New Album//OUT NOW!
PLACE//CIRCUMSTANCE
In recent years guitarist, Beren Matthews has joined alt-rock leading lights The Pineapple Thief for US and European tours and performed headlining shows in the UK and Japan with pop royalty Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin. Hand-picked by drummer Gavin Harrison and cited by keyboardist Stewart as "the most dynamic and versatile guitarist I've worked with," Matthews also pursues a parallel solo career in which his distinctive and original songwriting style comes to the fore.
Recorded with his band Grip-Like Vice over a three-year period, Place//Circumstance charts a turbulent period in the life of a young Cornish musician dealing with financial hardship, homelessness and relationship turmoil at a time of unpredictable change. Melodic, carefully-crafted and bearing traces of XTC, the album blends a furious rock attitude with moments of melancholic self-reflection.
An unfiltered and deeply affecting autobiographical exposé direct from the Cornish underground.
LISTEN NOW
In recent years guitarist, Beren Matthews has joined alt-rock leading lights The Pineapple Thief for US and European tours and performed headlining shows in the UK and Japan with pop royalty Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin. Hand-picked by drummer Gavin Harrison and cited by keyboardist Stewart as "the most dynamic and versatile guitarist I've worked with," Matthews also pursues a parallel solo career in which his distinctive and original songwriting style comes to the fore.
Recorded with his band Grip-Like Vice over a three-year period, Place//Circumstance charts a turbulent period in the life of a young Cornish musician dealing with financial hardship, homelessness and relationship turmoil at a time of unpredictable change. Melodic, carefully-crafted and bearing traces of XTC, the album blends a furious rock attitude with moments of melancholic self-reflection.
An unfiltered and deeply affecting autobiographical exposé direct from the Cornish underground.
LISTEN NOW
FEATURING THE CURRENT SINGLES:
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About
Photo by Brian Krahe
Beren Matthews is a UK guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and producer. Having grown up musically on a diet of nu-metal and punk, he earned his professional spurs playing in covers bands, finally forming a power trio playing all original material in 2011. That band evolved into Grip-Like Vice (www.griplikevice.com) a dynamic four-piece who play high energy, original art pop.
Beren’s musical influences include XTC, They Might Be Giants, The Beatles, Prince, Everything Everything, Elliot Smith and Elvis Costello. Currently touring guitarist with The Pineapple Thief (www.pineapplethief.com/tour.) His guitar skills can also be heard on the album Star Clocks by UK 'intelligent pop' wizards Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin (www.davebarb.com), with whom he played concerts in Tokyo and London (the latter with Gavin Harrison on drums) in autumn 2018. Beren rejoined Dave & Barbara for Tokyo gigs in 2019 and 2023 is set to appear at the duo's Kings Place London concert in August 2023.
In addition to writing, performing and feverishly studying the frets at the upper end of his guitar neck, Beren operates The Cave Rehearsal & Recording Studio in SE Cornwall, a creative hub which offers a friendly welcome and affordable recording facilities to musicians.
Beren’s musical influences include XTC, They Might Be Giants, The Beatles, Prince, Everything Everything, Elliot Smith and Elvis Costello. Currently touring guitarist with The Pineapple Thief (www.pineapplethief.com/tour.) His guitar skills can also be heard on the album Star Clocks by UK 'intelligent pop' wizards Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin (www.davebarb.com), with whom he played concerts in Tokyo and London (the latter with Gavin Harrison on drums) in autumn 2018. Beren rejoined Dave & Barbara for Tokyo gigs in 2019 and 2023 is set to appear at the duo's Kings Place London concert in August 2023.
In addition to writing, performing and feverishly studying the frets at the upper end of his guitar neck, Beren operates The Cave Rehearsal & Recording Studio in SE Cornwall, a creative hub which offers a friendly welcome and affordable recording facilities to musicians.
Beren is available for online guitar sessions - click here for videos.
Current//Releases
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Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin's stellar album Star Clocks features Barbara on vocals, Dave on keyboards, Beren Matthews on guitar and master drummer Gavin Harrison.
Grip-Like Vice's new album Place//Circumstance is available for pre-order now. |
