Hey all,
If you had a chance to read my last email, you may remember that I set a goal for myself this year that I'm calling, "50/50 in 2020". Long story short, I want to learn 50 cover songs…
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Jan 20 2020
Video
This is a playlist of live performances, both solo acoustic and with the band. I'll keep adding it to it as we collect more and better video.
In 2020, I'm challenging myself to learn 50 cover songs, write 50 original songs, and make quality demos of all 100 of them. That's basically one of each per week with a couple weeks wiggle room. Here is a playlist of them in reverse chronological order (most recent first) and here's a blog post about it.
News
Jan 7 2020
Two songs, band name, and "50/50 in 2020"
Happy 2020, everyone!
I don’t know about you, but 2019 was a tough year for me personally. I say that even though I know I'm really lucky in almost every imaginable way. I live in relative affluence, I'm healthy, my…
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Oct 18 2019
Songwriter Night / We're on the radio! / Video from FitzGerald's
Happy Friday, everyone! And a huge welcome to the new folks on the list! We really appreciate you signing up and hope you'll stick around!
Since it is Friday, probably the last thing you want is more long emails to…
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Sep 4 2019
The Deli Chicago premiered our single, "A Simple Thing"
Check it out! We've been doing some press to promote our new EP and The Deli Chicago was kind enough to premiere our first single, "A Simple Thing".
Aug 16 2019
EP Release / Fear, Faith, F*ck It!
Hey everyone,
I’m a really crap artist. No, I don’t mean in the big “Artist” sense of things…I’m actually pretty happy with some of my skills as a guitarist and songwriter and overall musician (which is not to say they…
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Jun 21 2019
Unreliable Magic: Songs, Spells, and the "Self" (and a show!)
Greetings from the islands of Hawaii!
Sadly, no, I haven't moved or anything, but we are here on a family vacation (with the extended family...which always adds some...shall we say, "interesting" additional dynamics). I'm basically a walking sunburn waiting to…
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Apr 2 2019
One Night, One Song
Hi everyone,
How did it get to be almost April already? I owe you all a real update after sending over my small novella of a blog post back in January. I'm actually kinda pissed at myself that it's taken…
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Jan 16 2019
Dave Cobb and the BHAG
Let me start by saying that I really, really hate “inspirational” quotes and “spiritual” self-help books or instagram posts. I have zero school spirit, don’t root for any teams, think most forms of patriotism are shallow and knee-jerk. I don’t…
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Jan 11 2019
New song demo / Having kids is no joke...
This is the first acoustic demo of a new song, "A Simple Thing". Might still tweak the lyrics and such, but I felt like it wanted to get out of my brain and onto the internet brain, so here it…
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Dec 20 2018
R.I.P. Matt Lenny...Long live Kid Bear!
Hi everybody,
I'm beyond excited to share some big news with you! So, without further ado...
"Meet the new boss / Same as the old boss"
It's been a a long time coming, but we are changing…
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Oct 31 2018
Rehearsal - 10/30/2018
Man...that was a fun one. We've got our little headquarters set up at our space using a hybrid acoustic/electronic setup. It's amazing what you can do with technology these days. (More on the setup later!)
Anyway, here's some snippets…
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Aug 20 2018
Back in the saddle...
Hey everyone,
It's been a long winter/spring/summer on this end. Quick summary of the highlights:
- Developed some vocal trouble: Turns out I sing ok thanks to years of lessons, but I actually talk wrong. So, I was starting…
Sep 28 2017
Sylvie’s Lounge / Gestures against the void
Hey everyone,
You’ve got things to celebrate. Maybe you’re happy it’s no longer 90+ degrees outside. Maybe you’re grateful for family and friends who survived earthquakes and hurricanes. Maybe you’re happy we’re not (yet) in a nuclear war. Maybe you’re…
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Jul 18 2017
Thanks! - Thoughts on musical community and good people
Hey friends,
I just wanted to take a quick minute to say thanks to all of you for coming out to see us at shows, for being cool at an open mic, and generally being part of/supporting a vibrant musical…
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Jun 28 2017
This is a brand new song that I finished writing about 30...
This is a brand new song that I finished writing about 30 minutes before rehearsal. I showed it to the band and we worked up this version within about 1 hour. Recorded with a Shure Motiv MV88 on an iPhone…
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Mar 20 2017
Here’s the first full-band performance of a new song, “Doubt”,...
Here’s the first full-band performance of a new song, “Doubt”, from our show at Friendly Tap on 3/10/17. Thanks so much to everyone who came out and made it such a great evening!
Mar 8 2017
Oh…did we mention that we have a show on Friday at...
Oh…did we mention that we have a show on Friday at Friendly Tap? Yeah, well we do. And here’s another teaser from last night’s rehearsal (complete with one iffy note in the middle from yours truly). Move over, Eagles! See…
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Mar 8 2017
Alright, kids, it’s getting close! Hope to see you Friday...
Alright, kids, it’s getting close! Hope to see you Friday at Friendly Tap! https://www.facebook.com/events/305124423223676??ti=ia
Apr 5 2014
Matt Lenny & The Elm City Council @ Tonic Room, on...
Matt Lenny & The Elm City Council @ Tonic Room, on 4/3/2014
- Me and Bucky Hayes playing his tune, “Iva Louise”
- The band playing, “Come On and Join the Band”
- Dave Mendez and I getting into some ridiculous guitar battles…
Apr 5 2014
Matt Lenny & The Elm City Council @ Tonic Room, on...
Matt Lenny & The Elm City Council @ Tonic Room, on 4/3/2014
- Me and Bucky Hayes playing his tune, “Iva Louise”
- The band playing, “Come On and Join the Band”
- Dave Mendez and I getting into some ridiculous guitar battles…
Jan 29 2014
I was watching this on Monday and was saddened to hear about...
I was watching this on Monday and was saddened to hear about Pete Seeger passing later that night. R.I.P, Mr. Seeger. Thanks for the music and for all the heart and soul you put into the things you believed in…
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Jan 29 2014
I was watching this on Monday and was saddened to hear about...
I was watching this on Monday and was saddened to hear about Pete Seeger passing later that night. R.I.P, Mr. Seeger. Thanks for the music and for all the heart and soul you put into the things you believed in…
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Dec 9 2013
David Simon: 'There are now two Americas. My country is a horror show'
David Simon: 'There are now two Americas. My country is a horror show':
David Simon: Capitalism in America has lost sight of its social compact
I agree with a lot of this. The specific policies will always be (and…
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Dec 9 2013
David Simon: 'There are now two Americas. My country is a horror show'
David Simon: 'There are now two Americas. My country is a horror show':
David Simon: Capitalism in America has lost sight of its social compact
I agree with a lot of this. The specific policies will always be (and…
Read moreShows
Three important things to know about Montrose Saloon:
1) It sounds great in there. 2) The bartender makes a truly fabulous Old Fashioned 3) We're gonna make some joyful noise there in March!
Rogers Park!! We love playing the after hours shows at this great little music store. BYOB and a ton of fun.
Photos
GMan Tavern, 5/19/17. Photo by Jeff Smith.
GMan Tavern, 5/19/17. Photo by Jeff Smith.
GMan Tavern, 5/19/17. Photo by Jeff Smith.
GMan Tavern, 5/19/17. Photo by Jeff Smith.
GMan Tavern, 5/19/17. Photo by Jeff Smith.
GMan Tavern, 5/19/17. Photo by Jeff Smith.
GMan Tavern, 5/19/17. Photo by Jeff Smith.
Friendly Tap, 3/15/2017. Photo by Jeff Smith.
Friendly Tap, 3/15/2017. Photo by Jeff Smith.
Friendly Tap, 3/15/2017. Photo by Jeff Smith.
Friendly Tap, 3/15/2017. Photo by Jeff Smith.
Friendly Tap, 3/15/2017. Photo by Jeff Smith.
Friendly Tap, 3/15/2017. Photo by Jeff Smith.
Friendly Tap, 3/15/2017. Photo by Jeff Smith.
Friendly Tap, 3/15/2017. Photo by Jeff Smith.
Friendly Tap, 3/15/2017. Photo by Jeff Smith.
Friendly Tap, 3/15/2017. Photo by Jeff Smith.
Friendly Tap, 3/15/2017. Photo by Jeff Smith.
Friendly Tap, 3/15/2017. Photo by Jeff Smith.
Tonic Room, Chicago
Recording at Reel Sounds, Chicago
Bar 4, Brooklyn - Photo by Adam Lerner
Bar 4, Brooklyn - Photo by Adam Lerner
Red Cherry Supper Club
Bio
“A simple thing can break your heart” is not only the first line from the first single, “A Simple Thing,” from Matt Lenny & The Breakdown's most recent EP; it’s also a manifesto of sorts for the band’s music. The song itself is three chords and a melody that, more or less, repeats throughout in different octaves, but the emotions run deep and the band plays with the dynamics and the arrangement to make something that steadily builds to a climax throughout its 3 1/2 minute runtime.
It all started with a chance encounter with country legend Steve Earle. As guitarist and songwriter Matt Lenny tells it, “I was sitting in Matt Umanov Guitars in Greenwich Village and in walks Steve Earle. He picked up an acoustic guitar and just started strumming some chords. And…I don’t know how to put it except to say that, when he played G and C, it was every country song ever written. When I played G and C, it was just a couple of chords. But, when he did it, it was deep; it had soul and groove and power. It really blew my mind. I’d been touring with all these loud rock bands (like Oh My God) and had all these chops, but he had the song in every strum. I’ve been chasing that ever since.”
Now living in Chicago, Matt continues to pursue that powerful simplicity, both with a full band and as a solo singer-songwriter. The resulting music is somewhere on the rock and roll side of Americana with simple chord changes and melodies married to heartfelt emotions and old-fashioned storytelling.
“One of the things I’ve most appreciated about the various Americana traditions of songwriting is that, at the end of the day, it’s music for adults. I mean…I love a raunchy Zeppelin or Stones song as much as anything, but it’s revelatory to realize that there is drama and passion and excitement in the kind of everyday lives that most of us live. And to realize that, if you are good at it, you can put that in a song! That’s been transformative for me,” says Matt.
Matt Lenny & The Breakdown’s newest release, the simply titled "EP 2,” was independently released on September 6, 2019. The Chicago-based live band features Matt Lenny on guitar and vocals, David Jamison (Hurray for the Riff Riff) on drums and vocals, Dave Mendez (J.W. Wiliams & The Chi-Town Hustlers) on guitar and vocals and Erik Vaveris on bass.