Music
Press
Tonight might be a good one to check out the new Berklee College student-run cafe, appropirately called Cafe 939 - as that's its number on Boylston. (We've noticed a lot of Matt Zeinerthis lately; name your venue after the street number, minimize anyone's confusion about location.) On Friday, June 6 the Matt Zeiner Band makes Boston debut with Dirty Dozen Brass' guitarist Jamie McLean (and his band) and Jenn Bostic. The Matt Zeiner Band, described recently by the Hartford Advocate as "the best thing to happen to Hartford in a while" - we hope that's not damning with faint praise - in continuing there constant touring of the northeast, is a quintet which performs soulful blues and Americana-infused original music that has drawn comparisons to Van Morrison and the Allman Brothers Band, the latter being no stretch for vocalist and Hammond B3 ace Zeiner, who toured and co-composed with Dickey Betts for four years immediately following Betts' departure from the ABB. (That must have been a trip. given Dickey's rep and alcohol consumption.) Zeiner is promoting his latest disc, "Live On a Summer Night." Music starts at 8. Tickets: $12.
- Jim Sullivan Ink
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Matt Zeiner has played Theodores' more times than he can count, but when he arrives this weekend it will be the first time he takes the renowned stage as the leader of the band.
The Matt Zeiner Band takes the trip up I-91 from Hartford to headline Theodores' on Saturday night.
"I've been there with Chris McDermott, Jeff Pevar, and I may have played there with Matt "Guitar" Murphy," said Zeiner. "I've always loved Theodores'. The place has a great blues feel to it without being overly gimmicky."
When Zeiner arrives with his band, he will be playing blues and Southern rock, a natural extension of the work he did as the keyboard player-vocalist in the Dickey Betts Band for three years.
"We toured as a band for three years and completed two albums," Zeiner said. "Betts liked my voice and my songs. He always said that where he was more of a story teller, I wrote songs that talked about the human condition. We were a good complement."
As one might expect, touring with a former Allman Brother produced a lot of great tales.
"There are many great stories I could tell," said Zeiner with a laugh. " But...you know....what happens on the road, stays on the road!"
Zeiner said his current band was actually "forced into existence," by the manager and talent buyer for Sully's, a live music venue in Hartford.
"I've known Rob Salter for years and he knew that I had a bunch of original material and had been harassing me to put a project together," said Zeiner. "Finally, he called me one day about a year and a half ago and told me that the Matt Zeiner Band was booked in two months."
When Zeiner informed Salter there was no band, he replied; "Well, you better get to work then."
Zeiner did get to work, calling friends and cohorts from past groups like Street Temperature and The Thang and they worked up enough material to not only survive the Sully's show, but book other dates as well.
Zeiner says the collaboration has formed "a dynamic band that hits hard."
"It is original Southern Rock and Blues with a hard edge and polished sound and be prepared to see five guys doing what they do best; have a blast playing music we have all worked hard together to create."
Check out the Matt Zeiner Band in advance at www.mattzeinerband.com - The Republican (Springfield MA)
Some of Hartford's best musicians come home to the Matt Zeiner Band
By Dan Barry
The Matt Zeiner Band is the best thing to happen to Hartford in a while. They have such a broad appeal that I can envision their blues-rock working in every single venue I've been to in Connecticut. They celebrated the release of their live CD, Live on a Summer Night, this past Saturday at Black-eyed Sally's. They sounded clean, clear and precise — the hallmark of a band who has dialed in their sound and settled into killing mode.
Singer and organist Zeiner tastefully plays the role of songwriter and ringleader, rather than frontman. His talent burns all the more brightly for not standing in the spotlight. There's a practical edge to his decision, as well: the audience can only see his head and shoulders above his organ rig. With Zeiner observing from the side, the stage was opened up for the showmanship of two of Hartford's best guitarists, Mike Bradley and Billy Megofna. The duo traded licks back and forth, challenging one another to play a complex idea after just one listen, daring them to try and make it better. Both guitarists have been roving for a few years now, wandering from band to band and project to project. It's fantastic to see them both finally find a home.
- The Hartford Advocate
After stints playing with Matt "Guitar" Murphy and former Allman Bros. Band guitarist Dickey Betts, Hartford organ player Matt Zeiner steps into the spotlight with the release of his first solo album, "Live on a Summer Night."??Zeiner, the son of former Wildweeds stalwart Ray Zeiner, learned piano from Al Anderson's mother, started playing in bands in high school and hit the road with Murphy while he was supposed to be studying classical languages at the University of Connecticut.??Next came a four-year turn with Betts' band Great Southern, where Zeiner played the Gregg Allman role with swirling B3 organ vamps and gruff, soulful vocals.
Both are prominent features of the Matt Zeiner Band, which recorded "Live on a Summer Night" in two sessions earlier this year at Sully's Pub in Hartford. The 10-song album is soaked in a vintage Southern-rock sound, with Zeiner's organ boosting searing twin guitar solos on nine originals and a cover of Betts' "Nobody Knows."??The band - Billy Megofna, Geoffrey Brown, Mike Bradley, Zeiner and Craig Garfinkel - plays a CD-release show Saturday at Black-eyed Sally's, 350 Asylum St., Hartford. Admission is $8 for the 9 p.m. show. Information: 860-278-7427. - The Hartford Courant
"Matt Zeiner" is an alum of the Dickey Betts Band (vox/keyboard). He’s brought his skills to his own band....a self-declared combo of Rock, Soul, Funk and roots. Not surprisingly, Matt counts The Allman Brothers, Dickey Betts and Miles Davis as his influences, and yet, his voice has a Van Morrison quality to it. “The Crash” has a Classic Rock/Southern Rock ballad mix sound. “This is The Life” shows his ability to write thoughtful lyrics. “Can’t Get a Nickel for a Dime” has a power-Country ballad quality to it. “Melody” has some Allman Brothers-like riffs. His debut CD, “Live on a Summer Night”, is well produced with clear sounding vocals.
For more info, check out http://www.myspace.com/mattzeiner. - Southern Fried Magazine
Discography
Debut CD, "Live on a Summer Night" launched 9/29/07. Available NOW at CDbaby.com and itunes.com. Live DVD also available at shows now!
Photos
Bio
"Wow...you guys are the BEST band we've ever heard here!"
That's the most common response by audiences, talent buyers and club owners alike after experiencing the Matt Zeiner Band for the first time.
There isn’t anything typical about a “typical” night’s performance by the Matt Zeiner Band. As singer and songwriter Matt Zeiner takes his place behind his Hammond B3, the band roars into action for the night, driven by Zeiner’s startling and powerful vocals, often favorably compared to Van Morrison and Gregg Allman. The Matt Zeiner Band delivers a catalog of original music as soulful as it is searing, and as melodic as it is musical. Most bands have a stand-out player on one instrument or another, but at every position in the Matt Zeiner Band there is a monster musician.
The five-piece lineup features Zeiner (Vocals, Organ, Keys), Jason Bernard (Guitar), Mike Bradley (Guitar), Craig Garfinkel (Bass) and Geoffrey Brown (Drums). The band’s organic sound is a blend of Americana, Rock, Blues and Soul—featuring Zeiner’s melodic, inspired and deeply personal songwriting which has drawn comparisons to names like Leon Russell, Al Anderson, Ben Folds and Dickey Betts.
The latter comparison is no stretch for Zeiner, who toured and co-wrote with Betts for four years following the guitar legend's departure from the Allman Brothers Band. Zeiner filled the role of Gregg Allman in Betts’ new band Great Southern, performing vocals, organ and piano duties while receiving universal praise from music critics across the country for his powerful performances. No stranger to the road, Zeiner has also toured with the Blues Brothers’ Matt “Guitar” Murphy, CS&N/Jazz is Dead guitarist Jeff Pevar and has appeared onstage with a veritable "who's who" list of national artists on the Blues, Jam and Southern Rock scenes.
“You can always expect to see something you didn’t see the last time,” says Zeiner. “I’ve been fortunate to play with some heavy motherf&*$rs in the course of my life, and this lineup is no exception. We’re just trying to bring some songs to life in a way that will connect with audiences.”
The Matt Zeiner Band’s mission is being realized, as the band’s dates throughout the Northeast have been packed to capacity. “It means a lot to me that people have responded so positively to the music,” Zeiner says. “There’s a lot more to come, and we promise that every night, we’ll make it worth your while to be there with us.”
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