Memories of exploding buildings, gunfire, and threats of violence followed Matthew Archer Stephenson long after his return from El Salvador to Virginia Beach. Growing up during the peak of the Salvadoran Civil War and its aftermath makes for an uniquely traumatic childhood, but it also provides context for the themes of fear, rage, love and longing found in the lyrics of one of the East Coast’s premier rock bands, The Influence. Will Clarke, the band’s lead guitar player, and John Zontini, the original rhythm guitar player, befriended Matt in high school (Matt returned from El Salv… read more
Memories of exploding buildings, gunfire, and threats of violence followed Matthew Archer Stephenson long after his return from El Salvador to Virginia Beach. Growing up during the peak of the Salvadoran Civil War and its aftermath makes for an uniquely traumatic childhood, but it also provid… read more
Memories of exploding buildings, gunfire, and threats of violence followed Matthew Archer Stephenson long after his return from El Salvador to Virginia Beach. Growing up during the peak of the Salvadoran Civil War and its aftermath makes for an uniquely traumatic childhood, but it also provides context for the themes of fear, rage, love and longing found in the l… read more