Matt Costa hails from Orange County, and his songs play like the perfect soundtrack to a late-night fire on the beach.
Costa and guitar player Danny Garcia stopped by the Isthmus office on Feb. 12 for a six-song live acoustic session that pulled primarily from Costa's 2013 self-titled record, a '70s AM radio-influenced album released on Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records.
His fourth song, "Sunshine," was a crowd request. Isthmus associate publisher Craig Bartlett later told some in attendance that he had been singing the tune to his toddlers earlier in the day, and the children had asked him to stop.
Costa, who opened for "slop-hop" blues rock band G. Love & Special Sauce at the Majestic Theatre later that night, closed with a short instrumental, "Beekeeper Becomes Eucalyptus Trees," from his upcoming Eucalyptus EP, due for release on Feb. 23.
Produced by Isthmus, the above video was directed and edited by Justin Sprecher, with additional camerawork by James Kraus and audio by Chris Winterhack. The complete six-song, 23-minute audio set is available for listening below.
Isthmus Live Sessions is presented by MINI of Madison and Ian's Pizza.
