... and the shirt is a lying asshole!

this is a song about a shirt that you just love. it's your favorite shirt and you wear it all the time, which means, in the natural progression of things, it starts to get ... tighter. and it clings and becomes so tight that it's squeezing your chest until it's going to kill you. so, naturally, you have to cut off the shirt. but you're left with these scars where the shirt used to be. and the shirt is a lying asshole!

this is about sex, but not like in "your body is a wonderland." i mean, really, a bubblegum tongue? who has one of those? my favorite part is when it gets to "won't let your head hit the bed without my hand behind it." what does he mean? ***practical demonstration of the possible interpretations*** but who am i to judge? the kid's a millionaire now.

you don't say that at catholic colleges in new hampshire. they got these looks on their faces like i'd taken a vial of christ's blood and smashed it in front of them.

seeing matt nathanson tonight was ever so necessary. he gave me a taste of how shows used to be and made me realize that that's the closest i'll get to experiencing that - at least for awhile.

it was an all-ages show and there were quite a few minors in attendance - a fact made all the more evident when they were screaming along all of the words to songs (which actually didn't annoy me - it was cute. and i was too busy feeling embarrassed for the idiots standing immediately to my left. the three guys there were ridiculous. and matt called them on it. i loved it.). but i had such a fun time - matt is one crazy motherfucker. i spent time trying to figure out a more appropriate phrase to describe him, but that's really it. the guy is so hyped up with energy and he just explodes on stage. a dirty, dirty man who makes listening to his music so much fun - and provides the best stage banter i've ever heard at a concert. no one else has even come close. not even mayer's rapping.

sorry, couldn't resist.

hmm ... songs i can recall from the setlist (entered in no particular order, other than my memory): "sad songs," "i saw," "laid," "answering machine," "wings," "bent," "angel," "suspended" - my mind's clouding over. my insomnia from last night is catching up. i'll just post a setlist as soon as i find one.

while we joined in a sing-a-long for "answering machine," the best crowd chorus was certainly the impromptu rendition of "here i go again" - as we all screamed out the lyrics and got down with our inner hairband rock stars.

good god - that man is insane. i <3 matt. go see him live.

i should note that part of me wanted to say hello after the show. john was actually laughing at me as i contemplated embracing my inner giddy fan spirit. but as i saw the younger fans clutching t-shirts and waiting to say hello, i realized that i didn't need to. or shouldn't. maybe a little of both. let's face it - i'm 23 and a working professional. i can appreciate music - i don't have to say hello to the musicians in order to do so.

so i left with my newly purchased cd (still waiting for spring - about damn time i got it) and the sticker that cracked me up when i saw it.

ok fine - i also left with a poster - but that's because john knew i wanted one, so he asked the hg crew if he could take it off the wall. but that's not being fan-ish - that's adding to my music art collection. one day it'll be worth millions. just an investment.

as i head to sleep, i'm happy to have been at a show where i stood in the third row, watching the singer-songwriter-guitarist directly in front of me rock out, joined by the greatest rockstar cellist i've ever seen live (ok, the only - but fish was amazing). simple lights, up close and personal, everyone just having a good time.

that's what i've been missing.