On Friday night, the British-Canadian singer-songwriter Matt Maltese came back to Montreal for the third year in a row to a sold-out Beanfield Theatre, marking his biggest show yet in the city. The 29-year-old played his second date in Canada as part of his Tour For You My Whole Life. Having played to an also sold-out Studio TD just a year ago, stopping at the 514 was a no-brainer for this tour — and the Montreal fans are absolutely here for it.
Starting the night out was Cornelia Murr. This is the second time the British-American folk singer has played in Montreal this year, having performed at Club Soda just this past May, and she’s starting to grow a following here in the city. Before the set, I spotted some fans with “I <3 Cornelia Murr” signs — something normally reserved for the main act. She and her four-piece band set up the stage perfectly for the night with their mix of pop-folk and psychedelic tunes. It’s the kind of music that urges you to grab an old-fashioned or a glass of wine and let yourself be swayed by her ethereal vocals. The vocal arrangements in her music are a bit like Lana Del Rey or Feist, but with more laid-back tempos and beats. As a main influence, you can definitely feel some Joni Mitchell in both the music and lyrics, focusing on experiences and life itself more than just love or heartbreak. Check out her song “Skylight,” from her latest album Run to the Center.
I mentioned just now how the opener’s songs don’t talk much about love and romance, but the audience would be served more than a handful of love songs by the main act. Matt Maltese is best known for his songs about heartbreak and the irony of everything surrounding it. So, in September, as the leaves are turning and the nights are getting colder, it’s the perfect setting to see him live.
My history with his music is short and sweet. Last year, I started doing concert photography, and in the middle of just trying to shoot as much as I could, I ended up at his Studio TD show as my first-ever photo pass. I would normally leave after the third song, but his music really caught me. I personally don’t think we have enough mainstream artists where the piano takes centre stage instead of being a background arrangement. That concert stuck with me, and I have had him on heavy rotation since — especially during the cold months in Montreal. Something about slow piano ballads and a cup of tea on a Sunday afternoon while it’s snowing outside.
Funny enough, I’ve been kicking myself for not buying his record that day, so heading there on Friday, I was excited to finally get either his new album Hers or any of his previous work. But alas, sold-out show. I got in, went to the merch booth, and almost two hours before he was scheduled to hit the stage, I was greeted with, “Sorry, all the records are gone already!” by the girl at the booth. I guess the third time’s the charm. We shall see.
At 9 p.m. sharp, the lights went down, and a slow piano track with a very Clair de Lune feel played as the band started coming onstage. At the end, Matt Maltese walked in wearing a bright red short-sleeved turtleneck and jeans — a very vintage style to his look. He could blend in perfectly on the streets of 1960s London, mid-Beatles-mania era. He stood centre stage while a single spotlight lit him, smiling at the cheers of the sold-out crowd for a second. Then he started the night with two singles from his latest album, “Always Some MF” and “Buses Replace Trains.”
He moved on to songs from previous records, including “Irony Would Have It,” from his 2019 album Krystal, and another version from Driving Just to Drive. Before playing this one, he shared a funny story about accidentally shoplifting fruit once with a friend and how he came up with parts of the song from that.
Midway through the set, Maltese pulled an unexpected change from his usual setlist to indulge a little. One of his biggest influences is Leonard Cohen, and he talked about feeling Cohen’s essence while walking around the city that morning. “I know you’ve probably had enough of Leonard Cohen, but I’m still gonna play this one for me.” Sorry, Matt, but people in Montreal don’t get sick of Leonard Cohen — and if they do, don’t trust them! He proceeded to play a beautiful version of “Paper Thin Hotel,” with no backing band — just him on the piano. I’ve always loved a surprise cover, and this was one of my highlights of the night.
The night continued with some of my favourite tunes, including “Jupiter” and “As the World Caves In,” a song about doomsday and spending the last moments with the person you love doing mundane things like watching TV or drinking a bottle of wine. This is one of the reasons I really like his songwriting. When he talks about love or life, it’s never grandiose — he talks about it with irony and simplicity, showing how love is more about small gestures, like washing dishes or being bored together, or how people outside a relationship are affected when two people split up.
Towards the end of the night, Maltese brought back Cornelia Murr onstage for “Arthouse Cinema” and “Pined For You My Whole Life.” Their voices truly complemented each other, and their stage chemistry was apparent. It felt like two friends playing at a house party while people sat around drinking wine.
Another fun moment was a new tradition on this tour, where he asks for anyone celebrating their birthday that night. On Friday, it was Briell’s lucky day. She was turning 18 and got to join Maltese onstage to sing a tune from his new album. Normally, they give the birthday person a party hat, but Briell already had a better one than the Dollarama-grade hat the band brought out. She was still happy to put a hat on a hat and sing with her favourite artist.
The band left after one song while Maltese played the very melancholic “Cure For Emptiness,” a beautiful, haunting piano-only song about finding meaning in daily life and how hard it can be to feel truly complete — a reminder that this struggle is part of being human. The night ended right after with one of his biggest hits and fan favourite, “Everyone Adores You (at least I do).”
Being at a Matt Maltese show feels a lot like sitting in a small, old-school cocktail bar or a cozy cabaret. The vibe is super laid-back — just the audience, the music, and the piano and vocals front and centre. Nothing feels forced or over the top. It’s intimate, easygoing, and a little like stepping into a different, quieter world for a while. As we move into the colder months, it felt just right. If you’re into that kind of vibe, I urge you to catch him next time he comes back to the city. Maybe the third time I’ll actually get my hands on one of his records.
Review & photos – Andres Amaya
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