Matt Sharp: Chicago,IL
Schuba's Tavern, 11/24/02
Setlist
Goodbye, West
Coast
It's Alright
Everytime in
Blue
Summer Girl
New Song (I Heard you Singing
(?) -A.K.A. "The Campfire Song")
Overlee
Let Me Pass
These Days
January's
Girl
Sweetness and
Tenderness
New Song (The Drugs We Do
(?))
Monica
Smiles
Waiting
The Love I'm Searching
For
So we drove 5 hours and circled around downtown Chicago looking for a parking spot for almost 2 more hours, but it was well worth it! We couldn't see Matt for the first 6 numbers, because Matt had invited people on the stage blocking our view (but we snuck over to the side of the stage halfway through the concert), but despite this, the show was AWESOME. The ambience of the place was mellow and intimate with Christmas tree lights, candles and that cool tube lighting decorating the room. The show itself was amazing. The Rentals songs took on a different feel when performed acoustic. The new stuff left us excited and greatly anticipating Matt's new album slated to be released early next year. We can't forget Josh Hager, who was excellent on the lap steel and his 12-string. The lap steel especially added a hauntingly beautiful touch to the new songs, leaving both of us in awe. The show didn't feel like a concert, really. It was like we were all in a big living room with Matt playing just for us, adding bits of humorous conversation and anecdotes between songs. Alas, the show ended, but neither one of us anticipated that Matt could be such a sweet guy. We met him afterward, and had him sign our video rental cards, which elicited a snicker from the man himself. He chatted with us for a few minutes, was amazed that we drove so far to see him and even gave Becca a hug!!! (Awww....) So now we want to see him again! Please come to Michigan Matt!!!!
Now for some of our favorite Matt moments from Chi-town:
"Last night, I drank a Diet Coke, and I chased it with a Diet Pepsi, Man, was I Fucked up"
Matt-"It's Christmas time outside (referring to blizzardy conditions outside)" Guy in the back- "It's Thanksgiving!" Matt- "Yeah, yeah, fuck off! You're from California! Well, it's Christmas time in here" Josh-"Happy Kwanzaa" Matt-"and Thanksgiving for you in the back"
"I Tried to get into some club in L.A., you know those ones with the Velvet Rope and shit...I played the Weezer card... It didn't work"
Belle and Sebastian motivates Matt to do the dishes, how cute!!! (Jenny really appreciated that one, She LOVES Belle and Sebastian)
"Ain't got no girls, ain't got no moogs- blues for the new millenium"
His various impressions of various artists (during "waiting") including Morrissey and Bjork
We can't forget his rant about Creed and how their music sucks- Matt's solution to making songs that suck better: Just say "Yeaaaaah" (mocking Scott Stapp)
~ All in all, Matt is a genuinely nice guy- so the next time you hear someone dissing on Matt Sharp, we're here to tell you he is cool, so stick up for him...or at least try seeing him in concert yourself, you won't be disappointed.
To see a really good review of the same show, go here.
