matt nathanson :: ll bean, freeport, me :: 07.04.2013
OK… let me preface this by saying HOLY. MOTHER. OF. FUCK.
L.L. Bean does free concerts over the summer and they’ve had some pretty big names. This year, I was clued into the fact that Matt Nathanson was playing there on the 4th. I’m not a die hard fan, but I have a few of his albums and I really like them. They’re good background music because they’re kind of slow and chill. But, yeah, nothing I’m going to know 100%, as opposed to, I don’t know, like R.E.M. (I will always think of that guy in Cleveland who was so impressed that I knew every single song R.E.M. performed that night.)
Not only is Matt an incredible musician, he’s pretty hilarious in between songs. (I took notes! I don’t know why, but I’m mostly glad I did. You’ll see why I say ‘mostly’.)
Before he sang “Run”, he pointed out that it’s normally sung as a duet and that it’s about “an aggressive game of scrabble - the kind where you lock yourself in a hotel room and don’t come out for three days.” However, when he sings it by himself, it’s more like playing solitaire. (I think the family friendly version was a bazillionty million times better than what he could have said!) I will never be able to look at a game of Scrabble the same way again.
I was trying to use the notes app on my iPhone to keep track of the set list and make some notes. I was more successful with some notes than others. I *think* one note is supposed to say “look back at life, regret punches you in the face”... but I have no idea what that means, or what the point of it was. It must have seemed really deep at that particular moment.
While talking about “Room @ the End of the World”, he said that L.L. Bean was definitely where you wanted to be for the zombie apocalypse. He’s not wrong.
Another WTF note: “jello underpants”.
note to self: CONTEXT!
——
It was also an amazing day because after 10+ years of “knowing” her online, I finally got to meet E in person.
It’s so weird to see someone in person for the first time and fall into conversation easily because you’ve followed their life over the years, and vice versa.
I don’t think that feeling will ever get old.
Dog bless teh interwebs. Srsly.
——
Sound check:
Faster
Car Crash
Under Pressure
Wedding Dress
To the Beat of Our Noisy Hearts
Setlist:
Mission Bells
Mercy
To the Beat of Our Noisy Hearts
Modern Love
Run
Laid
Still
Detroit Waves (featuring The Doors’ “Break on Through”, Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black”, and “Amazing Grace”)
Sky High Honey
Room @ the End of the World (featuring Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”)
The Boxer (Simon and Garfunkle cover)
Car Crash (featuring U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”)
Wedding Dress
Faster
Under Pressure (Queen/David Bowie cover)
Come On Get Higher
this song always reminds me of my mood swings but that’s OK
If I seem to be disjointed, well I am.
I am not the type of man to let you in,
but you always reunite me with myself
every time I’m trapped inside of someone else.
And I can’t see tomorrow any more than I can dream
about somebody else’s life ’til through his eyes I’ve seen.
Will you love me for who I am,
not who I might have been
or who I’ll be tomorrow
when I’m someone else again?
Will you love me for what you see,
not who you think I’ll be?
when I wake up tomorrow
will you still remember me?
Will you love me?
Will you love me?
Sometimes I feel like an echo in my skin
every time I’ve gone and lost myself again,
but you meet me everywhere I try to hide;
open up my doors and let yourself inside.
And I could swear I’ve known you
for a thousand lives or more,
but every day I’m someone
that you’ve never seen before.
(Chorus)
‘Cause you’re the only face
that never changes, never leaves,
but when you look at me
who do you see?
The gist is that there’s this kid who jumps from life to life (like Quantum Leap) and he’s followed by this girl. There’s a novella, a web comic, and the album.
He’s fucking brilliant. And talented.
I’m so glad I’ve crossed paths with him and discovered his music.
And a bonus (not from The Lives of Dexter Peterson) - The song forever known MOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Last night, Colin, who I’ve met several times, didn’t know who I was right away. Finally, he said, “OH! YOU’RE THE NUMBER ONE FAN!”
I’m either the girl that drives four hours, ‘New Hampshire”, or Tam, when I’m with them. ‘Number one fan’ has been thrown around before, but I’ve never been known by that. It’s something the band members have said to me, but it’s never been my identity… Considering the last number one fan wound up in the band, I’m curious as to what my future holds. *grin*
I was deemed unusually huggable and then jinxed Syracuse. (w00t! I’m so glad Michigan won! For a bunch of reasons…) My drunk friend from the last show there left me alone, which was nice. Nothing makes me happier than freaky drunk guys not recognizing me.
Apparently, the laws in Woodstock (NY) are a wee bit relaxed when it comes to illegal substances. There was a guy openly selling shrooms, and the weed. Oh, dear Dog, the weed! Being smoked on the patio like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Which I suppose it is out there in the land of peace, love, and dirty hippies. (Seriously, the one guy really needed a bath. Or some deodorant. Maybe both. Oh, and a toothbrush.)
I headed back to the hotel reeking of smoke. Both tobacco and decidedly not tobacco. When I woke up this morning, the first thing I smelled was pot. It was so strong around me that I’m surprised I didn’t get high. Then, again, I might have been high when I went to bed this morning. The dreams I had certainly couldn’t have been the product of a sober brain. I’m blaming the dreams on the pot fumes… NOT the JohnLock fan fic I read before bed, or the fact that I fell asleep watching Sherlock. Nope. Not at all.
(Suddenly, I’ve been leaning towards Parent!Lock… sweet, established relationship, with none of the smut or fluff. It seems like that’s the closest I can get to my brOPT!Lock sometimes, so I’ve been putting up with it for now.)
Did I just Sherlock a blog entry about Black Mountain Symphony?
I know certain people, if they’re still bothering to read this and continuing to pass judgement on things they don’t understand, will disagree, but damn I have come a long way since my mother died.
It’s not like I had a choice, of course. Life goes on and 21 years is a lot of life to live.
And damn, have I been living.
I giggled maniacally when I got my t-shirt from Firefly Hollow Brewing Company. (My friend is starting a brewery and I donated some cash. NBD.)
See? THAT.
I supported a brewery. A place where people make ALCOHOL. The same substance that killed both my parents.
Every day at work, I drink water out of a Magic Hat pint glass. (Magic Hat, of course, makes alcohol. Beer, but whatevs.) I have also worn the snot out of my Magic Hat t-shirts. (God, that was a good trip. Glory days, blah blah blah… Movin’ on.)
The girl who used to hate booze in all forms.
Not only does she display brewery logos willingly she GOES TO BARS.
As J put it so eloquently, “YOU’RE IN A FUCKING BAR!”
Yep.
I go to bars now.
A lot. Too much.
I’ve logged too much time in bars to still be the girl who hates alcohol with the passion I used to.
I don’t like it. I will never understand why people drink. I will never drink.
But that doesn’t mean I won’t buy a round, or support my friends with their dreams of owning a brewery.
