An angelic light shines behind the jean-clad bandmates, and a hymn plays over the speakers of the Irving Plaza. Matt Maeson steps on stage and the crowd erupts in cheers. Maeson is a Virginia-raised singer who has been dominating the alternative music charts for the past five years. He found success through his debut song “Cringe” which was released in 2016 and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Alternative Songs in 2019.
There’s a strange catharsis in his music. With a blend of heart shaking drums and lyrics like “I was hearing the god lord, I was hearing the devil harmonize;” no wonder the crowd was screaming every word. It’s difficult to ignore the religious imagery surrounding Maeson; his forearm tattoos read “born a sinner, die a martyr.” This religious imagery elevates the new sounds of his latest album Never Had to Leave. The album was produced over the pandemic and it’s obvious from the crowd they are antsy to hear the tracks like “Cut Deep.” Towards the end of his set, Maeson pauses and declares he would take a shot because the show had sold out but then admits “[he] would take the shot regardless,” and then throws a shot of whiskey back. It’s a tradition that the audience revels in, especially since his last New York performance was in 2019. Even as his name skyrockets through the charts, Maeson remains incredibly authentic and allows his music to speak for itself.
