Shows
Showing PromiseF You I'm Edge with Ben Fowers (Embrace Today)For this episode, I am joined by my friend Ben Fowers, guitarist for the straight edge hardcore band Embrace Today. We discuss Ben's life in Boston, how he got into punk and hardcore music, and what it was like growing up in a city with serious hardcore history. We dive into his early days of picking up the guitar, starting his own bands, and eventually joining Embrace Today.Ben shares his experiences of performing and recording with the band, touring the country, and playing iconic shows and festivals. Whether you're a hardcore fan or just curious about...2025-02-192h 18Showing PromiseDiego And Matt's High School Reunion with Diego CastañedaLunch break is over and we are back in session, so don't be tardy! That's right, people, I haven't dropped out yet. Thanks for hanging in there with me! In this episode, I am joined by my friend and fellow SLO High alumni, Diego Castañeda. Diego and I were classmates at San Luis Obispo High School, and this year (2024) marks our 20 year graduation anniversary. Talk about hardcore! We may have gone our separate ways after school but, the almighty algorithm brought us back together for our own epic reunion, and here it is! It was great sitting down w...2024-05-244h 28Showing PromiseMarried To The Noise (My Top 10 Gateway Bands To Heavy Music)Earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to catch Poison The Well on their anniversary tour celebrating 20 years of You Come Before You, and the show was epic! Poison The Well was one of the first hardcore bands I started listening to, and just hearing their name always takes me back to a time in my life of discovering this music. However, they were not the first, and they were not the only band in my cd player during this era. In this episode I'm sharing some of my most nostalgic heavy bands, that took me from the punk...2024-02-291h 27Showing PromiseFast Times At Corvette Diner with Tennisen DeakmanHappy New Year!! That's right, people, it's 2024 and we are coming in hot. For my first episode of the new year, I am catching up with the incomparable Tennisen Deakman. Tennisen and I spent the better part of a day hanging out, prattling on about pretty much everything there is. We may have actually said too much but, we had fun. And isn't that what is important. Thanks to Tennisen for joining me on this and thank you for kicking off a new year with us!Follow Tennisen on Instagram at @beenthatgirl_tennisenThank you f...2024-01-294h 05Showing PromiseIt Was The 70's, We Didn't Know with William "Bill" EckBefore we close out 2023, I just want to say thank you so very much for listening to the podcast this year. It has been such a fun and fulfilling project, and I'm looking forward to continuing in 2024. And finally, another big thank you to my guests for spending time and talking with me. Which actually makes a great segue...In this episode I am joined by my friend Bill, given name William. Bill and I go way back at this point. In fact, there was a time when we both lived and worked together. Talk about mixing...2023-12-262h 39Showing PromiseWhen We Were Young Festival 2023 & New Beatles Song!Mom, this was never a phase! I'm back from fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada after attending the second annual When We Were Young Festival. WWWYF is the ultimate emo celebration, bringing together sensitive millennials from all over the world to sing our favorite songs and relive our teen-angst glory days. But how did the second year compare to the first? I'm here to tell you all about it, in what might be my most grand soliloquy yet. After that, I share my thoughts on the new Beatles song "Now And Then." Yes, those Beatles. THE BEATLES. In true Fab Four...2023-11-271h 16Showing PromiseA Haunting In North Park with Crystal SaenzSeptember has come to and end, but October is about to start! And I've got just the person to help get us in the "spirit" of things. I'm thrilled to welcome back my friend Crystal Saenz, and once again morbid curiosity has gotten the best of us. It doesn't take long for us to descend in to darkness, as we discuss the more macabre side of life. Plus, Crystal shares more supernatural encounters she has experienced over the last year. Please join us, if you dare!Listen to our previous episode together here on Apple or Spotify.2023-09-303h 03Showing PromiseHalloween Horror Nights & The Master Of SuspenseFall is here! Which means it's time for hoodies and hauntings. And what better way to kick off the spooky season than having monsters scream at you all night! Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights has become one of my favorite annual traditions, and the 2023 event did not disappoint. Through the mazes, scare zones, and Terror Tram, Universal puts on a frightening, yet fun experience. I also share my thoughts on a few films from director Alfred Hitchcock, who was a regular on the Universal Studios backlot. Hey, it's like a theme!Thank you for...2023-09-251h 39Showing PromiseWhat's My Age Again with Stuart Stock-TuckerIt's my birthday! So you know what that means, another year older and another year wiser... or something like that! And for this special occasion I've got a special birthday guest, my bff, Stu. Stuart helped me start this madness almost two years ago as my very first guest, and now fate and friendship has brought us here together once again. Stuart and I revisit some of our most cherished adolescent memories, from backyard trampoline hijinks to running amok on the streets of SLO. We also look back at our local music scene, remembering bands, shows, and old venues...2023-08-281h 34Showing PromiseReally Likeable People with Brendan KleinWork sucks, I know! On this episode I'm hanging out with my friend and former boss, Brendan Klein. Brendan and I met in 2011 when I was hired at Really Likeable People (RLP), a distribution company founded by Tom DeLonge. This company housed various brands such as Macbeth Footwear, LoserKids.Com, The Keep A Breast Foundation, Modlife, Atticus Clothing and more. RLP was a unique work environment, and we made some lasting memories during our time there. In the years since, not only did we keep in touch, but we also have remained very connected with our music scene, and...2023-08-112h 45Showing PromiseA Whole New World with Anna Miller (Part 2)Part 2 of my epic conversation with Anna! This time around we're exploring a variety of majorly important issues, discussing boy bands, classic adolescent games, tv shows, and some incredible pick-up lines.Follow Anna on Instagram @killedyoupolitelyThank you for listening!Find me on Instagram at @mattxcementinaIntro/Outro music by Stuart Stock-Tucker2023-07-312h 02Showing PromiseA Whole New World with Anna Miller (Part 1)Oh my god, we're back again. Brothers, sisters, everybody sing. That's right, people, it's episode 16! In this episode I am joined by my friend Anna Miller to talk about...well, everything. Anna and I revisit some of our fondest memories, reminiscing about shows, bands, venues, and navigating adolescence within the hardcore music scene. Anna also shares her experience and perspective as a female in this male-dominated community.Due to the epic run time of this conversation, I've decided to upload it as two parts. So be sure to check out Part 2!Follow Anna on Instagram...2023-07-142h 17Showing PromiseThe Fab Two (Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr Live!)You say goodbye, and I say hello! In this episode of Showing Promise, I'm going all in on Beatlemania! I have been a devout fan of The Beatles for most of my life, and always dreamt about seeing them live in concert. But yeah, obviously that was not happening across this universe. So if I couldn't see them together, I would have to see them individually. I mean, they're still Beatles after all.I was fortunate enough to see Paul McCartney live on his Freshen Up Tour in 2019, and recently caught Ringo Starr And His All Starr...2023-06-122h 06Showing PromiseStar Wars Celebration London & Blink-182 Returns!It has been a wild week, but we are back in action! I have recently returned from a trip across the pond for this years Star Wars Celebration. Star Wars Celebration is the ultimate Star Wars convention, and changes location every year it's held. For 2023, SWC went international to jolly old London, England. Over the course of 4 days, ExCel London was completely taken over by Star Wars fandom. Like most pop-culture conventions, SWC features merchandise vendors, props and costume displays, autograph signings and photo ops, live panels, cosplay, games, tattooing, and so much more. It may just be my...2023-04-1757 minShowing PromiseNo Pain No Gain with Jake Emery (Port Side Tattoo)It's Episode 13 of Showing Promise, and we're talking tats! For lucky number 13, I'm hanging with my friend Jake Emery to discuss the world of tattooing. Jake is a tattoo artist at the award-winning Port Side Tattoo in San Diego. In this podcast, Jake shares his personal journey to becoming a professional tattoo artist, and provides insight in to the process and culture of the tattoo industry. Plus, you know we had to talk about heavy music as well. Enjoy! Follow Jake on Instagram at @jake.emery.tattooFollow Port Side Tattoo at @portsidetattoosdThank yo...2023-03-292h 09Showing PromiseTo The Stars And Back with Angela CutroneGreetings, Earthlings! We are keeping the space vibes rolling with another out-of-this-world episode! This time around I am joined by my friend and coworker, AC, to share some of our experiences over the years while running the To The Stars retail store in Encinitas, California. This shop was far from ordinary, and attracted a lot of curious and excited customers from all over the planet. Needless to say, it was a wild mix of people and we never really knew what to expect or who we would encounter. Throw in a rockstar boss on top of it all and...2023-03-152h 34Showing PromiseIn Defense Of The Ewoks with Chris Lawrence and Steve MattisonShowing Promise Episode XI - Defense Of The Ewoks. That's right padawan's, we're hitting lightspeed and going full Star Wars. In this episode, I am joined by my friends Chris and Steve for a lively discussion about our favorite galaxy far, far away.Thank you for listening!Find me on Instagram at @mattxcementinaIntro/Outro music by Stuart Stock-Tucker2023-02-241h 13Showing PromiseYou Should Have Taken Out The Trash with Corie FergusonWell everyone, we've done it. Idk how, but we've done it. It's episode 10! And to mark this very special occasion, I've got my very special first returning guest. I'm joined once again by the one, the only, the incorrigible Corie Ferguson! Not only was Corie one of my first podcast guests, but she was also the first person I met in this strange new city of San Diego, and over the last decade our friendship has blossomed in to a beautiful garden. However, the circumstances surrounding our meeting are somewhat controversial. Come along as we revisit the series of...2023-02-152h 21Showing PromiseAllow Myself To Introduce...Myself (Meeting Famous People!)In this episode, I'm sharing some of the interesting and particularly cool celebrity encounters I had while running the To The Stars retail shop in Encinitas, California. To The Stars is the entertainment brand of punk rocker and San Diego native, Tom DeLonge (Blink-182, Angels & Airwaves, Box Car Racer), and his retail store attracted a wide variety of customers and fans. Located in a hip Southern California beach town, this area is a popular destination. I met a lot of people during my time there, including musicians, actors, athletes, artists, and more. These are some of my favorite and...2023-01-251h 27Showing PromiseA Time Without Heroes with Daniel BevisHappy New Year! And happy birthday?! For most of us, these annual celebrations are two separate occasions. But for my first guest of 2023, they are one and the same. My buddy Dan was the first dude I met after moving to San Diego, and we've been friends ever since. I have some bones to pick about his taste in movies, but otherwise it's business as usual as we discuss being born on a holiday, Dan's history in music, reminisce on cool shows, our trips to Disneyland and Walt Disney World, and more!Thank you for listening!...2023-01-092h 59Showing PromiseWhen We Were Young Fest & Ranking Paramore AlbumsIt's been just over a month since my weekend in Las Vegas at the first ever When We Were Young Festival, and I'm still not sure I've fully recovered. In this episode, I'm sharing my full experience at the festival, as well as my thoughts on the event overall. And to close this one out, I thought it would be fun to talk about one of the festival's headliners, Paramore. They have been a bright spot in the scene for nearly two decades, and are still one of the best to hit the stage.Thank you for...2022-11-282h 03Showing PromiseMichael Myers Vs Dracula with John DoeIt may be November, but we're still creepin' it real. Even though Halloween has returned to the grave for this year, we just can't help talking horror. My super secret guest, known only as "John Doe" is joining me to talk about some classic horror movies and characters, as well as a few amazing movie ideas of our own. But the fun doesn't end there. We also reminisce on some of our favorite hardcore and metal shows, how we first met, and our history with music. This one is definitely a typical taco shop conversation. Enjoy!Thank...2022-11-142h 35Showing PromiseTales From The Crypt with Crystal SaenzLet's gets spooky! Just in time for Halloween, I am joined by my friend, Crystal, for a journey in to some ominous and interesting places. We've got ghost stories, scary movies, haunted locations, and more! This one is great to enjoy while carving pumpkins and mixing potions. So light your candles and get out your Ouija boards, because we are heading to regions beyond.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services988 Suicide And Crisis LifelineThank you for listening!Find me on Instagram at @mattxcementinaIntro/Outro music by Stuart Stock-Tucker2022-10-313h 22Showing PromiseRanking Blink-182 Albums (Blink is back!)For this episode of Showing Promise, I'm coming at you Han style...Solo! If you are thinking there is no way I could speak out loud to myself in an empty room for two hours, you are gravely mistaken. Because here it is.To coincide with the recent announcements regarding blink-182 (that hopefully came out today), I thought it would be cool to share some of my thoughts, opinions, and stories about their music, as well as some personal experiences I've had being involved in their world. From back in my youth discovering the band, to working...2022-10-111h 59Showing PromiseFire And Tinder And Birds, Oh My! with Corie FergusonHoly crap, it happened again. It's another one! For episode 3 of Showing Promise, I am joined by my dearly beloved friend, Corie Ferguson. Hang out with us as Corie and I go off the cuff, sharing our thoughts on some hard-hitting topics, like lost birds, tinder escapades, pyramid schemes, and more!Thank you, Corie!Instagram: @coriefergiefergSound Engineer: John SalleeThank you for listening!Find me on Instagram at @mattxcementinaIntro/Outro music by Stuart Stock-Tucker2022-09-271h 08Showing PromiseWho You Gonna Call with Lano PecinaWoah! It's episode 2! For geeks around the globe, just hearing the words "episode two" can trigger a lot of unpleasant memories, but I'm hoping to deliver a much more enjoyable experience. For the second episode of Showing Promise, my guest Lano Pecina and I discuss a few flicks that we watched over a weekend, all of which had a "throwback" feel to them. First starting with the fourth (or third depending on how you feel about it) installment of the Ghostbusters franchise, Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Next, another movie that is fourth in its series, and was highly anticipated b...2022-09-052h 54Showing PromiseThe Coming Out Episode with Stuart Stock-TuckerIn the debut episode of the Showing Promise podcast, I'm hanging with my best bromo, Stuart Stock-Tucker. Stuart and I have a storied history, abundant with great moments and memories, but none perhaps more monumental than the night of his coming out. It has now been just over a decade since then, and we are taking a look back on life in and out of the closet. In this episode, Stuart shares his personal experience as a member of the LGBTQA+ community, dealing with fear and pressure, coming out to friends and family, the influence of our beloved music...2022-08-011h 34