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Holler Nashville Sessions Presented by George Dickel, Recorded at Horton Events in Nashville, TN:
Matt Koziol
SET LIST
'Last of the Old Dogs'
'The Fire'
'Old Fashioned'
Not only is Matt Koziol one of our favourite rising artists in country music right now, but he's a darn good yarn spinner to boot.
Not in the literal sense with the big hulking machine, and not anywhere near to the point of far-fetched theatrics. Koziol is a storyteller, through both word and song, and we wouldn't have him any other way.
The reason why his stories and songs are so evocative is because they come from both the heart and soul - tales of everything he's observed, experienced and stumbled through in equal measure.
Treating us to some of the choice cuts from his 2024 album, Koziol shows just why he's now becoming such a sought-after songwriter and rising artist in the country game.
When played live, his songs ripple with the distortion and reverb of a rock show, but in this acoustic setting, his lyricism comes to the fore - exhibiting Koziol to be a sage and encompassing writer.
None are more evident of this than his first song, the title track of his latest record, 'Last of the Old Dogs'. Both a tribute to his faithful pooch and a poignant reflection on life and making memories in the present, Koziol's song is a true tear-jerker, one that will have you thanking him for letting the emotion out in ways we didn't really know how.
"This one's about staying in a relationship for way too long after it's burnt out," Koziol surmises about 'The Fire', his bruising eye-opener from the latest album. Subtly accompanied by a mournful yet wondering acoustic guitar, Koziol's voice aches with finality - wishing things were different but understanding why the hurricane has settled.
"This is a fun one about being yourself as you get older," Koziol begins as he introduces his final song, 'Old Fashioned'. "Sometimes people want to move closer to the city, I found myself wanting to move very far away and near nobody. I'm getting that done slowly but surely".
It's one moment of many that Koziol's sincerity and vulnerability shines through, something that enriches his songs with frankness and empathy that many songwriters struggle to find. He might be old fashioned and one of the last of the old dogs, but that makes him damn sure special to us.
Holler Nashville Sessions Presented by George Dickel
Directors: Joshua Britt and Neilson Hubbard
Audio Engineer and Sound Editor: Neilson Hubbard
Editors: Josh Britt and Neilson Hubbard (Neighborhoods Apart Productions)
Producer: Ross Jones
Recorded at Horton Events in Nashville, TN.
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