Matt Nathanson
06.04.04

I'm a firm believer that last-minute planning can produce high-quality interviews. Such was the case when Dan and I stumbled on a chance to attend The Great Bamboozle on June 4, 2004. The three-day festival featured a line-up of more than 70 musical acts. But for me, I was only intent on seeing one.

As we walked into the trailer to meet Matt Nathanson for the first time, it was sort of like doing a time warp.  Garage saled couches covered in burlap…lamps that resemble my Aunt Ruth’s taste in home décor ala 1950.  But Matty stood out, as he always does.   

As he flips through an issue of New Jersey-based entertainment magazine Steppin’ Out, Nathanson reads to us the humorous — and erotic — advertisements.  Leah, a music friend, joined Dan and I as we laughed and made small conversation with Nathanson, all the while sinking into the ancient sofas.

But now it’s time for business, although meeting one of your favorite artists doesn’t really seem like work at all.  Our conversation flows naturally as I begin to ask Nathanson about touring since he released Beneath These Fireworks this past fall.  A string of tour dates have left the San Francisco-rocker exhausted and refreshed at the same time.  No two shows are alike, and though he deeply misses his wife, he’s waited far too long to pass up a chance to tour for months on end. 

Next week starts a slue of shows with Sister Hazel.  And so he’ll keep on playing, through December.  He misses home, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

That’s because Nathanson’s stage line-up has changed, and he’s all too thrilled about the differences.  After long-time buddy and cello god Matt Fish decided to pursue films instead of spending months on tour, a new door opened for Nathanson.  A chance to assemble a band and rock out the way he loves to.  And although he misses his fair-celloed friend, Nathanson is excited about the addition of some new blood.

(Leah is intent on setting the Fish story straight, as every good assistant interviewer should be!)

Fish will still play for him on future albums, but concert goers are going to have to suck it up and deal without the perky stringer.  Nathanson is hoping his fans will support his new live format, but seems nonchalant about the fans who don’t dig the new style.

(We support Nathanson’s new stage antics 110%.  We dug Fish, but Matt is Matt. His music is his music.  Fishy or not.)

"We’ve pushed that as far as it can go," says Nathanson of the cello-acoustic style.  He is more than eager to experiment with a full band sound. 

Enter Jason, Aben and John.  Also known as "the band."

"These guys are the shit," he adds, as we’re eager to hear more about the new additions.  Nathanson said the band means more jammin’, more energy, and more songs.

Tonight is Nathanson’s first show with his new drummer, electric and bass guitarists.  After selecting the musicians, and a few rehearsals, he’s as nervous as he is excited to feature the new sound.

"It takes a while to get into the groove," he smiles.  "But I can totally feel it!"

Admiring the reverb from a band playing outside our trailer, Nathanson’s enthusiasm grows and his eyes widen as he envisions his new stage sound.

Rock and roll, baby.

"I want shit to be groovy and great and powerful," says Nathanson, explaining that he’d like to intertwine interludes of cover songs into his new improv stage repertoire. 

Currently, it’s all about touring and rocking audiences at each venue he overtakes.  Pulling the band’s sound together with their current manager (an equally fabulous dude) is the focus for now.  And life’s good like that, according to Nathanson.

But that hasn’t kept him from working on more material for his next album.  Although he won’t be releasing a live DVD any time soon, Nathanson has already written six songs for his next album.  He continues songwriting, though mostly when he’s at home.  Which isn’t often, although he said he still keeps writing.

"They’re in the nebular stage," comments the relaxed musician, after we ask to hear a sample.  (At this point, Leah finds out that his favorite song on Beneath These Fireworks is "Angel."  So she’s satisfied.)

I tell Matt that I’m perfectly okay with his current tracks, including his latest single, "I Saw," which will officially be released this summer.  I couldn’t be happier because it’s my favorite song on his latest album.  He seems grateful to hear that I adore the song, as I’m equally appreciative for the chance to show my personal interest in his music.

After business is over, we hang for a bit.  Chillin’.  Until in walks San Diego’s acoustic goddess, Tristan Prettyman!  Just the girl we wanted to see—but we didn’t think we’d get so lucky as to see Nathanson and the "Trizzy" together!

That’s when things get crazy as we banter back and forth, meeting and greeting our little hearts out.  But watching the two of them interact, and share road tales, is a treat.  (They were "bananas" together!)

Tristan did say she was happy to be touring with G Love and Special Sauce (a gnarley jam band also playing at the festival).  She’ll be recording with them soon, and is pleased to be working with new management.

The thing about Nathanson that struck me the most is his genuine nature.  Put aside all of the career talk, and you have a decent guy who enjoys positively impacting the lives of those he entertains.  Whether it be rocking out jam band style, or singing me sweet, Nathanson proved to be just as authentic as the music he creates. 

Eager to embrace his future, there exists only enthusiasm in his eyes.  And rightfully so.  Approximately two hours after our little trailer talk, Nathanson and his spanking new band performed their first live gig together. 

And it rocked.  It really, really rocked.

Interviewed by Kristen Fischer
DiscoveringArtists.com