Matt and The Herdsmen

Hold on to your seats, because we met with Matt and the Herdsmen and let me tell you: few times have I been at such ease around strangers. These guys are funny and open as a book, but they are also serious about their music and the future of their band.

I sat with Matt, Daniel, Beto and Ruben at a local coffee shop in McAllen to discuss the band, their hopes for the future and a few more personal things like the love for their families and the pride they feel about being South Texans.

Matt and the Herdsmen are a talented country music singing bunch with great energy and big dreams in the verge of becoming a reality.

They have an album out for sale called Small Town Stories, a couple of songs on the radio (All Gone and Dance All Night), and this past summer they were on the road on a radio tour that took them all the way to Oklahoma.

If you haven’t heard of them, you should look them up, because you’re missing out. In this first part of the interview, I will introduce you to these great guys who together form Matt and the Herdsmen: Matt Castillo, lead vocals; Daniel Salinas, bass; Beto Cavazos, guitar and vocals; and Ruben Cantu, drums.

LSTX: When did you first get an interest in music?

Matt: I first got into music when I was a sophomore in high school, I was interested in playing guitar, but I was in sports, so I never took it very seriously. It was more of a stress relief. I kind of taught myself to play guitar.

Ruben: Growing up, I always had a love for music. The first time I saw a drum set, I thought it was the coolest thing in the world, and my dad used to be a drummer. He used to have one of his old sets at home. I just saw it and started playing on it and thought ‘I really like this’.

Beto: I have been playing guitar for eleven years. I picked it up after my grandpa passed away. It is a very common thing in my family to just pick a guitar and start playing. I come from a very musical family.

Daniel: I picked up the bass when I was in sixth grade, and I have been playing it ever since.

LSTX: So you all started pretty early in music, how did that translate into forming a band?

MC: A lady, Alli Davila, introduced me to Ruben, as we starter playing more together, everything started clicking.

RC: I fell in love with Texas Country during college at Kingsville, Matt and I loved it and wanted to start a band, so we tried it. Then, I called Beto. We used to play together in a contemporary Christian band.

BC: I have been in a bunch of different bands. I was playing everything but country. When Ruben called me to play, I told him I didn’t know anything about country, but I’d show up. I have a background in Rock and Blues, and Texas country has a little bit of that.

DS: I got picked up by these guys to play country through college.

LSTX: What other types of bands have you been part of?

RC: I was in some rock bands. Like I said, Beto and I were in a Contemporary Christian Band.

BC: I was in a Jazz Band, and a Mariachi. Then, I did some Reggae Funk Psychedelic, Blues and Jazz. Then, I got into the Metal scene. I also was in a wedding band and the PanAm Salsa band. I did a lot of things.

DS: I played in a Jazz band in high school and the string orchestra. Also, during high school, my brother and I started a garage band. It was a Norteño Band. We did some weddings and quinceañeras.

LSTX: We know you have opened form some great artists, which one has been your favorite?

MC: By far, I would say The Randy Rogers Band. It was a dream come true. It was a big goal. I was just ready to quit music after that. They were a big inspiration, so when I got word that we were going to open for them; I could barely keep it in. I try to keep things in and surprise these guys, but I had a really difficult time keeping it in.

DS: So far,Randy Rogers Band, but you never know, we might open one day for Intocable.

BC: I don’t want to sound like I am just agreeing with everyone, but the Randy Rogers Band, just because it was a great experience in the idea that, as a band, we were treated great. We had a great sound check and time to perfect our show. We not only got to play with one of our greatest influences, but also we got a great crowd.

MC: It was a 2500 people crowd. It takes the cake; and our families got to sit in the VIP.

RC: The same, Randy Rogers Band. For me it was all about the experience. We got to meet our influences. We really look up to these guys, and they took us under their wing to just hang out and they made us feel worth something. Then we just fed off the energy of the people.

LSTX: So clearly Randy Rogers has been the best so far, but what other artists have you opened for?

MC: Toby Keith, Jack Ingram, Dustin Lynch, Kyle Park and Pat Green. We have a couple of artists that will be added to this list in the next couple of months, but that we can’t announce yet.

LSTX: Do you still wish to open for other artists?

MC: Well, the goal now is to headline our own shows.

BC: I’d like to open for Turnpike Troubadours, because they were my first country music concert.

DS: What about Sturgill Simpson?

BC: Yes, Sturgill too.

MC: The way we approach it is ‘who can we complement?’ to get the crowd ready. It’s like the appetizer to the big meal. So, I’d have to agree with the guys: Sturgill Simpson, the Turnpike Troubadours, Don Moen.

LSTX: So the goal is to headline your own shows, what other goals do you have for Matt and The Herdsmen?

MC: I think it all adds up to the main goal of headlining our own shows. We are not with any record label; we don’t have financial backing. Everything we do, we do it on our own. As a leader of the band, I try to create goals, and even they bring in their own goals. The next goal is to push out another single on the radio. We have two [All Gone and Dance All Night]. They are doing very good on the radio carts. We want to release a third single on the radio, but I can’t say which one yet. After that, come summertime, we are planning on making a new record. I am pushing these guys, and myself most importantly, towards these goals. Another goal of mine is to write more songs with different writers. That brings another feel to the music.

BC: To be honest, my goal in general is to move people. I want to move them physically and emotionally.

MC: We want to give every audience a kickass show.

LSTX: So, how do you come up with a kickass show?

MC: Well, all the kudos go to Beto. He sits down and tries to figure out how it is going to flow. We like to have every show perfect. We are perfectionists. I am very technical, and I trust Beto. It is all about trusting one another. - Monica Carranco