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Matthew Morgan and the Lost Brigade is a hard-working Chicago band that has made its mark on the local music scene and is now pushing farther into the Midwest. With the diversity of banjo and dulcimer alongsidemale and female vocal harmonies this band blends hopeful, upbeat rock with the deep reality of folk roots. MMLB is as “intense as whiskey with all the flavors of fine wine. Bombastic, upbeat pop/folk grabs audiences by the hand. It’s a sweet slow dance…” (OnAxis Music).
The group began carving out a niche in the Chicago music scene when members of two local bands (folk- based Black Bottle Junction and rock-based 1/2 Mad Poet) joined as recruits to support Matt Morgan’s solo project, “Red Silhouettes”, which was released in winter 2011. Both Matt and bassist, Kevin Lahvic are visual artists as well as musicians. This connection to Chicago’s Wicker Park art scene is another factor that sets the group apart as MMLB has been garnering a devoted following by performing well-attended shows at local galleries, including First Fridays for the Flat Iron Artist’s Association.
In 2012, MMLB partnered with CAUDog Records of Chicago, IL to record their debut album “Found” with producer Ellis Clark (who has worked with groups including The Handcuffs and Jeff Tweedy of Wilco), creating a collection of songs that exemplify the complex nature of their live performances within the context of an album. Their first release was a music video for the song “Elephant Man”, filmed in partnership with Bailout Pictures. The video, with its creepy bent on the state of American politics, came out just prior to the November 2012 presidential elections. Its timely release gained favorable reviews from press including Lee Klawans of the Examiner who called it “A crafty bit of genius…”
The buzz around the video helped contribute to the band playing to a packed house for the December 2012 CD release party at Chicago’s famous Double Door, which was “…arguably the most entertaining release show I’veever witnessed”, says Lonnie Edwards of The Neorevivalist. “Found” is a ten course banquet of sound featuring the band’s seamless fusion of folk, blues, and alternative rock that nods to predecessors like R.E.M and The Decemberists while simultaneously declaring its originality. Alongside solid, beat driven, radio friendly songs like “Dustbowl” and “Black Water”, lies a lush landscape of acoustic instrumentation and layered arrangements. “Whose Gods Are These?” showcases the band’s personalityand willingness to display their fragility, drawing listeners from all backgrounds to their music. Songs from the album are currently being played on 140 college radio stations across the United States.
This is a group of serious musicians who met through a wide variety of means, from chance encounters to friends who “forgot” to mention that they were wildly talented. They have all played professionally in other musical projects and now each member brings strength to the band by adding harmonies, multi-instrumentalist skills, and a plethora of life experiences. Eric Shelkopf of The Total Scene says MMLB is “…bringing beauty to the Chicago music scene”. Their energetic live shows are a sonic feast that satiates the hunger for honest roots music mixed with fresh, fun, creative rock.
Matthew Morgan and the Lost Brigade make music you will be glad to find.