Matt Nathanson at The Pantages Theater, Minneapolis (11-18-08)

 11/19/2008 02:39:48  ♥ written by vu ()

First of all, huge apologies to Paul Doucette from The Break and Repair Method, who I was supposed to do coverage on for this concert last night. I can only tell you that I was confused about the start time, Pantages Theater website lists "8:00pm", which I thought was when doors open. By the time I found the venue, found street parking (the parking gods just was not with me), and walking in the cold - I arrived at 9 and Matt Nathanson had taken stage at 9:15!

The report I got from the two women in front of me was that there was actually two opening band, The Break and Repair Method and Jessie Baylin (who later resurfaced to do a duet with Matt). How they were able to fit both their set in under one hour is beyond me.

What I can tell you, based on what I was told, was that the both were well received, although the girls did not know that Paul is actually the drummer from Matchbox Twenty, a very popular band from the 2000s (moving over 45 million records -- remember their Mad Season album?)

Judging from the mostly college students in the sold-out show, both Break and Baylin probably enjoyed a warm reception. Even after the show, there was a huge line-up at the merch table for all three bands.

Well, since I missed their set, I just wanted to make you aware that Doucette is more into indie folky with his latest project, The Break and Repair Method. Their debut album is called Milk the Bee and it was released earlier in September. You can enter into a contest to win yourself a signed copy. On that link you can find another link to download "You Won't Be Able to Be Sad" - which is the song I'm using.

As for Matt Nathanson, he seems really young and lively on stage. He really loves pop music, and even admitted to stealing riffs and chords from his favorite songs. Some of his covers includes James' "Laid", Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl", Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton's "Island in the Stream", Kim Wilde's "Kids in America", Lisa Loeb's "Stay", and the Everly Brothers' "All I Have to do is Dream" (and probably other more obscure ones that I didn't know about). As a cover lover, I approve.

Other things I've noticed, his guitarist wore a Thievery Corporation T-Shirt and they had brought an upright bass on tour with them - shame it was only used on two songs on "All We Are" and the closing encore song.

PS, sorry for the dodgy photograph, I was at a respectable distance from the stage - and this was an old-fashion seated theater so I could not move around.