The Matt Santry Band

By Morgan Marzella

Matt Santry… Does this name ring a bell to anyone? If it does, great! You’ll get to hear him play at Springfest this year along with a couple of other artists. If the name does not ring a bell, you, I, and everyone else in our position are in for another Springfest of unknown artists playing for the drunken versions of ourselves. I’ll be honest, I had no idea who this guy even was (and I am well-versed in the emerging artist scene), I had to check him out on the web.

His website does not offer much, but it does offer some pictures and a link to his MySpace page. All I can really ask myself is: “Did anyone order a water-down Hootie and the Blowfish?” At first listen, that’s pretty much all I could think. The Matt Santry Band probably sounds better to the inebriated ear, but then again, so does Miley Cyrus. In fact, anything with a beat is good music when you’re really hammered.

The most listened to song on the website for Matt Santry is a song entitled “Love Habit.” The track sounds like a typical “alternative rock’ song, putting emphasis on both the electric and acoustic guitar. I felt that every one of his songs was trying to copy someone elses. I understand that many bands write songs in the style of other bands, but the Matt Santry Band’s songs sound like he’s playing the stuff that the other bands threw in the trash. He should just stick to one style.

“A Box That’s Always Empty” was the track that first played when I looked at the MySpace page. The track sounded like Hootie and the Blowfish. “Love Habit” sounded like an acoustic accented Hoobastank. “Prove Me Wrong” sounded like an electric version of O.A.R.
I like Hootie and O.A.R., but I felt that this guy just lacks the panache that they offer to their listeners. Good alt-rock sound, but do not expect anything special. We’re in for another Springfest full of crappy unknown bands. Drive to York College if you want some good music, they’ve got O.A.R. for their Springfest.

Bottom Line: C