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Music News

‘The Bear’ Actor Matty Matheson Announces New Hardcore Band, Pig Pen

"We just wanted to hangout and see what's up," Matheson explained. "This is our band. We are Pig Pen."

Matty Matheson

Matty Matheson

Aaron Wynia

Matty Matheson, the Canadian chef and actor known for his role on FX Series The Bear, has turned his attention to the world of music, announcing new hardcore band Pig Pen.

The new outfit was detailed by Matheson via social media on Tuesday (March 18), explaining that the project’s origins can be traced back a few years. “A few old friends got together a couple years ago and wrote and recorded 10 songs over 2 days,” Matheson wrote. “We just wanted to hangout and see what’s up. This is our band. We are Pig Pen.”


Despite not having a particularly well-known musical history, Matheson is joined by Alexisonfire guitarist and backing vocalist Wade MacNeil, while Daniel Romano joins on guitar, Ian Ski Romano on drums, and Tommy Major on bass. “Just when you thought I couldn’t possibly join ANOTHER band,” wrote MacNeil on Instagram. “WE GO AND START PIG PEN.”

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Pig Pen have also announced their debut show, which is scheduled to take place at Sneaky Dee’s in Toronto on April 25. Joined by Best Wishes and Pluto’s Kiss, tickets to the event are already sold out, though a waitlist has been launched.

Currently, no details in regard to whether Pig Pen will be releasing music have been announced, though a teaser clip of the band’s sound indicates that they have spent time in the recording studio at some point.

Matheson rose to fame as a chef in Toronto in the early 2000s, going on to be named the executive chef of Parts & Labour until its closure in 2019. Alongside his culinary career, Matheson launched an entertainment career thanks to hosting roles on television series such as Dead Set on Life and It’s Suppertime!.

In 2022, he rose to wider fame when he joined the cast of The Bear, portraying the character of handyman Neil Fak. As part of his role on the show, he and the rest of the cast were nominated for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series at the 2023 and 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards, winning the latter.

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This article was first published by Billboard U.S.

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Cowboys Fringants
Cowboys Fringants
Cowboys Fringants
Chart Beat

Les Cowboys Fringants Debut ‘Merci ben!’ on the Billboard Canada AC Airplay Chart

The track from the Quebec band enters at No. 30 over a year after its release, picking up steam on the radio airwaves. Ariane Moffatt's “Jouer” also reaches a new peak, marking the second consecutive week with two charting French songs.

French-language music makes its mark on the Canadian charts this week.

Les Cowboys Fringants have made their latest Billboard debut with their song “Merci ben!” which arrives at No. 30 on the Canada AC chart for May 10. The country-folk track finds the band thanking its fans while reminiscing on its beginnings and milestones, from playing small bars to sold-out arenas. The track’s title is Quebec jargon for “Thank you very much!”

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