Concert Review: Matt Nathanson at the House of Blues (October 24)

by Rachel Orr

Matt Nathanson sure loves his audience and they love him just as much. Nathanson performed at the House of Blues on Friday to a jam-packed room. Nathanson even said that this was probably the largest audience he has played for.

In almost every song, the singer/songwriter had something to say. The folk/rock artist is big on jokes, most of them, ones you would never let your 11 year-old daughter hear. However, if you weren’t 11, you would find his jokes hilarious, his voice earth shattering, and his energy infectious. Nathanson makes it a point to connect with the audience and stays on their level.

Opening the show was Texas native Jaimee Harris, although she currently lists Fort Collins, CO as her home address the acoustic guitar player said she was thrilled to be back in Texas. The personable and charismatic Harris channeled Brandi Carlile’s powerful vocals and Miranda Lambert’s feminine yet poignant angst, but lacks the it factor to prove herself as a country/folk artist.

Following Harris with her soulful and sultry vocals reminiscent of Duffy and Amy Winehouse, before all the drugs, was Jessie Baylin. For any Jimmy Kimmel Live fans out there, Baylin performed her song “Was I On Your Mind” last week. Baylin played this song towards the end of her set and with it was able to fully gain the audience’s attention. Clad head to toe in black with incredibly cool black leather boots, Baylin sung her heart out doing some air guitar as well.

Nathanson came on with a bang, with all the lights out and Queen’s Flash Gordon blaring from every speaker, the guitar player let everyone know that he had arrived. Along with playing hit songs “Come On Get Higher,” “Car Crash,” and “All We Are” from his current album Some Mad Hope, he played audience favorites and requests such as “Maid” and “Angel.” Nathanson also covered songs from almost every genre imaginable including Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl,” A-Ha’s “Take On Me” and the Everly Brothers’ “All I Have To Do Is Dream.”

Like every musician, Nathanson has his little quirks that are ever present throughout the entire concert. Nathanson continually moves his hips from side to side, but if you have seen his music video for “Come On Get Higher” on VH1, this comes as no surprise. Having incredibly powerful vocals, Nathanson played with his distance from the microphone moving in close and then backing up 10 feet, quite possibly making the sound person go a little crazy, but Stephen Stills did it for decades with CSN. Neither of these quirks were annoying though, nor did they detract from Nathanson’s performance, which is far, far more than I could say about John Mayer’s strange facial expressions.

HOB could not put on a bad show if they tried, and Nathanson’s performance and ability to connect with the audience cannot be put into words. His music moved every person in the room and for a moment had everyone convinced they were 17 again with crazy, mad hope.