Shore Local Talent
By Krystle J. Bailey
A friendship that began over a shared love of surfing and craft beer was the catalyst for South Jersey’s favorite cover band duo, Petty Cash.
Bryan McCloud and Matt Wira met over a decade ago working at Mainland Regional Highschool where they quickly became friends. Bonding over similar lifestyles, including a shared passion for playing guitar, the two began spending time outside of work.
Regularly performing at open mic nights in Cape May, the duo began combining performances to buy themselves more stage time. One open mic night led to the next and as fate would have it, Bryan and Matt quickly became one of South Jersey’s most sought-after cover bands.
In 2019, with over 30 songs in their repertoire, they decided it was time to hit the stage. One call changed everything for Matt and Bryan. On a summer evening in 2019, the staff at Yesterday’s in Marmora was looking to fill a slot in their entertainment schedule. Bryan and Matt had never played together for more than an hour but, trusting what the universe had in store for them, they said yes to a 4-hour performance.
That first gig, nerve-wracking as it was for both of them, was the launching pad for summers full of local performances.
Bryan described the first show as a blur, stating, “I kind of floated through that first performance. I don’t remember the night as much as the feeling after. It’s like you’re riding a natural high for a little bit.”
After the first gig, the pair made the decision to invest in themselves. They took the little bit of money they made from their performance and invested it back into better equipment. From that point, there was no looking back. They had invested time and money into what they describe as a remarkable summer job.
Family, friends, and coworkers all got on board to spread the word and help book gigs. Petty Cash began performing regularly at local restaurants and bars throughout the rest of Summer 2019 and right up until the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Like almost everything in 2020, they had to cancel their nine summer shows last year. As the world begins to come back to life post-Covid, Petty Cash is back on the road with 28 live performances booked this summer.
The duo performs 100% cover music, ranging from Prince to Pearl Jam, Johnny Cash to Billie Eilish, and beyond. With 50+ songs in their setlists, Bryan and Matt aim to please the masses with their performances.
Their name, Petty Cash, is a double entendre, playing on their love of Tom Petty and Johnny Cash as well as their humorous reference to their less than desirable salaries as teacher’s aides.
Matt and Bryan, both husbands and fathers, feel incredibly fortunate to be able to provide a fun-loving, musically inspired atmosphere across South Jersey. When asked about their future, both of them explain that they are just enjoying the ride and taking this journey day-by-day.
“We never really saw ourselves being able to do this. It’s all very surreal, so right now just enjoying every moment of it,” explained Matt.
“As long as we don’t have to wait tables or teach summer school anymore, that’s the goal,” Bryan added.
Upcoming Petty Cash shows include:
6/27: Cape May Brewery 10 Year Anniversary, 1:00pm
7/1: Yesterday’s Restaurant Tavern in Marmora, 7:00pm
7/3: Buckets Margarita Bar and Cantina in Stone Harbor, 7:00pm
7:9: Charlie’s Bar & Restaurant in Somers Point, 7:00pm
Stay up to date with Petty Cash on social media at @PettyCash609 on Instagram and Petty Cash SJ on Facebook.
For booking information, email PettyCash609@gmail.com.
Krystle J Bailey. Multimedia journalist, Author, Poet
KrystleJBailey.com
