Matt Mays played Toronto Urban Roots Fest July 6. Photo: Tom Beedham

Walking onto the (west facing) east stage at TURF in the middle of the afternoon and dressed in a denim shirt layered over with a heavy looking leather vest – festival appropriateness aside – some of the audience might have wondered if Matt Mays knew what he was getting into under the hot plus-25 weather.

Any speculation was left reserved for his fashion choice and otherwise cast aside, however, when Mays and his band played to Fort York.

Serving up what could be described in simple terms as a physical performance, Matt Mays and his band rocked the crowd with plenty of spunk and gritty, unreserved duel guitar and wisdom-imparting vocals, contrasted by sentimental keyboard hooks. Mays might have paid for it with his sweat, but the crowd was all smiles by the end.

Originally published by The Ontarion.