As a husband, father and physically-active data wrangler, songwriter Matt Herzog crafts lyrics and sophisticated arrangements that support a vibrant theme of navigating bumps in the road through an observant, mid-life perspective.

Growing up in Owatonna, MN during the ‘80s &' 90s, back when the youth could dabble in just about everything, Matt Herzog changed sports each season, took private piano lessons and sang in the high school concert choir. He stepped into the Minneapolis music scene as a guitarist/vocalist in 1999 when college band, "The Half Ton Club", won a 27 band battle held at the legendary “Cabooze”. The prize of Oarfin Studio sessions and booking management sparked five years of shows and three studio releases. Years of consistent guitar training and playing with various bands deepened his music theory understanding, and the pandemic quarantine of 2020 quickly prompted the recording of debut solo album, “Keep It Light”. Collaborating remotely with drummers (Nashville-based drummer JD Lenick and Russel Munson) served as a solid foundation for Matt to layer in vocals, guitars, piano/organ & bass on his own.

Shortly after the album release, Matt curated a genre-spanning Rock band of vintage influences by inviting musicians with diverse backgrounds starting with bassist Tim Kennedy and Graham Peterson on drums to complete the tight, rhythm section. Maia Sletten’s pristine harmonies complement Herzog’s soulful voice and blistering guitar hooks while keyboardist (and Jazz drummer) George Bergh draws from the music theory gained at UC Berkeley.

The collective's following has steadily grown in the five years of performances throughout Minnesota including large outdoor festivals (Raspberry Fest, Harvest Fest, headlining The Steele County Fair). Given the opportunity to play ‘The Parkway Theater’ in Minneapolis, Herzog took a chance by arranging charts for a horns section (Brady Moroney/saxophone, Rob Kocher/Trumpet, Brian Robran/Trumpet). The blissfully extreme performance resulted in a standing ovation and an invitation to return just six months later. 

The expanding sonic range and keen attention to dynamics evolved into a fresh, funky-blues sound that inspired the recording of Under The Stack at renowned studio, ‘The Terrarium’ in Minneapolis (engineered by Jason Obergfoll, mixed by Kevin Bowe (Kill Room) and mastered by Bruce Templeton). The EP balances light-hearted, energetic grooves with heartfelt reflections and even enlisted a few session ringers. Ken Christianson, a virtuosic multi-instrumentalist formerly in ‘The Half Ton Club’, was recruited for violin on ‘Should’ve Let It Go'. Monique Blakey, a national anthem staple for the Minnesota Vikings and singer in Dr. Mambo’s Combo added the perfect dose of soul to ‘Holding You Back’ a Katie Christ layered in backing vocals on other tracks.  Whether humorous or heavy, listeners that lean into the compelling storytelling of the EP will want to hear how it ends. 

Giving it their all at every single show has resulted in many returns to local venues such as: Shaw’s Bar, Excelsior Brewing, Tuttle’s, Red Wing Barrel House, Day Block Brewing, and the love for simply creating quality music is evident to audiences of all ages.