Interview by Stuart Blythe
Currently on his “An Evening With The Beautiful Girls” ten-year anniversary tour, Mat. McHugh took time out with Life Music Media.
LMM: You’re currently on your “An Evening With The Beautiful Girls” ten-year anniversary tour.
How’s the tour been so far?
Mat. McHugh: It’s been ok. 3 shows in. I’ve been trying to get my head back in the game. I haven’t played TBG songs for a little while so it’s all about getting the groove back at the moment.
LMM: It’s the ten-year anniversary tour but also a farewell to The Beautiful Girls moniker and stepping out as Mat. McHugh. Frightening or natural artistic progression?
Mat. McHugh: Not frightening, no. What frightens me is getting ‘freeze-framed’ in a moment in time. Forever ‘the guy from The Beautiful Girls’. I have a lot more to offer than that so I would definitely consider it ‘natural artistic progression’.
LMM: I’ve read that you were greeted by two humpback whales while surfing a reef south of Sydney. That must have been a magical moment?
Mat. McHugh: About as magical as it ever gets. It was just my friend and I sitting on the edge of a reef about 15 minutes paddle from shore. They came, literally, 10 feet away from us and hung out for a while. It was just beyond description. I’ve been in the Ocean my whole life and that’s the first time that has happened.
LMM: Do you have any other top 10 ocean/surf experiences?
Mat. McHugh: Sure, but talking about them kind of trivialises them.
LMM: If the greeting whale is one of your top 10 ocean experiences, what would be an equivalent experience in your musical career?
Mat. McHugh: Haha, there is not a single thing I’ve done in music that has come close to that. Music is folly. Just something to do. Nature is humbling and awe inspiring. My top ten life moments all have to do with nature and none of them have to do with music. Music is fun though.
LMM: You’ve said that you’re life has been “amazingly fortunate” but to be so successful you must have a strong work ethic?
Mat. McHugh: I work as hard, if not harder, than anyone I know. I come from humble beginnings and know of no other way. My dad passed away when I was a kid and my mum raised my sister and I by herself. Oftentimes she had to work three jobs. In comparison to that, working hard on music is easy.
LMM: Who inspires you these days?
Mat. McHugh: My son, primarily. He’s one and half now and is the single most amazing thing I’ve experienced in my life. By a long way.
LMM: “Love Come Save Me” is a beautiful album and available as a free download to everyone. What does the album mean to you?
Mat. McHugh: It means everything. But also, it means nothing. I poured all of my heart and soul and blood and tears into the album. I wanted to put some love and positivity into the world in the best, clearest way I could. But, at the same time, it’s just music. I’m not curing cancer.
LMM: If you were starting out as a young musician today, what advise would you give your younger self?
Mat. McHugh: Haha, keep doing music but do something else for a job. There’s too many sharks in the pool.
LMM: What would be your perfect day?
Mat. McHugh: Wake up, love and be loved, sleep.
LMM: Three words to describe the last few years?
Mat. McHugh: One strange trip.
LMM: Three word to describe the year ahead?
Mat. McHugh: Who can tell ?
* Click here for “An Evening With The Beautiful Girls” ten-year anniversary tour dates and details
* http://www.matmchughmusic.com/
2012 Tour Dates:
‘An Evening With The Beautiful Girls’
Friday 3rd August – Magnums Hotel QLD
366 Shute Harbour Road, AIRLIE BEACH
Tickets $30 +bf from venue 07 4946 6188, www.ticketmaster.com.au &
www.oztix.com.au
Doors open 8pm
Saturday 4th August – Dalrymple Hotel QLD
310 Bayswater Road, Garbutt, TOWNSVILLE
Tickets $30 +bf from venue 07 4779 6344, www.ticketmaster.com.au &
www.oztix.com.au
Doors open 8.30pm
Sunday 5th August – Brothers Leagues
QLD
www.brotherscairns.com.au
99 – 105 Anderson Street, Manunda, CAIRNS
Tickets $30 +bf from venue 07 4053 1053 & www.brotherscairns.com.au
Doors open 8pm
Friday 10th August – Coolum Civic Centre QLD – SOLD OUT
Park Street, Coolum Beach, COOLUM
Tickets $30 +bf from www.oztix.com.au
Doors open 7.30pm
Saturday 11th August – The Tivoli QLD
www.thetivoli.net.au
52 Costin Street, FORTITUDE VALLEY
Tickets $40 +bf from www.ticketek.com.au
Doors open 7.30pm
Wednesday 15th August – Prince of Wales WA
41 Stephen Street, BUNBURY
Tickets $30 +bf from venue (08) 9721 2016
Thursday 16th August – Settlers Tavern WA
www.settlerstavern.com
114 Brussell Highway, MARGARET RIVER
Tickets $30 +bf from the venue, www.heatseeker.com.au & www.oztix.com.au
Doors open 9pm
Friday 17th August – Fly By Night
www.flybynight.org
1 Holsworth Street, FREMANTLE
WA
Tickets $40 +bf from the Fly by Night box office (08) 9430 5976 &
www.flybynight.org
Doors open 7.30pm
Saturday 18th August – Fly By Night WA – SOLD OUT
www.flybynight.org
1 Holsworth Street, FREMANTLE
Tickets $40 +bf from the Fly by Night box office (08) 9430 5976 &
www.flybynight.org
Doors open 7.30pm
Sunday 19th August – Fly By Night WA
www.flybynight.org
1 Holsworth Street, FREMANTLE
Tickets $40 +bf from the Fly by Night box office (08) 9430 5976 &
www.flybynight.org
Doors open 7.30pm
Wednesday 22nd August – The Governor Hindmarsh
SA
www.thegov.com.au
59 Port Road, Hindmarsh, ADELAIDE Tickets $40 +bf from www.moshtix.com.au,
www.oztix.com.au & www.venuetix.com.au
Doors open 7.30pm, * LICENSED ALL AGES *
Thursday 23rd August – The Governor Hindmarsh SA
www.thegov.com.au
59 Port Road, Hindmarsh, ADELAIDE
Tickets $40 +bf from www.moshtix.com.au ,www.oztix.com.au &
www.venuetix.com.au
Doors open 7.30pm
Friday 24th August- The Corner Hotel
VIC
www.cornerhotel.com
57 Swan Street, Richmond, MELBOURNE
Tickets $40 +bf from The Corner box office (03) 9427 9198 &
www.cornerhotel.com
Doors open 8.30pm
Saturday 25th August – The Corner Hotel VIC – SOLD OUT
www.cornerhotel.com
57 Swan Street, Richmond, MELBOURNE
Doors open 8.30pm
Sunday 26th August – The Corner Hotel VIC
www.cornerhotel.com 57 Swan Street, Richmond, MELBOURNE
Tickets $40 +bf from The Corner box office (03) 9427 9198 &
www.cornerhotel.com
Doors open 8.30pm
Wednesday 29th August – The Station NSW
www.thestation.net.au
The Snowy River Way, JINDABYNE
Tickets $25 +bf from the venue 1300 369 909 & www.moshtix.com
Doors open 9pm
Thursday 30th August – The Hellenic Club ACT
www.hellenicclub.com.au
Matilda Street, Woden, CANBERRA
Tickets $35 +bf from www.oztix.com.au
Doors open 7.30pm
Friday 31st August – The Metro Theatre NSW
www.metrotheatre.com.au
624 George Street, SYDNEY
Tickets $40 +bf from www.metrotheatre.com.au & www.ticketek.com.au
Doors open 8.00pm
Saturday 1st September – Entrance Leagues Club
NSW
www.telclub.com.au
3 Bay Village Road, BATEAU BAY
Tickets $30 +bf from the venue 4334 3233 & www.oztix.com.au
Doors open 8pm
Thursday 6th September – Hotel New York TAS
www.hotelnewyork.net.au
122 York Street, LAUNCESTON
Tickets $30 +bf from www.oztix.com.au and Mojo Music (03) 6334 5677 Doors
open 8pm
Friday 7th September –Spurs TAS
18 King Street, DEVONPORT
Tickets $30 +bf from www.oztix.com Collectors Corner Burnie, Red Hot CD’s
Devonport
Doors open 8pm
Saturday 8th September -Wrest Point TAS
www.wrestpoint.com.au
410 Sandy Bay Road, Sandy Bay, HOBART
Tickets $35 +bf from the venue 1300 795 257 & www.tixtas.com.au Doors open
7.30pm
Thursday 13th September -Bar on the Hill NSW
University Drive, The University of Newcastle, CALLAGHAN
Tickets $25 + bf for students, $35 + bf for general public from the venue,
www.bigtix.com.au and www.oztix.com
Doors open 7.30pm
Friday 14th September – Port Panthers NSW
www.portmacquarie.panthers.com.au
1 Bay Street, PORT MACQUARIE
Tickets $30 +bf from the venue 6580 2300 & www.oztix.com.au
Doors open 8pm
Saturday 15th September – Hoey Moey
www.hoeymoey.com.au
88 Grafton Street, COFFS HARBOUR
Tickets $30 +bf from www.oztix.com.au
Doors open 8pm
Thursday 27th September – The Great Northern Hotel
www.thenorthern.com.au 35 – 43 Jonson Street, BYRON BAY
Tickets $40 + bf from the venue 02 6685 6454 & www.thenorthern.oztix.com.au
Doors open 8pm
Friday 28th September – Coolangatta Hotel QLD
www.thecoolyhotel.com.au Cnr Warner Street & Marine Parade, COOLANGATTA
Tickets $40 +bf from www.oztix.com.au
Doors open 8pm
Saturday 29th September – The Great Northern Hotel NSW
www.thenorthern.com.au 35 – 43 Jonson Street, BYRON BAY
Tickets $40 + bf from the venue 02 6685 6454 & www.thenorthern.oztix.com.au
Doors open 8pm
Friday 5th October – The Metro NSW
www.metrotheatre.com.au 624 George St, SYDNEY
Tickets $40 +bf from venue & www.ticketek.com.au
Doors open 8pm *LICENCED ALL AGE SHOW*
Saturday 6th October – Anita’s NSW
264-270 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Thirroul, WOLLONGONG
Tickets $35 + bf from www.oztix.com
Doors open 8pm *LICENCED ALL AGE SHOW*
Friday 12th October – Mona Vale Hotel NSW
www.monavalehotel.com.au 2 Park Street, MONA VALE
Tickets via www.moshtix.com
Doors open 8pm
Saturday 13th October – Mona Vale Hotel
NSW
www.monavalehotel.com.au 2 Park Street, MONA VALE
Tickets via www.moshtix.com
Doors open 8pm