Born & Bred started as a Music Festival in Grafton, WV. If you’re not familiar, one of the major things Grafton is known for is being the home of the longest running Memorial Day in the country. We at B&B are proud of the legacy and just wanted to use this opportunity to honor those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We know many use this opportunity to gather for a picnic with loved ones and here are some great new releases to add to your playlist from some talented West Virginians Philip Bowen and Matt Deal.
Listen to all of the amazing West Virginia Music on our Spotify Playlist and Apple Playlist.
Philip Bowen continues to impress with his storytelling abilities that see him craft narratives that aren’t afraid to take on hard truths. His newest single “The Wheel” deals with the topic of gambling and the destructive nature of that addiction. We often see musicians in the state talk about opioids and such but 1 in 50 West Virginians will deal with a gambling addiction. Beyond the heavy subject matter, it’s a beautifully constructed song that showcases Bowen’s comforting vocal which allows him to be the perfect conduit for tackling these hard topics. Listen to “The Wheel” below.
Matt Deal has not one, but two releases out now! The first is called Sad Dad Baggage. The title is indicative of where the material is heading. It’s sad but it’s beautiful. Matt is a prolific songwriter with a powerful voice that haunts your soul with his anguish and passion. If you can make it through the first track “Burn Me Away” without tearing up, you might need to talk to someone. Deal enlists the help of longtime friend Bill Fraley (Alabaster Boxer) and Lily Moore on this five song EP that is the epitome of “wearing your emotions on your sleeve.” Listen to “Burn Me Away” below.
It’s not often we get to do this so here it is, the next artist in our New Releases is also, Matt Deal. He dropped a second EP entitled Sad Dad Dance Party. Much like the first EP it’s sad but the major difference is that “It’s got a good beat and you can dance to it.” This EP combined with the first shows off the diverse range of Deal vocally and musically. The dance party is a mix of industrial and edm and whatever other dance music you want to throw in there but the lyrics are the real party. Once again, Matt just leaves it all on the floor, the dance floor if you will, and tells you what he’s feeling. The highlight of these five songs is “Unfortunately” because it features a duet with his daughter Sophie Deal. But if you want your heart ripped out and you want to feel some real emotions listen to “Leah.” Check out “Unfortunately” below.
