Matt Hall is bringing his all-star band, Postcard, to The Regent to launch a first album. 

“I’m trying to hit two birds with one stone,” says Mr. Hall. “It’s a celebration for my own sake in putting out this record — and celebrating this amazing, artistic community full of talented people. Finally, we are hosting this concert in support of an awesome venue, one that has been a real support for so many talented people.”

Mr. Hall describes the album as a spectrum of sound. Influenced by every genre of music, he points in particular to The Beatles’ White Album and the driving synth sounds of Kate Bush in the 1980s as melodic inspiration. Think eclectic modern rock.

Renowned multi-instrumentalist Ben Vandergast (Keys), Travis Whiteman (Guitar), Jason Hamilton (Bass), Bryson Dockrill (Drums) and Gavin Massey (Keys) connected with Mr. hall to form Postcard.

Originally, Mr. Hall’s music wasn’t composed to reach the ears of listeners. It was an audio journal of thoughts, feelings and tales of trauma while the world was enduring its greatest public health crisis in a century.

To keep his brain busy, the singer-songwriter used a piano to sound things out. Tickling the keys while experimenting with chord progressions was a new process for him.

A Pandemic Creation

“During COVID, I went out and bought a piano and it forced me to get creative with an instrument I didn’t have much experience with,” he said. “The piano forced me to all these different alleyways. There was a lot of discovery happening.”

The album reflects on Mr. Hall’s childhood and the transition from youth to middle age. It was penned at a dramatic time, when nothing was promised beyond the latest numbers from the health unit.

All that sound and fury only lived in Mr. Hall’s head — until he hooked up with some local musicians who were breaking up their Weezer cover band. They were looking for something original to sink their teeth into.

“I showed them one or two little riffs and licks from the album. That created a spark within the band. Their reaction also gave me the tiniest bit of confidence something was there,” he said.

A Vice President with the SafeStart safety training company in Belleville by day, Postcard is a musical parachute for Mr. Hall. He’s excited at the idea of a County concert.

He is confident that plenty of locals will turn up to support The Regent and have a listen to his new band.

“It seems super clichéd, but I’ve really felt and witnessed the way the arts community in Prince Edward County bands together to support one another.

“From performance to physical art to sculpture and beyond, there’s a critical mass of creativity here and I’m really excited to have Postcard be a tiny part of that.” 

Postcard plays the Regent November 1st.