ShowHub Review: Matthew Presidente Band w/SIESKI at Tyrant Studios
One flight up from the neon haze of Vancouver’s Penthouse Club sits Tyrant Studios, a candlelit cabaret that’s been home to such artists as Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, and Billie Holiday. As more and more local venues buckle under the weight of high rent and redevelopment, Tyrant Studios remains a bastion of cool, one of the city’s last true speakeasies (I stole that from my friend Mitch). Last Thursday night Matthew Presidente took the stage, delivering his first full-band show of the year. And what a way to start the season!
Local singer-songwriter SIESKI opened the show, accompanied by the unlikely (yet captivating) combination of cello (Emilio Suarez) and bass guitar (Zach Wong). SIESKI’s music is tricky to categorize: part La Roux electronica, part Feist inflected balladry, her genre-bending catalogue quickly won the approval of the gathering crowd. Suarez and Wong (both seasoned musicians themselves) crafted a gorgeous symphonic soundscape throughout the set: with eyes closed, you could swear that they had conjured additional instrumentalists out of the thin air. Combined with SIESKI’s delicate, classically tinged piano style, the trio delivered 45 minutes of alt-pop perfection.
And then it was Matty’s turn. True to form, he immediately opened throttle with a sparkling rendition of ‘Standing In The Way Of Love,’ a Springsteen-y anthem off his latest album Chosen Sun. Scarcely sparing a moment for applause, he crashed into a re-imagined arrangement of ‘Insecure/Immature,’ a funk-infused deep cut from his rookie album The World Is Watching You. The Tyrant stage is tight and unpretentious, and without the rock n’ roll theatrics of smoke machines and hi-gain amp stacks, the quality of Matty’s songwriting shone through brightly. Performing fresh, semi-acoustic arrangements fitted neatly to the Gaslight-esque venue, Matty’s performance could easily have been mistaken for that of a young, Troubadour-era Elton John.
The Matthew Presidente Band, comprised of Brad Pedwell (guitar), Michael Chamzuk (drums), and Ian Malinski (bass) sounded as tight as ever. Matty’s longtime collaborator Brad Pedwell deserves special mention, dutifully playing the role of hype-man as well as guitarist, engaging Matty in banter throughout the show and playfully hamming for the audience.
In addition to his vast musical talent, it’s Matty’s natural charisma that continues to win him legions of new fans. A consummate showman, his work of warming up the room starts long before he takes the stage: you’ll find him shaking hands with friends, chatting with fans, and generally ensuring that everyone’s having a wonderful time. By the time he make his way to the piano, everyone’s gotten a little piece of his magic, and the room feels like a house party.
2025 was a record year for Presidente: he shared the stage with Canadian icon Bif Naked, played to packed festival crowds across BC, and released his Creative BC supported LP Chosen Sun. As his star continues to rise, it won’t be long until ‘Matthew Presidente’ becomes a household name recognized across Canada and beyond. For anyone lucky enough to catch him at Tyrant Studios that cold March evening, it’s easy to see why.