“If an earnest singer/songwriter wrote a tune about the difficult decisions you had to make during your darkest moments, what would it sound like?”
On the "Hooks & Runs" podcast: Video of the Year award /
“This is not my video of the year, this is one of my all-time favorite videos ever. It is Cousin Wolf — the song is “Kevin Elster” — just fielding groundballs at shortstop and making the throws. I just thought that was the perfect video for a really good song and a really good record. Simple, restrained, on-point, perfect.”
-Craig Estlinbaum
“If you’re looking for good music and a good story, look no further. Cousin Wolf. Fantastic.”
-Eric EstlinbaumOn the "Hooks & Runs" podcast: Ep. 72 - "Seeing the World Through Baseball with Cousin Wolf (Matt Halvorson)" /
Matt Halvorson is the featured guest on episode 72 of the “Hooks & Runs” podcast
Read MoreOn the Sports Info Solutions Podcast: "Robo Umps, Baseball Music and Larry Walker’s Favorite Play" /
Matt chats with Mark Simon about baseball, music and the intersection of the two
Read MoreIn The Forum: "Fargo-raised singer turns singles into homers with concept album about Roger Maris and other MLB players" /
These days he writes Rise Up for Students, an advocacy blog about equity and education in Seattle and Washington, focusing on racial issues and social injustice.
He sees Major League Baseball as a reflection to America’s long reckoning with these issues. He started “Nine Innings” about a decade ago after learning about Moses Fleetwood Walker, one of the first Black men to play in the MLB. His only season was in 1884 and he would be the last Black man to play in the bigs until Jackie Robinson cracked the segregated game in 1947.
Halvorson will mark Jackie Robinson Day, April 15, with a song about the Hall of Famer. An ode to Walker comes out on May 1, the 137th anniversary of his first day in MLB.
Read MoreOn Valley News Live: Matt Halvorson talks baseball and plays a song /
Matt plays “Roger Maris” live on a TV morning show in his hometown of Fargo
Read MoreIn Northwest Music Scene: "100 Bands in 100 Days Presented by Verity Credit Union — Day 58: Matt Halvorson" /
A quick glance at his bio above and you can tell this is a man on a mission and prolific barely an accurate word to describe this songwriter. In addition to sharing a song a week this year, Halvorson has a solo album due out before year’s end called Sermons. The 11-song offering is packed full of songs played from the heart, told by a new-age storyteller with seemingly never-ending tales to tell. Whether sitting in front of a piano or with an acoustic guitar slung over his shoulder, Halvorson bares his soul on these tunes and lets the rest of us in on some of what what makes him tick.
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