How very amusing. I was trying to find information on when The Mattoid will be playing anywhere in town next, and I stumbled across this review of the “Hello” CD, which starts with the heading “Definitely Not Lionel Richie” and concludes with a question: is it a joke or isn’t it?
Um… hello?
What must be said about my experiences with The Mattoid is that, like perhaps a fair few Nashvillians, I first heard The Mattoid perform when he was using the name Urban Peasant and he played the open mic at the Bluebird Cafe.
Did you catch that? He was playing the Open Mic. At the Bluebird Cafe. Get it?
The Bluebird! Billed as “the legendary Bluebird Cafe.” Where all kinds of famous country singers have played. Where the biggest songwriters in town play every night.
Karsten and I were practically on our feet for his performance, it was so hilariously absurd and out-of-context. Meanwhile, the folks at the tables near ours were unrepentantly holding their mouths agape. Literally — jaws hanging wide open.
It was great. Performance art at its finest.
We’ve gone to see The Mattoid a few times since then, and he puts on a great show. If you don’t take it too seriously, you might just laugh out loud during the performance. And — hello! — that just might be the point.
I’m down for some Blue Bird action sometime.
BTW… are you on any messenger service?
If so, add me and surprise me.
No, I’m no good at using instant messaging for fun. I’ve been using it for work for years, so my kneejerk reaction to being messaged is “uh oh.”
But I do keep up with email, except when I fall behind. kate at (same domain as in my userinfo).