Yyeeeewww McHugh

- Who: Mat. McHugh
- Where: Coolum

The very first time I heard of Mat. McHugh was when The Beautiful Girls played at the Noosa Festival of Surfing in early 2010. I don’t know what gargantuan rock I was hiding under, but it was a great discovery. As soon as they started playing I was wishing I had not consumed so many beers and have kicked myself ever since.

Fast forward to 2011 and Mat is now finishing a solo tour prior to the release of his second solo album Go Don’t Stop. This has been a massive tour for Mat – touring Brazil, America and Australia already – and later this year heading back to America, then Canada, Europe and the UK.

Great Support Acts

I have been waiting for a long time to see Mat again, this time under the influence of water (OK, so I had just one beer). I went to see him play in Coolum.  The support acts were great and they really set the atmosphere for Mat.

First up, sort-of-kind-of local boys OJ and Sol from Band of Frequencies were awesome as always. The double bass and guitar together is just the best gentle body vibrating sound.  Then the gorgeous, barefoot Ashleigh Mannix, such a tiny thing with such a huge voice. Mat came out a little early and did Ashleigh’s last song with her.

Now, onto the real deal

I was pretty happy that Mat’s first song was ‘My Mind is an Echo Chamber‘. This song is truly beautiful and acoustically even more so (the acoustic version is on his latest EP). He then went on to play a couple of new songs, ‘Go Don’t Stop‘ and ‘A Pocketful of Shells‘ from his upcoming new album. The weird dancing started about then, I love weird dancing. Weird dancing starting by the second song is a pretty good crowd response.

There were the sounds we are used to – the dub, reggae, acoustic roots – but a lot of new sounds too. And I liked it – a lot, especially the harmonica.  And of course the TBG favourites, ‘Music‘, ‘Periscopes‘ and one of my all-time favourites, ‘La Mar‘. Fantastic and lots of crowd singing. Showing his versatility, he even threw some U2 and Madonna into some of his songs. Interesting choices, but you just have to hear it yourself to understand.

Mat really is getting into this solo thing and clearly feeling it. If Mat ever worried about going solo, he shouldn’t have.

There is something about Mat McHugh, I can’t quite put my finger on it. It’s not his cool hat or his nice teeth or even his beard, it’s some type of shyness or vulnerability that makes him seem so honest and engaging. Lyrically Mat is brilliant.  Musically he is pretty remarkable. He writes from the soul and you can feel it echoing in your soul when you hear his music. His voice is comforting and soothing, kind of like a big hug.

Mat’s music is real, happy, makes you feel you are lying in hammock on a tropical island in the sun. There were more songs I wish he played, but I guess I couldn’t lay on that tropical island all night.

Thanks for your music and your words Mat, it truly was a privilege.  Until next time……

Get more of Mat McHugh

Mat’s first solo album, Seperatista, and new EP are available on iTunes. Mat mentions that his second album will be out toward the end of the year / early next year.

• Mat McHugh (solo) on iTunes
• The Beautiful Girls on iTunes
• Go Don’t Stop (EP)
• Seperatista (album)
• Seperatista – streamed on bandcamp

If you didn’t catch Mat on this latest Aussie tour, maybe you’re lucky enough to see him on the rest of his tour OS?! Just see him. You’ll thank yourself.