Hearing Things & Matt Bauder - Here's Hearing Things (2019)

Take one listen to Hearing Things and you’ll be led straight through the grooves of a well-worn 45, back to a time of instrumental pop hits like “Walk Don’t Run” by The Ventures, “Tequila” by The Champs, and “Sleep Walk” by Santo & Johnny. Weaving elements of surf rock, lounge pop, soul, and jazz, these songs speak without words, borrowing a language that feels familiar yet unexpected—something we last heard through a speaker in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s.

Bandleader/Saxophonist/Composer Matt Bauder is accompanied on all 10 tracks by JP Schlegelmilch (organ) and Vinnie Sperrazza (drums). Their seamless collaboration reveals a curiosity rivaled only by its sense of humor. On every track, this trio of true entertainers locks together like greased gears, churning out tight landscapes of sultry and raw sax, fuzzy baritone guitar, a slithering organ, and classic drum beats. They spin through a modern analysis of a sound so familiar, Hearing Things makes you wonder if the future is indeed the past.

Hearing Things presents heavy, sophisticated tonalities across a blend of genres, while somehow evoking a playful wit. “You just end up in a world where it all melds together,” Bauder says. “You get close to these classic sounds while finding your own interpretation.” Surely there’s a science behind making such elaborate compositions feel so traditional and primitive, and these boys make it sound easy.

From their dapper stage presence in matching white blazers, the trio cuts a formal figure while they stretch out during a live performance. “We want people to know that we put a lot of thought into this,” Bauder admits. “We want to present that as we connect with our audience.” When schedules allow, the band is often joined onstage by visionary guitarist Ava Mendoza. Lauded for her expressive range and singular style, her intuition and mastery helps her fold in as a natural fourth “Thing” alongside the trio.