Matt Costa's Top 20 Songs

Matt Costa’s skill with a guitar is immediately apparent, especially in a live setting. He has supported a variety of artists including Built To Spill, Lou Barlow, Pinback and James Mercer from the Shins. A 2005 summer tour with label mate Jack Johnson opened Costa’s eyes to the rigors of touring. Taking the stage as the opening act for one of the most anticipated tours of the year can allow you to shine, or lay bare your weaknesses, but Costa held his own on the road. Whether it be solo, armed only with an acoustic guitar, or backed by a collection of musicians, his performance draws you in and you are left with no choice but to listen to the stories he has to tell.

Costa’s flexibility and willingness to embrace almost any situation, musical or otherwise, keeps his new album Songs We Sing fresh and free from categorization. It’s an unexpected effort from a young man in the unlikely suburban surroundings of Huntington Beach: a city whose reputation is built on surfers and skaters, not brown-eyed bards with compelling voices.

Matt Costa shares with Glide his 20 favorite tunes along-side a little running commentary.

"Caravan" - Van Morrison – The first Van Morrison song I ever heard.

"The Way Young Lovers Do" - Van Morrison – The Irish Dylan.

"Isis" - Bob Dylan – Love the story this tune tells.

"In Dreams" - Roy Orbison – Roy influenced everybody.

"A Whiter Shade Of Pale" - Procol Harum – Classic Psychedelic Pop.

"Sunny Goodge Street" – Donovan – The reason I want to write songs.

"I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight" - Richard &Linda Thompson

"I'm Only Sleeping" - The Beatles – Amazing melodies, amazing bass, just like most Beatles songs.

"Skating" - Vince Guaraldi – Ted Matson plays keys in my band and he hates this music.

"In My Time Of Dying" - Led Zeppelin – Does this really need to be explained?

“Long May You Run” - Neil Young – A great Neil country tune.

“Waterloo Sunset” – The Kinks - So good that even Chrissie Hynde covered it.

“Wave Of Mutilation” – The Pixies – Kim Deal loves drugs.

“Well Alright” – Buddy Holly – Blind Faith covered it.

“Elusive Butterfly Of Love” – Bob Lind – My favorite underrated songwriter.

“Vaseline Machine Gun” – Leo Kottke – Leo Ripke

“Fearless” – Pink Floyd – Everything is great about this song.

“A Quick One While He’s Away” – The Who – The invention of the rock opera.

“Expecting To Fly” – Buffalo Springfield – He was trying to create Phil Spector’s wall of sound and ended up creating something better.

“Get Thy Bearings” – Donovan – Cool saxophone solo.