Matt Mays, On the Road Again

Wednesday November 11th
Truro, Nova Scotia, Marigold Centre

With a capacity crowd awaiting Mays to dawn the stage Adam Baldwin warmed the ears of the Marigold crowd. Baldwin won over many smiles with his witty banter and clever lyrics during his half hour set. This was my first time seeing Adam playing solo acoustic and I was very impressed. His material seemed to draw from a number of influences from Tom Petty to Daniel Lanois to Blue Rodeo. Adam was very grateful for the opportunity to play a few of his own songs, to be asked to tour with Matt and to have his parents in the crowd. He joked over not being very prepared because he and Matt had gone for greasy chicken wings and salad at the Engine Room between sound check and the gig. If he was truly just winging it he sure seemed to pull it off well.




Matt christened the stage with a solo version of Downtown, which he played on grand piano. The crowd was instantly won over by this raw, stripped down, melody. After a minor technical difficulty with feedback on the piano during Downtown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSLvpc_SiGA">

Matt moved to the front of the stage and tuned up his Gibson. Matt called to the wings to ask Adam if he left his set list back stage but Adam could not find it. Looking very confused and somewhat baffled Mays continued to look for the list…….Nerves? Fortunately I was paying close attention as he moved across the stage because I was scouting photo opportunities. I happened to noticed he had a piece of paper in his back pocket. I don’t like being the center of attention and pointing this out would with out a doubt draw everyone’s attention. The whole soft seat theater was dead silent. I felt bad for the guy so I told him to “check you back pocket man” and sure enough, after a roar of laughter the show went on.

He began to play a new song, which as far as I know is still untitled. Jian Ghomeshi suggests it should be called Chasing Hurricanes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxK0Q2SHf5A

Matt began playing with no amplification what so ever. I was confused if this was intentional or if audio problems where still being worked out. After the minor feedback troubles I was assuming, and presumably Matt was assuming the reason he had no volume on his guitar was something to do with the sound board controls. After a few verses of the song it was getting apparent that either Matt was unaware that he had no volume or the audio technicians were stumped. All things aside it was a great rendition of the song despite being miced for vocals but not on guitar. Turns out after tuning his guitar Matt forgot to turn off the tuner pedal so the sound could pass back into the PA…….Nerves?



Once Matt worked out the guitar problems it was smooth sailing. He jumped right into an intricate finger style cover of The Jeannie, by Stan Rogers. Keeping on the finger picking train Matt mention he had never finger picked live before, and that he was scared by the whole transition from strumming to picking in front of a crowd.

Matt settled in as the night moved along, looking more and more comfortable with out a band behind him. He kept things light with jokes on wine flu, keeping his harmonicas clean, being razzed for moving to NYC and so on. I have seen Matt play close to 20 times I can imagine, and the only times I have ever seen an ounce of nervousness is when he plays a solo show. Matt is a song writer through and through. He can make two chords and a few sharp lyrics into an eight minute instant classic. When I was sitting on the coach at home post show, reading over my notes I had made and noticed he had only played the one new song. I don’t want to read into things to much but typically if you are releasing a new album in the near future you would at least mention it. I hope there isn't trouble in paradise.



The evening was so laid back that time seemed to slip right through my ears. Matt’s set spanned 90 minutes but I honestly could have sat for 90 more. He and Adam came back to the stage for a cover of Dark Angel, by Blue Rodeo, who was playing simultaneously at The Carleton in Halifax. An audience member then requested St. Georges Lane, this wish was quickly granted and that tipped off the night.

Keep the beat,

Jesse