Utah-based Matt Lewis Band isn’t just Punk, Hip Hop, Folk Rock, or Reggae, but ask one of their throngs of fans and you could get any one of these for an answer

Attending one of their energetic crowd-pleasing performances led Maroon 5’s lead guitarist James Valentine to proclaim, “You guys completely owned that crowd!

Bassist Chad Bates, drummer Cameron Runyan, and guitarist Jamie Timm came together around Matt Lewis’ ability to freestyle rhymes so quickly that Eminem himself would have trouble keeping pace. Their commanding stage presence always steals the center of attention in the noisiest of artist-unfriendly bars. MLB’s ability to make a crowd forget about their drinks and move their feet is paramount in describing their live performance–a sea of faces either with jaws dropped to the floor or bodies moving in all directions.

MLB has a crossover style that is due to their wide range of influences. Their appeal spans from dyed-hair teenagers with one to many piercings, to college students, as well as those approaching mid-life crisis and beyond. Their catchy tunes and creative lyrics have helped to establish a cult-like following which keeps people coming back for more and bringing new friends each time

MLB could easily fit on bills with Slightly Stupid, Ben Harper, Taking Back Sunday, Jack Johnson, Cypress Hill, and Willie Nelson. Comparisons run amuck from Sublime to Jason Mraz, but MLB can hold their own with any of these artists. Leading MTV video director, Mike Scheartle, announced Matt Lewis Band as “one of the most promising new acts [he had] seen in a long time.

Whether it’s opening for Maroon 5 or headlining the annual Girdwood Forest Fair in Alaska, MLB continues to gain momentum in the Pacific Northwest and is looking to bring their explosive live crowd pleasing performance to the rest of the United States and the world.