S.L.R. Magazine

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MATT CRUZ CRUSHED THE NIGHT WITH AN EPIC PERFORMANCE FOR HIS DEBUT APPEARANCE AT THE VIPER ROOM ON DECEMBER 6, 2025, BY DON MARCELO

THE LIVE PERFORMANCE REVIEW: Some dreams just never die. Most are put on hold even after several tries. And some dreams happen overnight. After the short stint with his old band HOLD YOUR FIRE, Matt Cruz, a local LA Rocker searched within himself for several months and decided to go on a SOLO PROJECT after…

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THE LIVE PERFORMANCE REVIEW:

Some dreams just never die. Most are put on hold even after several tries. And some dreams happen overnight. After the short stint with his old band HOLD YOUR FIRE, Matt Cruz, a local LA Rocker searched within himself for several months and decided to go on a SOLO PROJECT after the break up of HOLD YOUR FIRE (It’s not a complete break up but it’s on hiatus). By doing a solo run, he found himself once again with a lot more fire and power and soul and rocked his first solo gig at the renowned music venue The Viper Room.

Written by Don Marcelo

The night was packed with loyal fans from all over Southern CA. Family and friends were in full force of support. Not only did Matt Cruz play the guitar (his IG is matt.plays.the.guitar) on this night, but he also sang 6 original songs. The songs were written very well and all have a deep meaning behind each song. The arrangement was pure rock and pure passion. It was non-stop rock and roll fun. Heavy riffs on guitars and thunderous bass and hard pounding drums were all felt by everyone. Matt Cruz and company woke up all the Hollywood Vampires that roamed the streets of Sunset Blvd.

His performance and his band’s performance were pure adrenaline action, a non-stop mayhem and fun all throughout the set. For his loyal fans who knew the words to the song “The One”, Matt invited them to sing along. Audience participation is always a nice touch when it comes to LIVE music performance. Overall, his songs were all hard hitting and enjoyable to listen to. This is just pure good ‘ol rock and roll fun. Fans were so delighted for Matt on this night that some even chanted for an encore. He was / is loved by everyone on this night and they all congratulated him after a successful performance. Overall, great music and great fun was had by everyone. Check out Matt Cruz at his next Live show at Universal Bar and Grill on January 17, 2026.

THE CONVERSATION AFTER THE LIVE PERFORMANCE:

After a successful concert show and after all the energy have subsided, I had the chance to talk to Matt once again to tell me more about his songs and his band.

The 6 Originals that he played on this night all have a deep meaning for Matt and I asked him to tell me more about each song:

SOMEONE

“This song is about my experience going to therapy for the first time after a relationship ended in college. The song relates to my conversation with the therapist, telling them ‘I don’t know how it is to feel…., tell me what it is to love.’ It’s a driving rock song, with influences from the 90’s to early 2000’s rock scene.”

ALIVE

“This song is about someone I knew who went through a series of bad times in their life. The song speaks of my conversations with that person, and how inspiring their resolve was, despite the bad experiences they had.”

THRONE

“This song was released on 12/3/25, and I will be celebrating it at the Viper Room. The song is meant to address the personality of a person who is stubborn, won’t face their faults, and refuses to believe they are wrong. The verses speak from the point of that person, who convinces themselves that ‘guilt is just a lie’. As a response, the chorus speaks to that person, telling them, ‘come down from your throne’. The bridge and solo features a heavy breakdown, reflecting my personal frustration with this type of personality.”

AM I ALONE?

“This song is a conversation to myself about how I get in my own head. It is a conversation of self doubt and uncertainty, especially in the context of day to day life.”

FIND ME

“This is my newest song, with a tapping portion reminiscent of instrumentalist and heavy rock guitarists who I study. The song speaks of someone aiming to achieve their dreams, in an adventure setting. The song itself is an adventure, and a lot of fun to play. Live, this song has a long, dueling solo portion.”

THE ONE

“This song is the first song I released. It is a heavy guitar driven riff, with intertwining lead guitars and my first public reveal as a vocalist. It is categorized as a callback to 90’s-2000’s rock/grunge/alternative. The song is meant to speak to the listener- whatever doubt you have in something you want to do, you can do it. I often found self doubt going into this EP, and telling myself I could do it really motivated the lyrics and meaning behind this song. So as a listener, I am telling you- You are the one. You can do this.“

These songs were co-written with Tom Chandler, and recorded at Elite Recordings LA. Blair Brown is the drummer to all tracks, and Linn Holmes coached my vocals.

I also asked Matt to tell us more about his supporting casts from this evening:

  • TYLER RYAN ON DRUMS: “Tyler Ryan is a human metronome, powerhouse drummer, who had just come back from a tour with Dreaming of a Day. His sense of dynamics, groove, and timing are everything that makes a phenomenal drummer. He and I met a little while ago at a local jam, where we played a Creed song together. We instantly clicked, and he has been a huge staple to my live component.”
  • JACK GLAZER ON BASS:“Jack Glazer is the bassist for my live music. He is an amazing and accomplished musician, coming from his own work with Plastic Rhino, Nu Attraction, Pimp Bizkit, Decadent Decades, and other groups. He is a great friend of mine, and an inspiring musician with a professional attitude and skills to match.”
  • PEARL GOLD ON GUITAR: “Pearl Gold is a shredder of a guitarist. I first met Pearl at Hotel Ziggy, where I witnessed her 100% NAIL the solo to Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’, all while playing a white Kiesel guitar. When I began searching for a guitarist to accompany me, I immediately asked her, and I am lucky to have her on the team. She is a passionate musician, knowledgeable guitar instructor, and also a stage director.”

Happy to report that Matt Cruz is definitely on the rise and has gotten his name around the local LA Music scene. After all, we are only on this planet once and might as well go for it. As Casey Kasem would always say, “Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.” Another great musician is pursuing his passion and his dream. Watch out Hollywood, there’s a new Sheriff in town and his name is Matt Cruz.

Instagram: @matt.plays.the.guitar

For booking and other inquiries, email: mattcruz.contact@gmail.com

Photo Gallery of the performance by © Don Marcelo Photography 2025

A musician passionately playing an electric guitar on stage, with colorful lighting in the background.
A musician performing live on stage at The Viper Room, holding an electric guitar, with colorful stage lights illuminating the scene and smoke effects in the background.
A bass guitarist performing on stage at The Viper Room, with energetic lighting and an audience in the background.
A musician passionately playing a yellow bass guitar on stage, with a drummer visible in the background, performing at The Viper Room.
Two guitarists performing on stage during a live rock concert, with dramatic stage lighting and an energetic atmosphere.
A musician passionately performing on stage, playing an electric guitar and singing, with vibrant stage lighting in the background.
A performer passionately singing into a microphone while playing an electric guitar during a live music show, with dramatic lighting creating an energetic atmosphere.
A group of musicians and supporters posed together outside The Viper Room, showcasing a vibrant atmosphere after a live performance.
(C)DON MARCELO PHOTOGRAPHY
A group of four friends standing in front of The Viper Room entrance, showcasing the venue's iconic black awning and signage.
(C)DON MARCELO PHOTOGRAPHY
A group of four musicians posing together on stage after a performance, showcasing a vibrant and energetic atmosphere. The band members are smiling and sharing playful gestures, with various instruments including guitars and a bass visible in the image.
A rock band performs at The Viper Room, featuring a guitarist, a bassist, and a drummer. The stage is illuminated with lights, and the energy is high as the musicians engage with the audience.
A passionate audience member at a live music performance, pointing enthusiastically while expressing excitement. The image is in black and white, capturing the energy of the event.
A live performance featuring Matt Cruz singing and playing guitar at The Viper Room, surrounded by his band members who are engaged in the performance.
A live rock performance at The Viper Room featuring Matt Cruz and his bandmates on stage, energetically playing instruments and engaging with the audience.
A drummer passionately playing on stage at The Viper Room, with dynamic lighting and a vibrant atmosphere.
A local musician performing on stage with his back toward the audience, wearing a black embroidered jacket, with a guitar and microphone in front of him. The audience is visible in the foreground, engaged and enjoying the performance.
A musician passionately playing an electric guitar on stage during a live performance, with vibrant stage lighting creating a dynamic atmosphere.
Two guitarists performing on stage, engaging energetically during a live rock concert.
Two musicians perform on stage, with one playing an electric guitar and the other a guitar in a rock music setting, surrounded by stage lights and amplifiers.
A live performance featuring three musicians on stage. The foreground shows two guitarists, one on the left playing an electric guitar and the other in the center playing an electric guitar with a dramatic expression. The bassist is on the right, energetically singing while playing. The background shows a dimly lit stage with musical equipment. The atmosphere conveys energy and excitement typical of a rock concert.
Live performance featuring two guitarists passionately playing on stage under dramatic lighting.
Two musicians passionately performing on stage at The Viper Room, showcasing intense guitar playing and energy during a live rock concert.
Musician Matt Cruz performing with an electric guitar on stage at The Viper Room, showcasing an energetic live performance.
Two musicians passionately performing on stage at The Viper Room, one playing a guitar and the other in a dynamic pose with an electric guitar, under vibrant stage lights.
A live performance scene at The Viper Room featuring a rock band with a guitarist in the foreground, playing an electric guitar, and other band members on drums and bass. The stage is illuminated with colorful lights creating an energetic atmosphere.
A musician stands in front of the Viper Room, a famous music venue, showcasing a mural of a snake and dice on the wall.
The Viper Room illuminated at night with a marquee showcasing the name 'Matt Cruz' along with other performers, displaying a vibrant music scene on Sunset Blvd.
A musician standing in front of The Viper Room with a painted mural featuring a serpent and dice on the wall beside him.
A musician passionately performing on stage with a guitar, singing into a microphone under vibrant stage lights.
A musician passionately performing on stage, singing into a microphone while playing an electric guitar, illuminated by vibrant red stage lights.
A guitarist passionately performing on stage at The Viper Room, with vibrant stage lighting and a captivated audience.
A guitarist performing on stage with intense focus, holding a white electric guitar under colorful lights at a music venue.
A musician performing on stage, seen from behind, holding a guitar and singing into a microphone, with colorful stage lighting in the background.
A drummer performing on stage at a live music venue, wearing a tank top and focusing intently on playing the drums, with a microphone in the background and colorful stage lighting creating a vibrant atmosphere.
A live rock performance at The Viper Room, featuring Matt Cruz singing and playing guitar, with band members and an energetic audience.
A drummer performing passionately on stage at The Viper Room, illuminated by colorful lights, holding drumsticks and focused on his rhythm.
Musician performing live on stage with a guitarist, while the audience watches intently in a dimly lit venue.
A live performance at The Viper Room featuring a guitarist and singer on stage with other band members, showcasing vibrant stage lights and an engaged audience.
A drummer energetically performing on stage at The Viper Room, illuminated by glowing red neon lights in the background.
A rock musician performing energetically with a guitar on stage at The Viper Room, accompanied by his band, with a drummer visible in the background and a vibrant neon sign showcasing the venue's name.
A live performance at The Viper Room, featuring a musician passionately playing guitar with two band members in the background, one on drums and the other on bass.
Band performing on stage at The Viper Room with dynamic lighting, featuring a guitarist in the center, flanked by a female guitarist and a male bassist.
A male singer passionately performing on stage, holding a microphone close to his mouth with intense emotion, illuminated by bright stage lights.
A male singer passionately performing on stage, holding a microphone close to his face, with his eyes closed and light illuminating from behind.
A guitarist performing on stage at a music venue, focused and in action with long hair and a sleek black outfit, illuminated by stage lights.
Matt Cruz performing at The Viper Room, playing guitar passionately while his bandmates accompany him on stage, with vibrant lighting and a lively atmosphere.

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