Matt Nathanson

As soon as Matt Nathanson walked onstage at Washington University’s Gargoyle Room, class was in session. Strolling up to the microphone with wine bottle in hand, his mouth was already running, ready to own the stage before a crowd of mostly sober teenage students. “We’re going to start out mellow,” Nathanson told the surprisingly attentive, although modest crowd. “But don’t worry. By the end, we’ll achieve nipple-hardening ecstasy.” Yes, this was the kind of study break that the college folks had in mind.

After the hormonal hooting and hollering that followed Nathanson’s proclamation—and you could tell he loved every second of it—the Massachusetts-born songwriter opened, as if on cue, with a cover by the Boss. Almost too perfectly, Nathanson delicately strummed his guitar as he sang soothingly to a room full of dreamers about breaking free. And although only very few in the audience were singing along to Springsteen’s best song, “Thunder Road,” I have a feeling that a few Bruuuuce I-Tunes were sold after the show. To his credit, Nathanson nailed the song in front of a room of souls who probably thought the best songwriter alive today was John Mayer.

But I digress. Once Nathanson did start to play his own material, mostly from his newest album, Beneath These Fireworks, you could hear many song requests from the audience, proving that they were there for him and no one else. After introducing Matt Fish on Cello and commenting on Fish’s “fine ass,” Nathanson dived into “Angel” and “Lucky Boy,” both which drew healthy cheers of approval.

Clearly in control, Nathanson took his time in between songs, delivering comical rants, mostly about sexual innuendo, while also finding time to drop more F-bombs in a 5-minute segment than Bobby Knight could ever pull off during an hour-long ESPN Sportscenter. Of course, the biology and pre-med students ate it up and often talked back, which Nathanson encouraged, except for a guy who insisted to keep shouting out for “Volvo music!” And you wonder why your parents worry about you while you’re at college.

Judging by the laughter and smiling faces of the crowd, I am sure most of audience would tell you that the University funds were well spent. And that they were, if you were listening at the right moments. During songs like “Bent” and “Curve of the Earth,” Nathanson seemed as honest as a young Springsteen in a worn pair of Levis. By the end of the show, it was evident that Nathanson has a definite switch—one flickering between a smartass who is always out for revenge and an everyman who screws up relationships, but still finds the courage to move on. And although he never really achieved “nipple-hardening ecstasy,” the kids got a fine show from a young man who knows how to play to his respective audience.

Opener Leona Naess unfortunately didn’t receive the same amount of attention from the crowd, partly because she seemed more concerned with developing a rapport with her wine bottle. Chugging between songs, she stormed through a 45-minute set, admitting that she was “going too fast.” She picked up some energy midway with “Charm Attack” and “He is Gone,” a song about running over her dog, but near the end of her last song, she seemed deflated while singing about “love, sweet love.” And although she received no help from the shoddy sound that the room offered her, much more was expected from someone who had released such a great album last year. I’d love to think it was just “one of those nights.”

photo originally appeared on the official Matt Nathanson fansite, expectedmiracles.com.

---