Matt Nathanson
The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ - June 6, 2004

Dan and I didn't know that we'd witness the inauguration of Matt Nathanson's new live band when we fled to the Stone Pony to catch him live. What a cool opportunity it was to witness Matty Nay's new sound.

I felt kind of honored to witness Matt Nathanson's first gig with his new band. Most of all, I was just happy to watch the musical melding on stage as I jammed out to my favorite tracks.

Nathanson was one of the headlining acts at The Great Bamboozle on June 4th. Playing at New Jersey's legendary Stone Pony was a treat for Dan and I, who live nearby – but the biggest treat of all was watching Nathanson achieve the live sound he's been waiting for.

Opening up with the energized "Lucky Boy", Nathanson was stoked to tell us, "tonight we're going to fucking romance you." (Only if you're a fan can you understand his twisted yet entertaining stage banter!)

He interjected a little "I want you to want me…" at the end, which we enjoyed. Keeping with his theme of "I'm an 80s rockstar," he spoke, "Thanks for having the eye of the tiger."

He jammed on with "Bare" and went into "Curve of the Earth", a song requested pre-show during our interview by our friend, Leah. (Yes, he did wink at her.) Excusing the band from the stage, he showcased his gritty, emotional vocals during "Angel". The great thing about the show was how Nathanson interjected a few "oldies" such as "Church Clothes" and "Then I'll be Smiling" into the repertoire.

Throwing in some 80s banter, he continued on with "Laid", and tossed in a little Counting Crows lingo into "Bent." All the songs were energetic and smooth.

Toss the set list aside for a moment – the most important thing about this performance was Nathanson's merge with the band members. Aben on electric and keys, Jason on drums, and our favorite bass player on his strings. The stage chemistry between these guys rock, throwing a mature spin on a garage band that knows how to keep things sounding professional.

Of course Dan and I talked to other fans after the show, and have chatted it up online with show-goers who have seen the guys live since then. Most people dig the full band vibe, and we were happy to observe its inception.

Check out www.mattnathanson.com for more.

Reviewed by Kristen Fischer
DiscoveringArtists.com