Matty Matheson’s hardcore and punk roots may surprise those who only know him as a celebrity chef or The Bear’s lovable Neil Fak, but they’re deeply felt. He grew up on NYHC bands like Side By Side and Cro-Mags, played shows in the Ontario post-hardcore circuit, and let the members of Turnstile crash at his place when they couldn’t afford hotels. He even harbors an extensive collection of vintage band tees, wearing a few of them (Harm’s Way, Power Trip) during episodes of The Bear.
“Buying vintage and being half a moose like I am, when I pull my shirts off my body, they rip in half,” Matheson told us in 2021 while doing press for Matty & Benny Eat Out America. “I had this insane Suicidal Tendencies shirt, and it was one of the most expensive shirts I ever bought, and I destroyed it.”
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It was only a matter of time before Matheson formed his own hardcore band, which he announced last month. That group, Pig Pen, comprises old friends from his hometown scene, including Alexisonfire’s Wade MacNeil, Attack In Black’s Daniel and Ian Romano, and Tommy Major (who plays in Daniel’s backing band the Outfit). Even though Pig Pen haven’t officially released any music, they cut 10 songs in two days a couple of years ago and debuted some of those during their first show at Sneaky Dee’s in Toronto on Friday (April 25), playing alongside local bands Best Wishes and Pluto’s Kiss. The show looked packed, a testament to their fury and prestige.
See fan-shot clips from their live debut below.