Matt Leonard picked up music when he bought his first drum set at 16 in 1996 with his earnings from McDonald’s and a little help from a friend who later became a musical mentor. Influenced by the music of jam bands like Phish and the Grateful Dead, Matt first started taking his hobby seriously in 2005 during his biweekly dive bar gigs in Lake Tahoe with the band Queso, setting the tone for what would become a lifelong pursuit.

After moving back home to Roanoke, Matt joined Lazy Man Dub Band, where his nickname Matty Dub was born. He has been part of several projects, including Relacksachian, Groova Scape, Welcome to Hoonah, MC Broom and the Jam, GOTE, Leonard Blush and the Camelcals, and a bunch of Grateful Dead cover bands along the way, gaining experience on stage and in the studio while continuing to chase the feel that first got them hooked. Each band added something new to the mix, shaping the musician Matt is today.