Matt Nathanson's All Night Noise Tour

This Tuesday, my husband and I went to Matt Nathanson's concert at the 9:30 Club here in D.C. I know, I know, I was supposed to be sick. Well no matter how much self-pity I'm drowning in, I was NOT about to miss Matt Nathanson because I love him and this is my 3rd Matt Nathanson concert and did I mention I love him? So, I took a nap, pulled myself together and off we went. First a quick word about the venue, I really like the 9:30 Club. Apparently in D.C. that is akin to saying I really like kittens because everyone knows it's some super awesome venue, but whatever, I'm not super hip and had never been there. We had seen MN twice before at the House of Blues in Chicago which is a pretty decent venue but even though they weren't too different in size, the 9:30 definitely felt more intimate. If you are in D.C. and have an inkling to go see a concert, I recommend it for sure.

*Not from our show, but I wanted an action shot, you know?

Anyway, onto the actual concert. First of all, fun surprise, Vanessa Carlton was the opening act! I'm actually a big fan of her new record and have really been enjoying it, so I was super pumped to learn right before the show started that she was performing first! My husband was actually also excited, because he and his friends are super-weirdly obsessed with the song White Houses. I have no explanation for that. Anyway, she played some of her new songs that I love (Carousel and Fairweather Friend), a few I didn't know that I will probably download because they were lovely and her original hit, 1000 Miles. She did not play White Houses and Danny almost ugly-cried. Not really and he'll probably kill me for saying that, but he was bummed. However, I think the Vanessa Carlton surprise sighting was almost enough to brag about to his friends. They are so weird.

Next up was Matt. I call him Matt because I'm pretty sure we'd be friends if he ever met me, which is one of the reasons I love him. At all 3 of his concerts that I've attended, I've been struck by how personable he is and how he just seems like a really cool dude that I would want to hang with. He's funny and makes insightful comments about the inspiration for his songs and really responds to the energy of the crowd. I buy all of his records, but I will keep seeing him live over and over again because he is just a really good performer and brings something extra to his already great music. Also he makes awesome singing faces. See below:

 

This is soulful Matt.

This is Matt going "Oooooooooooooo" (See the song Laid.)

This is Matt belting it out.

And finally, this is Tambourine Matt. (That's not really a tambourine but it makes the same sound and you play it by doing the same shaky thing.)

Well that was fun, Thanks Google Images! Just a few additional highlights from the concert other than Matt's awesome singing faces:

• His covers. He always does a few and Tuesday's were amazeballs. First he did an impromtu version of La Bamba, which was both hilarious and intoxicating in that you couldn't stop yourself from hip-jiggling. He also did Whitesnake's Here I Go Again, which was fist-pumping tastiness and then finally he did a gorgeous acoustic cover of Prince's Little Red Corvette with his guitarist Aaron Tap. And let me just say, you hipsters over at The A.V. Club that didn't like this cover? Shut your stupid faces! It was so good and all of your jeans are too tight.

•  His mix of old and new songs. He did a great job of promoting his current record, Modern Love (go buy it now it's awesome) and playing stuff from all of his old albums, which hold a very dear place in my musical heart. When he played Pretty the World (his second song of the night), I about peed my pants with excitement. But I didn't because I'm a lady.

• His band. They are really really good and were doubly impressive because when Matt just decided to play La Bamba after someone cheered when he played the little opening riff between songs, they literally all just picked up the instruments and started joining in one by one. (Dear grammar police, sorry about that run-on sentence.) I'm sorry but that kind of musical ability blows my mind. I have been playing piano my whole life almost and I could not just sit down and start playing La Bamba no matter how badly I wanted to. So good.

In conclusion, I just want to put it out there one more time how much I love Matt Nathanson. He's talented and cool and as I said before, I'm pretty sure we'd be friends. I'm putting it out there like the Secret. Matt, let's hang out, not in a weird, stalker-y crush kind of way, but in a fun, listen to good music, drink beers and talk about pop culture kind of way. I think you'd really like my husband too, you're both cool dudes, so let's make this happen. Ok? Kthanksbye.

All-Time Favorites: Fleetwood Mac's Rumours

I think I'm going to start a series of posts of my all-time favorites in which I will pay special tribute to the movies, albums and books that have will always have my heart no matter what my fickle heart is obsessing over in the ever-changing winds of pop culture.

For today's All-Time Favorite, I have chosen an album: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac. I realize this may be a cliche choice particularly because Glee just did an episode devoted to the whole album, but I assure you, I have been a Fleetwood Mac fan for a long time. I had a musically hip mom and she exposed me to a wide range of awesome music from the womb. I mean there weren't many 8 year olds singing Evenflow by Pearl Jam on the way home from second grade, but I was one of them. I don't want to sound pompous because I'm not a music snob at all. I mean come on, I've written about Selena Gomez like 3 times. However, I also truly truly love Fleetwood Mac. When I say Fleetwood Mac, I'm referring to the line-up that made the band name truly famous: Stevie Nicks, Lindsay Buckingham, Christine McVie, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood. In albums this takes you from Fleetwood Mac (1975 album) to Tango in the Night (1987).

I love Rumours the most for a few reasons. First, my very favorite FM song is "Dreams" which is on this album. The presence of that song alone is almost enough of a reason for me. Stevie Nicks is singer/songwriter perfection on this song and it's an ideal example of why she is AH-mazing. If that song isn't enough, the album also has "Don't Stop," which I bet will make you feel better no matter how sad you might be; "Go Your Own Way," one of the best break-up songs ever made; "Songbird," that song from Love Actually, yeah, it's a Fleetwood Mac original and it's gorgeous; and "The Chain" which is just a rad song, and it basically tells the story of all the craziness going on behind the scenes when this album was being made (see below). Ok truthfully EVERY song is good, but those are the best.

Second, the backstory behind this album is remarkable. While this album was being made, Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks were ending their long-term relationship and John and Christine McVie were ending their MARRIAGE. Maybe it's all that angst that produced such incredible music but I cannot even imagine being mid-break-up and have to go to the recording studio and sing about heartbreak while my ex provided backing vocals. To be a fly on the wall of that recording studio, although probably not, because a fly on the wall would probably get killed by a glass being thrown or something. I mean musician exes working in a tiny room together? There had to be some flying glassware at some point.

Third, and probably least important, I love the album artwork for this record (pictured above). It's Mick Fleetwood who is freakishly tall and Stevie Nicks in all her flowing-dress, ballet-slippered glory. Have you noticed I kind of love Stevie Nicks? I just feel like she made boho-chic beautiful and trendy way before Sienna Miller or that Olsen twin, not to mention, she's f-ing crazy talented. Anyway, everything about this cover is cool, from their Hippie-meets-Medieval costuming to his jaunty ponytail to the font used for the title. Plus the black and white image against a plain cream background? One word. COOL. I'm sorry, it's just the best word for them, end of story.

I mean really?! I want to be her. Not so much the personal life, but the musical talent and style? Yes, please.

So here's what I'm saying to you. If you haven't heard Rumours, then listen to it on Spotify. Then after you've done that, buy the album, because you need to listen to it more than just off of your computer. Preferably on vinyl, which I don't even have, but is very much on my wishlist. Then listen to every song and memorize all the words and appreciate beautiful music made in the midst of complete and total personal madness. God, they're awesome.

The Saving Grace of the VMAs

So last night was the MTV Video Music Awards. Unfortunately as what is becoming the usual, it was an ADD nightmare of over the top seizure-inducing light show performances, Lady Gaga self-righteousness and a very disturbing dance medley tribute to Britney Spears (whom I love by the way) done by young girls dressed in her music video outfits. Seeing what I'm guessing was a 10-year-old in a mini-"I'm a Slave 4 U" outfit is something you can't unsee. There were a few saving graces of the show. The combined efforts of Russell Brand, Tony Bennett and Bruno Mars in tribute to Amy Winehouse was actually moving and celebrated her great talent. Britney Spears was sweet and humble accepting her Best Pop Video Award with emotion in her voice. And finally, the saving grace of the VMAs was the performance of "Someone Like You" by Adele. This performance brought me to tears and even though I'm kind of a big baby, it's not often that a musical performance does this. She proved to everyone that a truly great musical performance only takes one pure, gorgeous voice and poignant feelings behind it. Enjoy.

Sweet Jams of the Moment

These are the songs currently rocking my world right now. Since I tend to be a smidge too wordy, I'm going to let them speak for themselves as much as possible because they. are. rad.

Carousel by Vanessa Carlton
So glad she's back with her new album!

Love You Like a Love Song by Selena Gomez
If she's good enough for J Biebs, she's good enough for me.

Lyle by Magic Punches
This is the perfect song for when you're not ready to let go of summer. Also, Magic Punches is my friend from ND's band, and they're awesome and everyone should listen to them.

Wonderland by Natalia Kills
Natalia Kills is like Gaga but less self-righteous, therefore more awesome. Sorry Gaga fans, don't be mad, just listen to this great song.

Blood by The Middle East
This song is played at the end of Crazy Stupid Love and it is perfection.

The following songs are inspired by my survival of the hurricane and happen to be on my current playlist:

Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones
This song played in an episode of Covert Affairs recently and reminded me how much I LOVE IT. Plus, hurricane appropriate.

Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall by Coldplay
This is Coldplay's latest single and it's awesome. I love them. Gwyneth is so lucky.

Crown of Ages by The Ettes
Pure girl rock. From Whip It. Mentions rain, so again, hurricane appropriate.

What the Water Gave Me by Florence + The Machine
Everything Florence Welch does is completely beautiful. Her new single is no exception. If I were an artist, I'd want to be her.

Matt Nathanson's entire Modern Love album, which you should just go buy. I genuinely like every song, which is about as rare as a unicorn. We're going to his concert the end of September and I will sing along to every word!

That's my latest playlist, enjoy and download the ones you like, especially Magic Punches!

Guilty Pleasure Tunes of the Week

There are so many sweet guilty pleasure jams out there that I decided to make it a weekly series. There was an entire VH1 special dedicated to the best Awesomely Bad Songs and guess what? I loved pretty much every one of them. I love legit music too but there is just something special about screaming the words to a super cheesy pop song while I'm driving along the highway. So here it is, the inaugural Guilty Pleasure Tunes of the Week:

"Digital Getdown" - *N Sync

Now I know this song is kind of inappropriate as it's basically about gettin' it on cyber-style, but it's *N Sync, so it can't be too scandalous. And the lyrics are HILARIOUS. "Digital digital getdown, just you and me, we'll be 20,000 miles away but I can see you and baby, baby you can see me." Priceless. Oh to be a fly in the room when they chose this song for their album. But honestly, I dare you to not start singing along by the final chorus.

"Leave" - Jo Jo

Who knew a 13-year-old girl could be SO emotional about breaking up? Don't they only hold hands at 13? (Or at least that's all they did back when I was 13.) The best part about this song is the chanting between lines of the chorus. She thought this boy could have been the one, you guys. That's the point in the song where I have to stop singing along and go "YOU'RE 13!!" But it's still cheesy pop gold.

"Wishing Well" - Terence Trent D'Arby

I don't even know if this song is a guilty pleasure but it's from the 80s, and he has amazing dreadlocks but is not a reggae musician, so I'm going to go ahead and call it a guilty pleasure. My mom had this album, on cassette tape I believe, and we used to listen to it in the car and I'm pretty sure at age 5, I just liked a song about wishing wells because those were really fun. It's a pretty good song with the exception that the lyrics are hard to understand at parts, but more fun for the listener who makes them up, right? For example, I end the chorus with "a wishing well, a crocodile chair." Nailed it.

"I Wanna Be Bad" - Willa Ford

So when I was looking this song up on YouTube, this one was labelled "Dirty" and I watched it to make sure it wasn't too inappropriate for posting. Oh my how times have changed. Willa, you were ahead of your time in both being over-sexed and use of autotune, but today, this video would never be banned by MTV. It is, however, a horrible song with a horrible message but damn, if it isn't catchy. Willa, it's too bad you didn't make a song called "I Wanna Read" because I'd feel way less guilty about liking it.

"Take on Me" - A-ha

Another 80s gem and the video is Ah-mazing. The whole thing takes place in a comic book. This song also features some amazing falsetto. And most importantly, it's featured in the only funny part of one of the worst movies of all time, Corky Romano. I'm sorry, but the image of Chris Kattan driving in an orange Miata while hitting the high notes in this song is forever burned in my brain and it pops up every time I hear the chorus. Glorious.