One of Matt’s grandfathers, a French Canadian from Vermont, was a conscientious objector and progressive activist who volunteered in soup kitchens (a heritage that would later reemerge in Matts own progressive lyrics). His mother, a product of the 1960s who was into folk music of the Greenwich Village kind, played guitar while Matt was still in the womb. Matt grew up in rustic South Londonderry, where kids got their rocks off by burning boxes of cardboard and paper in the middle of the road and shooting off rounds in the forest. The Langlois kids were of hardy local stock, and though not poor, were of a different demographic than the kids from out of state who came to Vermont to attend private school
and ski.

Ten-year-old Matt’s future took a very specific turn when he and his brother received a red acoustic guitar for Christmas. That, along with listening to Abbey Road and watching the Beatles Hard Days Night, determined that a musician was what he wanted to be. Meanwhile, his folks divorced. Matt was soon working in a series of after school jobs. Summers were spent in Berkeley, California, with Tom, his guitar-playing uncle who had a tile flooring business. Matt began coming home in zippered shirts with the arms cut off, his attraction to California confirmed. Upon graduating from high school, Matt went out West for good.

Matt immersed himself in the San Francisco music scene, playing with the bands Deeper and Miscellaneous M, before joining up with Buddhakowski (a paean to both the enlightened deity as well as the inebriated scribe). Said group released CD, amassed obligatory following, and played uber cool venues such as the Bottom of the Hill in SF and the Viper Room in LA. His songwriting/frontman skills refined, Matt struck out on his own, to favorable early returns. His songs have been aired on two major networks, Fox and NBC. In San Francisco, a track from his second solo record, Empire Days, was picked up by Triple AAA megastation KFOG and featured on their 2004 Summer Sampler, alongside Michael Franti of Spearhead and Matt Nathanson. He has been featured on sites such as SongsAlive.org, and his songs are sold through ITunes, Tower and Aware Records.

The stage is his preferred habitat. With a subtly arched eyebrow, thrusted hip, and sideways cock of the head, his persona echoes the greats of yore  Townsend, Davies  without ever descending to the forced or contrived. A natural storyteller, his phrasing punctuates each lyric, drawing in the eager listener to find out what happens next.

What is next for Matt Langlois and The Welcome Matt? He has just released his fourth cd “RIGHT OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR” Which is available now at CDBABY and ITUNES.

October 31, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
San Francisco, CA

The Welcome Matt’s much anticipated fourth and finest album entitled ‘Right Outside Your Door’ is here!
Fronted by Matt Langlois, a New England native and longtime San Francisco transplant whose stage persona is reminiscent of Pete Townsend and Ray Davies and whose songwriting is in line with John Lennon and Jeff Tweedy. The band features Rob Sherman on guitar, Rick Munoz on drums and Andrew Lion on bass. The first track entitled ‘Longing’ includes Tucson inhabitant Jacob Valenzuela from Calexico on horns. As well as a guest appearance on “On The Ocean” from Prince/Sheila E keyboardist Rose Ann Dimalanta.

Matt is a natural storyteller with an expressive voice. He delivers an edgy, honest blend of indie/rock & folk/rock and his front man talents and songwriting skills are evident. He has been immersed in the local music scene since his move to SF in ’96 and has found a dedicated following and critical acclamation. The Welcome Matt has been featured on FOX and NBC and ‘In San Francisco’, a track off his second record, ‘Empire Days’ received airplay on KFOG 104.5FM and was included on the 2004 KFOG’S Local Scene CD. “In San Francisco” can also be heard during Giants baseball games in Pacific Bell Park.

Third Wish is a hard rock, heavy metal to blues band with a unique twist, yet somewhat familiar feel. Poised and ready to release the magically energetic and highly explosive guitars and vocals backed with a powerful rhythmic backbone. Third Wish has something to say lyrically as well. Pointing out the way things really are and the way they ought to be, sometimes funny, occasionally blue, but always on track of life’s ironic twists and turns.

Third Wish is:
-Lance Reynolds - Lead guitar and lead vocals
-Sean Demoss- Bass Guitar and backing vocals
-Tony Blevins - Drums & Backing Vocals

So come on a journey only they can take you on and witness the powerful songwriting magic of Third Wish and their latest release from smokin’ lamp records “Careful What U Wish 4″.

Third Wish can be seen live and on previously recorded shows on their web site: thirdwishrocks.com

As difficult as it may be to believe, the rock band Third Wish has come out with a great follow up to their debut album “Y”. Their latest release, “Careful What U Wish 4″, features Lance Reynolds at the vocal helm, with a powerful wide range of subtle to highly explosive energies. Poised and ready to release on a deprived, starving, hungrier than ever “Rock’n’Roll” public. Third Wish bears witness to the new and in your face hard rockin’, heavy metal to blues music and lyrical song writing magic of Tony Blevins and Lance Reynolds.

Third Wish was founded in the late 80’s by Tony Blevins, who soon joined forces with Lance Reynolds. Together they honed their song writing skills, combining powerful musicianship with spirited lyrics. Third Wish produced and released their first CD “Y” in 1996 to critical acclaim, but was cut short by a 5 year deliberation with their record company who failed to release the CD world wide. Hind sight being 20/20, Blevins and Reynolds stood to make a lot more money because they produced the album themselves and their record company dropped the ball so to speak. Seven years of hard work, touring, changing line-ups and frustration took it’s toll on Blevins and Reynolds and they both took a 2 year hiatus from music only to realize even more what they had with Third Wish.

Reunited and hungrier than ever, Blevins and Reynolds have put talent and advancing technology together and have released their new album “Careful What U Wish 4″ under their own record label, Smokin’ Lamp Records. Confident that great music will always rise to the top and that the record industry’s greed has destroyed artistry in music for a few dollars more, Third Wish will stay with the independent underground music seen which will soon be the larger music industry in their opinion. “The artist can control every aspect of their music now, which is the way it should be for true expression” said Blevins.

Third Wish’s web site address is thirdwishrocks.com and on the site people can download the first 2 albums in mp3 format, individual songs for $.99 or the entire album for $6.99. People wanting to purchase the physical CD can click on the cdbaby link on the site or go to cdbaby.com and search for Third Wish. Third Wish is also available on towerrecords.com, musicnet.com, musicishere.com, Apple iTunes and Verizon Wireless.

Third Wish has added a welcome friend and new bass player Sean Demoss to the line up and is planning to start it’s own video podcast of live shows featuring the first 2 albums and also feature songs from their new upcoming album release due out later on this summer and the first preview will be available on their web site. They will also feature other talent from Arkansas in the near future. Third Wish will also be offering prerecorded video footage and DVD’s from their web site in the near future. So stay tuned and get ready because Third Wish is back and in better than ever form to keep you entertained and ever guessing, what are they gonna do next?

“Every note, phrase, lyric…is wrought with poignancy. You take us there with you, and we can “feel” it as if watching a movie we have now become a part of. You are simply and undeniably ORIGINAL.”
–Gaslight District

Chapa shows have been described as an experience unto themselves, combining soothing mood swings with samples, characters, pots and pans, glasses, cello, oboe, steel guitar, drums, flutes, dancers, saxophones, monologues, guitars, suling, talking drum, radio, etc., etc…

Rising up Between is the first track on the album. It is the first introduction to Chapa‘s world of the interpretative rendition of every great sound that ever came out of the listening equipment used throughout his life (thus far). It is also a wonderful glimpse into the astonishing musicianship conveyed in every aspect of each and every strand of the track’s multitracked collective. Only Me on the other hand, is the only track on the album that takes a sway toward the likes of the Bob Dylan backgrounds, scratching the back of The Goo Goo Dolls that are sitting on the vocal chords of Geddy Lee-like sound.

Edna’s Thrill. I’ve honestly never heard hints from the soundtrack to Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon in amalgamation with a track of this run-amok-like character before. It is the very reason that psychedelic drugs became such a necessity to have around when enjoying the music that the 60s and 70s had to bring us.

Honestly, eclecticism is a wonderful attribute to a track’s portfolio of sound. I can honestly say that I have not had a great deal of exposure to the cello in my day and, as of right now, that level of celloistic ignorance is completely unsatisfactory and must be dealt with as soon as possible.

Masqueraders Downfall is a balancing act that involves smashing guitar playing, broad lyrical expression, and ethnic inflections walking the tight rope that is representative of the flow of the track. Well you wish thee! Pertains to great percussional abilities and, once again, the allure of an excellent handelment of guitar-playing-craftsmanship that binds the track’s separate entities together in an effort to form it’s glossy finish.

From Your Cloud (to mine) may just seem like a short trip to some but it’s not because the ride is so smooth you wish for it to last an eternity so that you can soak it all in. All 3 Faces has a very groovy-like rhythm with harmonies that arise from the dark clouds that adorn the tracks ‘Planet Caravan’ reminiscent guitar riffs.

A Pause in Life is the last track on this album’s send off. It is a representation of how personally expressive Chapa’s lyric style is. He does not hold back in what he means to say but he does seem to care quite deeply about how others perceive and receive it. I guess that’s why they call it “Freedom of Speech” when in this album’s case.. it’s freedom of sound.

Elley Wilson - May 29 2006
International Online Magazine