Michael Matthews

Michael Matthews is an Austin-area guitarist and bandleader rooted in the sound of ’80s and ’90s country. A working player with a strong feel for classic honky-tonk, dancehall country and the polished radio sound of the era, Matthews brings sharp lead guitar, familiar songs and a relaxed Texas stage presence to his live shows.

He performs with the Michael Matthews Band and is also a member of The Tex Hombres, an Austin group devoted to ’90s country covers. Their sets draw from the period when country radio was filled with big choruses, clean guitar lines and artists who knew how to keep a dance floor moving. Matthews approaches that material as a musician who clearly knows the style from the inside, giving the songs plenty of twang without turning the show into an imitation act.

For audiences who still have a soft spot for throwback country, Michael Matthews delivers an easygoing night of recognizable favorites, tight playing and straight-ahead honky-tonk energy. It is country music built for cold beer, two-stepping and singing along when the chorus comes around.