Song of the Day: Matthew E. White - Rock & Roll Is Cold

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Midday Show with Cheryl Waters, is “Rock & Roll Is Cold” by Matthew E. White from the 2015 album Fresh Blood on Domino.

Matthew E. White - Rock & Roll Is Cold (MP3)

Steeped in a classic, gospel-inspired rock and soul tradition and backed by one of the sharpest musical collectives of the past few years, Matthew E. White's emotive, soul-baring music swings for the fences and connects every time. Born in Virginia Beach, VA, White was a player in both Fight The Big Bull and The Great White Jenkins before forming what would eventually become an inseparable extension of his own musical endeavors, the musical collective and label Spacebomb. Supported by a full horn and string section, a set of core players (bassist Cameron Ralston, drummer Pinson Chanselle, and guitarist Trey Pollard), White was able to fully realize his vision on Big Inner, his out-of-nowhere debut that catapulted the songwriter from Virginia to Glastonbury in less than 12 months. After finishing the touring cycle behind Big Inner, White found himself at home in Virginia once again, readjusting to home life and, beginning on one sleepless night, piecing together his second album, next month's Fresh Blood. The album's first single, "Rock & Roll Is Cold" reflects on that success with a balanced mix of brassy swagger and sly self-awareness. Talking circles around musical semantics ("everybody knows that gospel licks are a gift"), White kicks back and lets the Spacebomb house band do the heavy lifting as he unflappably leads them through a midtempo jam. White sounds brilliant on "Rock & Roll Is Cold" in the way that only a sharp-dressed band leader can, but as impeccably cool as he comes off, the most striking aspect of the song is just how much fun he sounds like he's having: White's throwing his own homecoming party here, and everyone's invited, as long as they know whose house it's at.

Matthew E. White is bringing Fresh Blood to Seattle on March 28th at the Sunset Tavern. Get tickets and more info on that 21+ show here, keep up with Matthew at his Facebook and Tumblr, and watch the lyric video for "Rock & Roll Is Cold" below.