My Inclination

Matt Nathanson and Ingrid Michaelson @ The 40 Watt

Back in October ‘07, I caught Matt Nathanson and Ingrid Michaelson at the Loft in Atlanta (see earlier blog). I missed part of Ingrid’s music because I got there late, but after the concert I listened to her CD and really like the music. And after the concert, I got a chance to listen to Matt’s music more, listening to it on my daily drive to and from work. So I saw that they were returning to play the 40 Watt in Athens and I bought a ticket (through pitchatent.com ““ interesting choice for a url). When I was 16, a friend and I drove out to Athens one day. We thought it would be cool to try and sneak into the famed 40 Watt bar, CBGB of the south. The place where R.E.M, Pylon, Dreams So Real, Love Tractor & others got their start. Because it was the middle of the day, we got in with no problem. Other than seeing the place and the 40 watt bulb lighting the whole bar, it was a non-event. I think my friend wrote his name on the bathroom wall with the rest of the graffiti.

So, normally with my work, I am slammed at the end of the month. I bought the ticket hoping I could go, but wasn’t absolutely sure if I could get away from work and drive 1 hour to Athens for the show. I got my work done early on Monday and was able to get away early. Plus the traffic wasn’t too bad. When I got to the venue, I discovered that this was a completely different location from what I had visited in the 1980’s. I was kinda expecting this small venue. The bar was wide and well lit. Not a narrow bar lit with a 40 watt bulb.

I could easily see it turning into a packed concert, so I grabbed a spot off to the left of the stage. The location was a 2^nd bar area, that wasn’t being used that night. It was raised a few feet off the floor level, so I thought it would be a good place to catch the show without having too many heads in front of me to look around. Ingrid and her guitarist Kate Moss opened. One might think that with Ingrid Michaelson’s success and getting her music in television commercials and shows, that she might be the headliner. But she was the opening act.

Ingrid & Allie put on an amazing show. They have a playful way about them that gets the audience involved. They sound incredible considering it’s just Allie on guitar with Ingrid on keyboard. Songs she played:

Breakable
Overboard
Corner of Your Heart
Die Alone
The “Full House” theme song
Far Away
The Hat
Christmas Song?
The Way I Am
The “Prince of Bel-Air” theme song
Cant’ Help Falling in Love

Matt Nathanson came on next. Matt sang songs from his new album and a lot of the great songs from his previous albums. Everyone seemed to get into each song. I was amazed at how many songs he sang over the course of the night.

Songs in his set:

To The Beat Of Our Noisy Hearts
Curve of the Earth
Gone
Heartbreak World
Princess (w/ Rick Springfield’s Jesse’s girl)
Come On Get Higher
Pretty The World
“Delilah banter”
Angel
I Saw (R.E.M.’s You are the Everything)
Loud (Duet w/ Ingrid)
Suspended
Car Crash
Wedding Dress
La Bamba
Still
Falling Apart
Detroit Waves (w/ Kim Wilde’s Kids in America)
Answering Machine
Little Victories

Videos (not mine) from that Concert:
Matt Nathanson – Gone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_T0KN2WgII
Matt Nathanson – Heartbreak World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIj9s_Nj6dQ
Matt Nathanson – Falling Apart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5SNHKkDQEc

After the show, Ingrid (w/ Allie) and Matt stuck around and sold albums, signed autographs and allowed folks to get their pictures taken with them. I already purchased Ingrid’s CD, but purchased another one there for her and Allie to sign. After seeing Matt back in October, I had bought Matt’s newest CD, “Some Mad Hope” and one of his CD before that, “Beneath These Fireworks”, so I ended up buying “Beneath These Fireworks” again for him to sign. I also got his live CD’s, “At the Point”, since I’ve enjoyed Matt’s live performances and was curious to see if that was captured on the CD. I had the “Beneath” CD out for Matt to sign (he signed it, “Tom is the Man!”:D ) and he saw that I had the Live “Point” CD. So he asked if I wanted that one signed too. I said sure! And he ripped the cover plastic off and signed the cover. An awesome show by some great performers.

Posted by Tom under Ingrid Michaelson,Main Blog,Matt Nathanson,The 40 Watt | Comments (0)

Brandi Shearer and Grace Potter & the Nocturnals @ Smith’s Olde Bar

Several weeks ago I came across a myspace profile for a musician named Brandi Shearer.

I can’t recall how exactly I found her (it was a link to a link to a link). But like most artist I’ve found, I added her as a friend so that I can go back later and listen to the music. Some of the pictures of her remind me of Monica Bellucci and several of my friends and I have become fans and expressed our deep appreciation of the beautiful Italian actress. So seeing the pictures and listening to her songs, I thought, what a perfect mix of beauty and music. I really liked the sound of Brandi’s voice. Something lately has drawn me to artists with soulful passionate voices and lyrics. A few days later I got a newsletter from Gibson guitar and in a list of artist with music you could download for free was Brandi.

I was able to download her song “Heaven” from here:
http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Downloads/Brandi%20Shearer/

I also noticed that it listed on her profile that she would be performing here in Atlanta at one of my favorite venues, Smith’s Olde Bar, on 1/19. I kept the date in mind, but wasn’t really sure if I’d go. The day came and the threat of the snow storm, so I was still unsure if I would go. News reports were saying not to go out unless absolutely necessary. I had been out earlier, running errands and didn’t see the danger. So at the last minute I decided to go. I didn’t have a ticket prepaid, but figured I could just buy one at the door. I was running late, but thought I would just miss some of the opening act, a band called Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. When I got to Smith’s there was a line through the bar waiting to get upstairs. I had not missed anything as they had not let anyone in the venue yet. I waited at the bar for the ticket holders to be let in and jumped in the end of the line. It turns out Brandi was the opening act. Her performance was incredible. Her voice and the songs sounded just as they had online. I bought her CD at the stand in the back of the room. After her performance, I saw her going back and forth from the venue to the bar, so I was able to catch her and get her to autograph the CD. She was very cool and appreciated everyone that came out to the show. The following act was Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. Grace was a little spitfire. Her performance reminded me of Janis Joplin. There were songs where she’d start on the Hammond organ and then go to electric guitar. I liked the songs and this type of music, but it’s just not something I’m into right now. Although, the performance and the showmanship was amazing. It was a great night of music.

Posted by Tom under Brandi Shearer,Grace Potter & the Nocturnals,Main Blog,Smith's Olde Bar | Comments (0)