That felt good.
Posted by Matt
Our little East Coast sweep. Sometimes it felt more like a family reunion than a bona fide tour, but it did a lot of the tasks that travelling should. We returned to Minneapolis happy, victorious and renewed. The concrete feeling of bandness more set and firm than before.
The excellent staff of one at the 939 Club in Boston made a great recording of our show there, an unexpected gift. And the following day, as we rode to New York, we did the thing I’ve almost never done, but which I always should have: we listened to the naked truth of the music we were making. And there was so much to learn, so much clutter to clear away, so much cloud to be condensed.
On the way home, we stumbled across a woman of astonishing rudeness, who said loudly into her phone while sitting directly next to us on the plane: “I’m sitting next to musicians. They must be like 50. Does the word delusional mean anything to you?” It hurts my hometown pride to note that the most unpleasant person we encountered was flying home to Minneapolis with us.
But the question she asked about delusion is a question I’ve been asking myself since I was 18. And it’s a question that disappears when you remove from the picture the overlay of business and reason. Why do birds sing? Why do old dogs bark? There’s just no reason for poetry and music, except that we just can’t stand to live without it.
After we got our luggage we exchanged hugs and were instantly cleansed by the unbelievable cold. Nice to have traveled and seen. Nice to be back home where we can write and create and respond to what we’ve learned.
20 Comments
...I’m sorry you encountered such rudeness on the plane and happy that she wasn’t a Philly girl…these recent musical memories will sustain me through the cold snowy winter…Thanks for coming out to play!
Posted by Kara
The truth, Matt. Sing it. YOu’re right. We just can’t stand to live without it. We’re all grateful that you have the courage to continue digging, and writing, and putting it out there.
-psh
Posted by psh
And in Costanza-like fashion, here’s what you should have said to her (after the fact):
“Hey lady, my garden called…it would like its dark roots back”
or, save this one in your comeback stash:
“HEY! DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!?!? I WAS ON KARE-11!!!”
Now, onto more important matters…did you say “recording”?!?
Matt, every kid who picks up a guitar wishes they could stand on a stage and get even 2 people to listen to them.
Posted by drneau
Which of these are delusional?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErMWX—UJZ4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXlzci1rKNM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3goJ6YUjE70
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeJj7pPk19E
Be very grateful for delusions. I am.
Posted by Spike
Matt,
I am a peace-lover, and yet. I think I need to take out this woman. Say the word.
Psh is right. We can’t stand to live without the music, and a lot of us feel more alive because we’ve got Matt Wilson creations streaming through our ear buds and speakers.
Really. I’ll kick her ass.
Posted by ss
A recording? (You should know someone would ask.) What’s the chance of that becoming available to us? Us who would gladly pay for anything you produce.
Thanks again for giving us what you give. We can’t live without your music.
Posted by Zelly
Delusional is the new black.
And she was which young uber-successful super celebrity?? ugh.
Do not even bother talking about this.
If you had even an inkling of the impact you have had on my life (and many many others), this flip comment would seem to you as inconsequential as it is.
Do you know what time you will be appearing with Honeydogs on Saturday? I will be going to First Ave to see Mason (early show) and was hoping I could swing by the Cedar and catch some of your set. I’m crossing my fingers.
Posted by jane
Right on, Jane. I have to confess, though, that I’ve been thinking about come-backs all day. You insult TTH, you insult me.
Posted by ss
Matt,
You answer a lame comment with Pantheon-worthy poetic logic. No wonder we love you so!
Posted by Fran
Great that you had such an excellent time! Bummer you encountered that wo-man on the plane. You know how it is… people with low self esteem do nasty things to others to prop themselves up.
So you have a live recording!? Would positively love to here it!
Still haven’t made it out of Omaha to see you guys. I was anxiously waiting to hear of a possible Omaha show, but in the mean time my better half and myself have * committed* to seeing you and your dignified brother March 26th!
Seacrest, out!
Posted by Eric
I just wanted to add… thanks for sharing your delusion with us over the years!
Eric
Posted by Eric
Brooklyn Show Rocked !
Thanks for making the East Coast Trip.
(with full rock band set)
Favorites : Dreams, Never Mine, Searchers,
Troublemaker
Posted by john c
Hey…..if you are a delusion…what are we….I suppose even more delusional…geez…she dissed us all…
....ehhh…it’s nicer on this side of sanity!
Posted by Kara
How old was this woman on the plane, Matt? Was she deluded by being very young to think that one should only pursue their dreams up until age 25 and should then just accept a life of drudgery? I wonder what she does that’s so special that she should judge anyone like that. All I can say on the matter is that I haven’t been deluded when I’ve listened to your music from Trip to Burnt to the recent TH set in Brooklyn and determined it to be sheer genius, so keep up the delusions, please.
By the way, I don’t know where you got the idea that you guys are 50! Although some of you might be getting close I was amazed at how young everyone in the band is still looking. You, Jacques and Steve looked exactly as you did on the BW&B tour!
-Dan from NY
Posted by dansheehan
I meant to say above “I don’t know where SHE got the idea…” obviously.
Posted by dansheehan
The noble rush to our boys defense is endearing and understandable, but errant. She’s more worthy of sympathy as she, like many of us have, seems fallen in to the notion that the glory of rock is created by rock stars, when in fact it is made of rock music, and exists only when we rock, as performers or fans. And even those that write the songs are never sure how, or when, that happens. If they did, there would never be a “B” side.
The response I wished was that Matt handed her Stereo Night, though she likely wouldn’t appreciate it, that would be the irony. Held right in her hands, unable to hear.
Posted by Spike
Btw, the answer to my question “Which of these are delusional?” is “all of the above” since performances like all of those are not rational but, as my wife called them, “primary process”, which Freud described as directly animated by the drives, serving the pleasure principle and work to actualize a free flow of psychic energy.
Each of those performances are core examples of rocking, in my opinion. Seriously. However, if you hadn’t noticed, the main difference among them is, only Matt and John’s are original. All of the other’s are covers. GREAT covers.
Posted by Spike
Oh, and I was at that Buce and Neil show, two of my other favorite singer/song writers, after Matt Wilson. They played some originals that night too, along with Michael Stipe and John Fogerty. Talk about delusional and over 50.
Posted by Spike
Spike you are getting too deep for me here (and I thought I was pretty deep!) But you know one of the other most recent shows I saw was in fact John Fogerty and it was also awesome.
Posted by dansheehan
The difference between you and that woman, besides the genitals, is that you rule, and she sucks.
Enjoy this post? Bookmark and share with others.