom by Bennett Campbell

This month’s Local Artist Feature is not only one artist, but all three of our special performers for the Launch Party tomorrow night, April 13^th!

Matthew Carefully is the performing alias of local mainstay Matthew Loiacono. After spending numerous years with the Kamikaze Hearts, Matthew has spent the past few years honing his solo sound, an inventive mixture of traditional string instruments, vocal harmonies, and electronic and distorted sounds. He has released six albums and EPs under this moniker, most recently The Brunswick Soundtrack, the score to the documentary film Brunswick by Nate Simms.

Matthew plays an important role in Albany Music Coalition history, as he introduced Harith Saam and Katie Hammon, leading them to co-found the Coalition. Matthew is constantly playing music. He and Hunter Sagehorn performed as Rosary Beard at the Coalition’s press event in March. They will be releasing their first album in May.

Check out Matthew’s website here, or head over to his Bandcamp.

Michael Eck is most often seen performing in the groups Ramblin Jug Stompers and Lost Radio Rounders, but it is his long history of solo performance that has earned his reputation as one of the area’s great songwriters. Since his first solo release in 1995, Eck has become known for a sound he terms “maximum solo acoustic,” roots-rock that is as much indebted to Woody Guthrie as Tom Waits.

Between the Jug Stompers and the Ronders, Michael has been keeping so busy that he hasn’t played a solo show in ages. It will be a great and all-too-rare treat to have him on stage at the Launch Party.

Head over to Michael’s website for more info.

Tom McWatters has performed in and around the Capital Region for over a decade, both solo and with the band The Sense Offenders. His songs meet at the intersection of rock, soul, and blues, and he has come to be known both for his riveting solo acoustic performances and his electrifying full-band rock show. Tom’s current band, the Philo Beddoe Band, is comprised of members of Charmboy Eric Halder, Sarah Clark, and Scott Smith, and former Kamikaze Heart Bob Buckley. Tom has been a member of Harith’s record label, The Rev Records, since day one, and has released three solo recordings there, including the Live at the Dovecote EP just over two months ago.

Attendees on April 13 will have the great pleasure of seeing The Philo Beddoe Band in action. They will close out the night with the exact opposite of a whimper.

Click here to learn more about Tom, or head over to his Bandcamp page.