Mat Dwyer from Oakwood

Mat Dwyer from Oakwood

From 100 Words Or Less: The Podcast by Ray Harkins

June 17, 2026 · 1h 11m · Episode 714

About this episode

Ray Harkins interviews Matthew Dwyer from Oakwood about his life, the band's history, and the underground music scene.

This week Ray is joined by Matthew Dwyer, the voice behind the beloved Texas band Oakwood. For many people, Oakwood occupies a unique place in underground music history of literally playing only 15-20 shows, but having a "comeback" moment that has now turned into something way more real. Matthew takes us through his life in Texas and the environments that shaped both him and Oakwood. The conversation explores the band's connection to the Odessa era, the band came together, and a lot more. We also dig into Matthew's relationship with the broader punk and hardcore world, including formative influences from bands like Paulson and Hot Cross, and how discovering emotionally honest music helped shape his creative voice. Along the way, Matthew reflects on the realities of building a life in Texas, balancing adulthood with creativity, the evolution of DIY culture, and how Oakwood fits into it all. It's a conversation about longevity, community, finding your place in underground music, and what happens when songs continue to connect with people long after they've been written. Weekly Recommendation Playlist brought to you by Evil Greed Apple Music Spotify  Subscribe to the podcast on…

People in this episode

Host: Ray Harkins

Guest: Matthew Dwyer

Topics covered

Keywords

Sponsors

Evil Greed, Rockabilia

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Oakwood, Apple Music, Spotify

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