March 29, 2024
Annapolis, US 42 F

Red Red Wine Bar Imports Guitarist From Brooklyn

Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Matt Cranstoun is known for the commanding effect he has on an audience using only his words, voice and guitar. At times his music evokes a cathartic gospel show, while others, a quiet and intimate look into the songwriter’s psyche. Cranstoun’s music is charged by the roots of folk and soul, in which every word— whether whispered or howled– expresses as much urgency as the next. He will perform in Annapolis at the Red Red Wine Bar on Sunday, June 24th at 10pm in support of his recently released album The Last Drop of Color.

Cranstoun, who began as a drummer at eight years old behind his father’s set, later joined high school jazz and rock bands. Before he hit 20, he was a self-taught multi-instrumentalist, out of the classroom and into the studio writing and recording his own songs and playing nearly all the instruments himself.

Following the completion of his first LP Wouldn’t We All (never released) over ten years ago, he formed SWG, a talented high-energy funk, rock, and blues-fused band that quickly gained regional popularity. Their first show was in February 2001 at Conduit in Trenton, NJ and also marked the start of a life long friendship and musical bond with SWG saxophonist Eric Haltmeier. After writing, performing and touring with the group for several years, Cranstoun moved from his hometown in Central New Jersey to New York City in pursuit of a new experience and a desire to nurture new inspiration.

In 2010, he released By Framed Image, an entirely self-made, funded, played, produced, home-mixed and recorded album. The album is an intimate and raw recording with live solo performances alongside experimental sounds and productions. A close listen will reveal an occasional car horn or ice cream truck passing outside Cranstoun’s Bed-Stuy apartment window.

With the release of his sophomore independent effort The Last Drop of Color, Cranstoun mixes the acoustic with the synthesized, displays versatile atmospheres and instrumentation, and achieves the balanced blend of styles that have inspired him, from the immortal worlds of classic soul and folk, to modern groove, funk and rock.His emotionally charged voice and lyrics lead the way throughout the broad spectrum of sound and genre that The Last Drop of Color brings.

The album features Tim Lappin and Mark Stewart (Rubblebucket) on bass; Cliff Ramsay on drums; Eric Haltmeier on saxophones and piano; Chris Cubeta on piano and synths; Eric Lindberg on lead guitar; Omar Abdul Karim on Trumpet and Jason Disu (LCD Soundsystem) on Trombone.

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