In The News
Sessions
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In His Own Words
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On Salvage
by Matt Lorenz
How Much is Enough?
by Matt Lorenz
PRESS
"Matt Lorenz' "music has an immediacy that transcends circles, arrows and time shifts. Indie Americana with a rootsy blues backbone, “Can’t Look Away” is swampy, stompy, epic and soaring… and practically triumphant but there’s still a feeling of darkness and dread.”
— Rey Roldan, American Songwriter
“...The hefty heartland rock of his sixth album, “The End Is New” (out Nov. 20), finds Lorenz in a state of catharsis and at odds with the world, a space that has yielded the most thoughtfully composed and polished release of his career.”
— Charley Ruddell, WBUR/NPR
"The End Is New is an exhilarating combination of melodic songwriting and impassioned performance."
— Mayer Danzig, Twangville
“When listening to the album the voice of a human frustrated with the state of the world and our role in it is heard and it’s this purposefulness and intention that gives Matt’s music a sense of depth and soul.”
— James Campion, Sunshine Spotlight
“From words to melodies to production touches, “The End Is New” feels novel for the Suitcase Junket. That wild energy, that punk-folk-gothic-busker-at-the-end-of-the-world vibe remains. But Lorenz has found fresh ways to channel his aesthetic.”
— Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald
“The Suitcase Junket is a true original and an artist who moves his sound forward with each release. And with “The End Is New,” he emerges with a work of compelling lyrics and excellent musicianship that is deserving of widespread attention. He may call it ‘doom folk’ but we simply call it good music."
— Sheryl Hunter, Glide Magazine
Past
“A living, breathing, throat-singing, road-tested, avant-garde, one-man-band who is in a state of perpetual motion… gutsy, fuzzed-out, groove-laden psych rock.”
– NPR (Adam Harris)
"Now this is the shit I'm talking about, Jack. The Suitcase Junket is a lo-fi, low-tuned, low-down blast of end-times folk blues. It's crude; it's magnificent. With a stage set-up that resembles a junkyard foley stage or Fred Sanford's living room, The Suitcase Junket — one man band leader Matt Lorenz — incants and intones like a cross between Hound Dog Taylor and a Tuvan throat singer who has swallowed a bird. Take the singer-songwriter idiom, give it a low grade fever and a guitar and this is what you get. Captivating, mesmerizing, and gone ... real gone."
– Rochester City Newspaper
"An amalgamation of Byrds-era folk, ’60s Woodstock rock, and a street performer’s approach ..."
— Northern Express
"Honest, original, and energetic in its blending of garage rock and Americana... The atmosphere of this album maintains a thread of focus, but delivers twelve tracks that each demonstrate his unique capacity to mix a sense of a folk foundation with lo-fi guitar sounds and a found-object feel."
— Magdalene Taylor, Brooklyn Vegan
"The Suitcase Junket is a master of musical imagination"
— NPR World Cafe
“Jaw-dropping... It’s the biggest sound I’ve ever heard come from a solo performer. Matt is definitely his own thing and it is something. The live experience is pretty, darn unforgettable.”
— Beale Street Caravan
"After seeing and hearing the unique musical output of Matt Lorenz, “The Suitcase Junket”, we were enthralled. We asked him to explain a bit about his background and how the act of making has influenced him and he delivered this wonderful piece, which we decided to publish in its entirety ... "
— Make
"Matt Lorenz is a force... his new record, Mean Dog, Trampoline, is his best yet, and that is a very high bar"
— Red Line Roots
"Pursuing your musical career as a one-man band takes a high level of charisma and stamina if you want to keep your audience entertained. Luckily, Matt Lorenz possesses both of those things...”
— Glide Magazine
"This guy's a maniac — a one-man band, dumpster-guitar-playing maniac. Strumming a salvaged guitar, banging on a box of cutlery, and releasing a dynamite voice, The Suitcase Junket is the real deal — and one of the most electric souls we've ever seen on stage."
– Mass MoCA's FreshGrass
"Bright and optimistic, but philosophically honest... Blues-rock crunch and ramshackle, yet pop-educated anti-folk provide a solid anchor for the enthusiasm that drives the dozen tunes of Mean Dog, Trampoline."
— No Depression
“This is an exhilarating ride, and while Lorenz is comfortable playing within limitations, his talent knows no boundaries.”
— Glide Magazine
“The Suitcase Junket’s 'Everything I Like' video captures all the idiosyncrasies, uncooperative weather, craziness, and exhausting drives that you have to put up with as a traveler. But despite its dark humor, there is still an appeal to move to new places and soak on the energy of new people.”
— Aupium
"The overall sound lands somewhere between the Avett Brothers and early, dirty Black Keys. There’s a Tom Waits-vibe in the fuzzy-megaphone reverb mic, and something ancient, near tribal, in his whistles and moans."
–The Boston Globe
"Bluesy guitar riffs, tenacious melodies and a singing voice both weathered and nimble. You don’t need to witness his physics-defying performance to be captivated; the music stands on its own... astonishing."
– WBUR Boston
"A cloud of folk, blues and psych rock... Lorenz’s latest offering, Mean Dog, Trampoline, encourages the spirit of curiosity in light of the world’s cynicism and he’s been spreading that message all across the United States"
— KUTX
"Simply amazing… Mean Dog, Trampoline is by far one of the best albums to come out of 2019"
— Indie Voice Blog
"Lorenz isn’t your traditional Americana musician, not by a long shot... Would fit in nicely on a playlist alongside artists such as Shovels & Rope and the Drive-By Truckers."
— The Boot