On Tuesday, September 16 Matt Maltese performed at Marathon Music Works in Nashville, Tennessee, presenting a set that highlighted both his new work and his established catalog. Maltese opened with Always Some MF from his latest album Hers, moving through several tracks from the record before weaving in older songs like Krystal and As the World Caves In. The mix of new and familiar gave the night a sense of momentum while still rewarding longtime listeners. The show’s strength was in its simplicity. Maltese sat at the piano with little distraction around him, letting his voice carry the weight of each song. The room stayed focused throughout, the kind of quiet attention that comes when the performance itself is enough.
His delivery was measured and effective, drawing people in without theatrics. Maltese has been active since 2015, first gaining attention with Even If It’s a Lie. His following grew after As the World Caves In spread online, introducing his blend of dry humor and romantic melancholy to a larger audience. Across six studio albums he has developed a style that feels consistent yet flexible, and Hers shows him refining that voice rather than reinventing it. By the end of the night, Marathon Music Works felt less like a tour stop and more like a space shaped by Maltese’s presence. As one audience member, Taylor, put it: “It has been so long since he has been here it feels like. There is just no other concert that makes you feel this way.” The set was straightforward, but it left an impression built on atmosphere and sound rather than spectacle.
- Vee Kellner Pence
Photos Courtesy of Vee Kellner Pence (For Bell Music Magazine)
