Matt Maltese, the Canadian-born Brit has a way with words. You’d almost be forgiven in thinking by just listening to his voice – a cross between a young Smiths-era Morrisey and that ever world weary Leonard Cohen – that Maltese might just be a beautiful voice with lush instrumentation. That is, though, until the stories he weaves come into focus.
The breakout hit “As the World Caves In” starts as a Cohen-styled love song that quickly turns out to be about two figures (revealed to be former UK prime minister Theresa May and US president Donald Trump) hunkered down while an atomic apocalypse unfolds.
In his new album, Hers, Matt Maltese focuses his songwriting on love but in a way that’s not trite or overdone. Self-produced, Hers mixes musicianship with clever songcraft. Take “Anytime, Anyplace, Anytime” with the cheeky opening lines “I picture you naked at the worst time / Eating with my family, playing Life” that’s both humorous and relatable.
I hadn’t seen Matt Maltese perform before, but on Sunday, September 21st Maltese brought his band to The Fillmore Silver Spring and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
Opening the evening was British-born artist Cornelia Murr who mesmerized the crowd before the lights dimmed and Maltese walked out to center stage to kick things off with one of the best songs on the new album, “Always Some MF.” To strummed acoustic guitar chords, Maltese started things slowly before lamenting “There’s always some motherfucker / Seeking the affection of my girl.” Seriously the best use of an expletive in a pop song I can think of.
Taking over the piano, Matt Maltese played from a bit of all six of his full-length albums, the bulk of which were from the new record from the 60’s inspired pop of “Buses Replace Trains” to the jazz soaked “Arthouse Cinema.”
“This next one kind of started it all with the next record,” Maltese started. “And maybe you can relate if you’ve ever been eating at a Chili’s with your family and you pictured someone naked,” he joked before the band began playing “Anytime, Anyplace, Anyhow.”
In a wry, tongue-in-cheek moment, Maltese introduced “As the World Caves In,” by saying “So this next song is allegedly about my cat.”
Mid-set, Matt Maltese brought back Cornelia Murr to the stage as the two sang on two new tunes, the aforementioned “Arthouse Cinema” and “Pined for You My Whole Life.” But the real surprise is when he told the crowd that, throughout the tour, they’ve been picking one audience member whose birthday happened to land on the night of the show and play “Happy Birthday,” from the new record to that lucky fan.
Catch the Official Video for “Happy Birthday” by Matt Maltese Below:
As the young woman who was the first to call out was helped up to the stage, she was seated while Maltese sang and afterward presented her with what looked to be a cupcake and glowing candle.
Matt Maltese is one of those increasingly rare artists / musicians who not only invest themselves in the craft of songwriting but seem to really relish performing that art. And the screaming fans at the front of the barricade who hung on his every word can certainly attest.
The setlist included:
Always Some MF
Buses Replace Trains
Curl Up and Die
Irony Would Have It
Nightclub Love
Everybody’s Just As Crazy As Me
Krystal
Wish You’d Ask Me
Jupiter
Anytime, Anyplace, Anyhow
Madhouse
When You Wash Your Hair
As The World Caves In
Arthouse Cinema (with Cornelia Murr)
Pined For You My Whole Life (with Cornelia Murr)
Happy Birthday (serenading a fan from the audience)
Like a Fish
Lobster
Intolewd
Encore:
Cure For Emptiness
Everyone Adores You (at least I do)
Check out more photos of Matt Maltese at the Fillmore Silver Spring on September 21, 2025. All photos are copyright David LaMason:
[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”908″ display=”pro_mosaic”]And check out photos of Cornelia Murr opening the evening at the Fillmore Silver Spring:
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Nice work. Stage lighting is difficult to deal with and these are really nice and sharp.