by Andrew LeaheyMatt Hires' debut marks the beginning of the Hotel Cafe concert series, which highlights selected performances from the Hollywood venue. Taken from a July 2008 gig, this EP presents Hires' competent (if somewhat commonplace) approach to the guitar-and-vocals formula. He sings with a slight warble, even channeling Conor Oberst's tremulous melodies during the bridge of Oh, Sunrise, and the bulk of this four-song effort deals with his love life. You Are the One and Honey, Let Me Sing You a Song are self-explanatory song titles, with major-key bursts of acoustic guitar underscoring Hires' romantic come-ons. It's worth noting that the latter song wasn't taken from the Hotel Cafe gig, although its studio treatment is purposely roughed up to simulate a concert environment. Open your mind and let your beauty flow like wine, Hires sings, sounding like a younger Dave Matthews. His craft may not be up to par with that songwriting giant, but Live from the Hotel Cafe shows that Hires' influences are in the right place.