matthew carlson & jeffery gower
southeastern sojourn
Matthew Carlson (Stick Arounds/Harborcoat) and Jeffery Gower (Stick Arounds/Deer & Elk) are headed out for a twelve date acoustic tour this Fall. With an itinerary that runs all the way from their home in Michigan down to Miami and back, Matty and Jeff have anchored the tour around a string of shows in Florida. This spate of dates also features a host of other shows throughout the southeast, the midwest, and the eastern seaboard.
In the three years since The Stick Arounds slowed their previously frenetic pace, Matty and Jeff have kept themselves incredibly busy. For his part, Jeff and fellow Stick Around, Jason Lantrip have been playing dozens of gigs across Michigan as the duo Deer & Elk. Their single and video, ‘Big Penny’ was something of a local happening upon its release.
Meanwhile, Matty spent ten weeks on the road in 2024, and spent much of 2025 prepping work for an ambitious live album project with The Wild Honey Collective as well as an EP of new original songs. Matty’s touring plans for the latter half of 2026 include more than forty live performances across America.
On this run of dates that we’re dubbing Southern Sojourn, , Matty and Jeff will each play a brief solo set of their original songs before spending the bulk of the show playing and singing together on stage. The set will feature the duo’s shared work in The Stick Arounds as well touching on their work in Deer & Elk, Harborcoat, The Gentleman Callers, and The Pantones, as well as a selection of carefully curated cover songs.
Nov. 11 - Awendaw, SC - Awendaw Green
Nov. 12 - Jacksonville, FL - TBA
Nov. 13 - Parkland, FL - House Concert
Nov. 14 - Miami, FL - Needs Host
Nov. 15 - Pompano Beach - Needs Host
Nov. 17 - Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater - Needs Host
Nov. 18 - Athens/Atlanta, GA - Needs Host
Nov. 19 - Nashville, TN - The Five Spot
Nov. 20 - Louisville, KY - Needs Host
Nov. 21 - Detroit, MI - Needs Host
Nov. 22 - Lansing, MI - The Avenue Cafe
If you’re interested in hosting a show with Matty and Jeff, please reach out via email at phonophore@gmail.com. Please reach out to sign up as a host today.
testimonials
“… brims with retro tangs and luminous jangly guitars resulting in music simultaneously dazzlingly good and infectiously alluring.” - The Young Folks
“… a top notch listen. …a balance between Country, even Americana and Guitar Pop, but that just makes the album welcomingly less predictable.” - I Don’t Hear A Single
“ … a rousing dose of English pop-rock that recalls the Smiths, 1980s new wave, and the 1990s Brit-pop invasion.” - Glide Magazine
“… spirited, Indie rock melodies with poignant lyrics.” - Imperfect Fifth
“Springsteen-esque working-class anthems, heartbreaking ballads centered around mental health, and REM-inspired dance numbers paint the colors and nuances of humanity across Harborcoat’s wonderfully crafted canvas.” - Local Spins Grand Rapids
“That heart-on-your-sleeve, probably-should-have-quit-before-that-last-whiskey, keep-it-loose-&-loud sound that is best delivered in a flannel shirt and an upper-Midwestern accent.” - Pencil Storm
“Hearty midwestern rock with big guitar hooks and desperate lyrics. It’s a simple story and one best told in a sweaty, loud bar with beer soaked floors.”- Glorious Noise
