Matthew Larsen has been a member of the vibrant Western Massachusetts music scene for a few decades, attracting audiences with introspective piano rock songs. Sometimes short, quiet and sweet– other times building into wall-of-sound Hotel-California-like anthems, Matthew’s songs often recall serious health issues (Matthew underwent a stem cell transplant at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston in 2005).
With a trio of instrumentalists called The Documents (Greg Saulmon, Aric Bieganek, and first cousin and longtime collaborator, Steve Biegner), their debut album Apheresis was lovingly recorded in studios, hallways, and living rooms. Dave Chalfant (The Nields) and Ethan Tufts (State Shirt) were at the helm, as well as an incredible cast of guest musicians: Mark Schwaber (Lloyd Cole and the Small Ensemble), Rebekah Dutkiewicz (Oweihops, Northernly), Julia Suriano (Steve Biegner), Matthew Loiacano (Matthew Carefully, Kamikaze Hearts), and Philip Price (Winterpills).
Matthew also organizes a traveling house concert series called Dark Dining Room, which aims to raise money for charitable organizations while offering fellow musicians and fans and a chance to perform/hear live music in an intimate setting.
To help finance the recording of this collection of songs, Matthew received The Andrea Coller Memorial Award, presented to Matthew by Andrea Coller’s family members and The SAMFund, an organization that assists cancer survivors with the transition to post-treatment life. Andrea Coller was a fellow Massachusetts musician and comrade who lost her battle with cancer in 2008.
THE DOCUMENTS ARE:
Matthew Larsen, who would love to spend each waking hour writing songs on the Marantz upright piano in his dining room. His two time battle with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma was no picnic, but he’s five years out now and doing okay.
Greg Saulmon, who besides enjoying the use of his iPhone as a slide on his guitar, is a born journalist whose day job often involves sifting through documents and photographing fires.
Steve Biegner, who not only teaches children about musical theater, attends the Manhattan School of Music during the Fall and Spring semesters. Like some sort of superhero, he swoops in from The Big Apple to Western Massachusetts and beyond to play drums with The Documents, only to return to NYC once all is safe.
Aric Bieganek, who besides being a teacher at Community Music School in Springfield, is a charismatic leader of kids’ group The Royal Order of Chords and Keys and a Berklee College of Music trained multi-instrumentalist.
THE MEDIA INFORMS THE PUBLIC:
CLUBLAND: Futuristic listening party launches band’s new CD
THE SPRINGFIELD REPUBLICAN: Sometimes you get a second chance. And a third. And a fourth.
THE VALLEY ADVOCATE: Behind The Beat: Rock Therapy
MASSLIVE.COM: An interview with Matthew Larsen
SOME RANDOM FACTS:
Matthew and Steve have the same grandma, even though they are not brothers. Matthew and Greg both have day jobs working for the same publishing company, but in separate buildings. Aric was the first act at the first Dark Dining Room house concert. Steve and Greg’s brother were once roommates. Steve sings opera. Aric is from Minnesota and is a huge Twins fan. Greg enjoys photography. Matthew is the landlord of a building that has a barbershop in it.
