Circles

So, I’ve been hemming and hawing about blogging for a while now and finally took the plunge.  I really don’t see the need for any sort of “My name is Gwen, I’m a Taurus, from x who does y.”  Most of you already know this stuff and if you don’t, you’ll probably figure it out (or can just ask).  So here goes…

I’m constantly reminded, in ways both big and small, how parts of our lives are connected in ways you can’t anticipate. How the most benign thing can cause an event that happens months or even years in the future. In a small way, I experienced that last night.

This summer, I was listening to the John Mayer “station” on Pandora (probably in hopes of getting pumped up to see him in concert, which is another story for another post) and heard this song I really liked.  I looked to see who was singing, and it was Matt Nathanson’s “Come on Get Higher.”  More of his songs kept popping up, on the Mayer station, as well as on Gavin DeGraw’s.  I bought Sugarland’s newest CD and low and behold, they had covered “Come on Get Higher” as a bonus track.  I bought Nathanson’s last CD (Some Mad Hope) some time in August and found the whole CD enjoyable.  After learning he was coming to DC, Bindu, from my office, and I bought tickets and saw him last night — probably one of my top 5 concerts ever.  Jessie Baylin opened for him, and, while not blown away by her, I found him fantastic.  We were in a small venue (actually a syangogue) which provided great sound and a very intimate setting.  Matt played for somewhere between 90 minutes and 2 hours straight, provided a great mix of his newer and older songs, as well as some covers.  Unlike a lot of artists I’ve seen in concert, he talked.  A lot.  Stories, banter, conversations with the sound guy, with the band, with the fans in the front row.  I laughed hysterically at his stories and swooned at his songs.  Our tickets were $20 and well worth every single penny.  He’s been on the road nearly nonstop since Some Mad Hope dropped last year, but I think this is his first headlining tour.  It was really fantastic.

One of the local blogs has a review up, if you’re interested.

Seeing a rocky-folk concert in a synagogue was out of this world. Watching Matt on stage cursing a blue streak and then apologizing was hysterical. Seeing menorahs used as mood lighting was so odd, but somehow, I feel like it made the whole experience even more extraordinary.

PS–For as weepy and heartwrenching as Nathanson’s music sounds recorded, live, he’s full of joy and energy, which makes the songs come across as more wistful/hopeful than I anticipated.

If it hadn’t been for plans to see, what turned out to be a slightly disappointing and very rain soaked, John Mayer, I would have never found Matt Nathanson.