Matt Pond’s never been too sure about the name he gave his band back in the late ’90s. But nevertheless, he’s released 14 studio albums with the outfit called Matt Pond PA, a tribute to his home state.
The Philadelphia native now lives in New York’s Hudson Valley, but he continues to thrive as a singer-songwriter — regardless of what he calls the group. He abandoned the well-known moniker just a few years ago, leading to a 2023 project known as The Natural Lines, taking the title from an EP he put out a decade earlier.
But Matt Pond PA was back in short time, and just the group’s released its latest album, The Ballad of the Natural Lines, which sees Pond working with some of his closest collaborators, like guitarist Chris Hansen, as well as his wife and fellow singer-songwriter, Anya Marina.
Listen to the new album from Matt Pond PA, The Ballad of the Natural Lines, via Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/1s2lsRUi534gfwPbzYUlqb?si=84663bda64dc46cc
Pond has been on tour in promotion of the ultra-shiny new album, and on Feb. 2, he and his bandmates visited The Hamilton Live in Washington DC to share some of their most treasured songs as well as cuts from the latest release.
Pond was joined by guitarist John Courage, bassist Ryan Walker, drummer Bob Young, and celloist Hilary James, who performs as Bathtub Cig and opened the night. As expected, Marina took the stage just before Pond and his crew, but she was invited back up to join him for some of the songs they’ve recorded together, including the new title track.
Matt Pond PA Setlist
KC
So Much Trouble
Halloween
Giving It All Away
New Hampshire
From Debris
Risky Business
Starting
Several Arrows
Snow Day
The Ballad of the Natural Lines
Are You Talking
Specks
Love To Get Used
Fairlee
In Winter
Measure 3
Below are home-rolled, developed and scanned 35mm black-and-white film photos, along with digital color shots, of Matt Pond PA as well as both opening artists, Anya Marina and Bathtub Cig, performing at The Hamilton Live ion Feb. 2, 2025. All images copyright and courtesy of Casey Ryan Vock.
Matt Pond PA
Anya Marina
Bathtub Cig
[…] Oh and one last thing! My buddy Ben, IMP concert photographer came out for this show also. He shot digital b&w with his Leica Monochrom and you can find his shots as well as many other captivating photos on Instagram. This show was also covered by Casey Vock for Parklife DC. […]