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An Evening with Matt Roach

"The Last Great Day" is the eighth studio release from Philadelphia singer-songwriter Matt Roach. The title comes from the idea Roach had to find significance to the number 8. In the bible "The Last Great Day" refers to putting behind the past and moving forward. With that in mind, Roach set out to write brand new songs for the album. With over 500 original songs written during his 25-year career, Roach said "it would have been very easy for me to reach into the pack and grab ones I never recorded. But, I liked the idea of testing myself to write about where I am right now and where I am headed. I tried to say goodbye to the past on my last album 'The Ghosts of Aldine St.' So, 'The Last Great Day' is about moving forward." The result is an album filled with things we grapple with as we reach the second part of our lives.

Roach began as a quasi-comedian. When he was 15 years old he started the sketch comedy group "Jim's Prom Picture Inc." It was like Saturday Night Live but, funny! Over the next 8 years the group played all over the Philadelphia area. During this time Roach began writing comedy songs to perform along with the sketches. After the sketch group ended, he started to concentrate on writing music that included "normal" songs along with the comedy. He kept writing and, now 25 years and 500 songs later, he is still going. He doesn't play any cover songs. Roach says, "I never taught myself any because the original artist would perform the song much better than I ever could."

So, fast, slow, happy, sad possibly demented music. But, all original, all the time! Roach has been fortunate enough to perform on a regular basis for many years, playing over 300 shows throughout the east coast. He has received radio play in the U.S. and Europe. He has opened for Hamell on Trial, Steve Poltz (twice), Steve Forbert, Asylum Street Spankers, Peter Tork (The Monkees), UK legends The Alarm and opened three times for Marshall Crenshaw. His live shows are always fun and interactive. Roach says, "I love interacting with the audience. I like keeping them guessing by switching my songs from happy to sad and then back again."

For more information visit www.mattroachmusic.com.