Matt Nathanson

Matt Nathanson
Matt Nathanson performing at the El Mocambo in Toronto, Canada on October 8, 2007.
Background information
Born	March 28, 1973 (1973-03-28) (age 38)
Origin	Lexington, Massachusetts, U.S.
Genres	Folk, rock, country
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Acrobat Records (1993-present) Universal Records (2003) Vanguard Records (2007-present)
Website	www.mattnathanson.com

Matt Nathanson (born March 28, 1973) is an American singer-songwriter whose work is a blend of folk and rock music. In addition to singing, he plays acoustic (usually a 12-string) and electric guitar, and has played both solo and with a full band. His work includes the platinum-selling song "Come On Get Higher".

Early life and college years

For Nathanson, music is the one. "Being a musician is the only thing I've ever committed to, much to the chagrin of every woman I've ever dated," he says. "It all started when I saw Kiss in the '70s, watching them spit fire. I thought, 'Now, that's what I want to do.'" He also had the support of loving parents. "My mom always encouraged me," he says. "It's not like a Footloose kind of childhood where I wanted to dance, but no one would let me. I was able to let loose with music."^[1] He attended Pitzer College in Claremont, California (majoring in English and world literature)^[2] where he met longtime collaborator Mark Weinberg (of the bands Crumb and Gratitude).

Music

The members of his band have included Aben Eubanks on guitar, keys and vocals, later replaced by Aaron Tap. John Thomasson has been his bassist since 2004. Jason McKenzie was on drums until Fall 2006; Nick Amoroso on two tours from Fall 2007 through Winter 2008. Konrad Meissner is the drummer. Before 2005, Nathanson was often accompanied by cellist Matt Fish.

Television

His album Some Mad Hope was released on August 14, 2007. The song "All We Are" was featured on the television series NCIS in the fifth season episode "Family," the first season Private Practice episode "In Which Charlotte Goes Down the Rabbit Hole," the One Tree Hill episodes "My Way Home is Through You" and "Forever and Almost Always". He was also featured on Women's Murder Club.

The ABC show Big Shots featured his song "Come On Get Higher," and the song "I Saw" was featured on Scrubs in the sixth season episode "My Best Friend's Baby's Baby and My Baby's Baby." Nathanson's song "Little Victories" was used on the Season 7 episode of Scrubs, "My Dumb Luck." On January 30, 2008, Nathanson and his band performed "Car Crash" on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.^[3] His song "Sooner Surrender" was used on the May 28, 2008 episode of Men in Trees, "New Dog, Old Tricks". Nathanson and his band performed "Come On Get Higher" on the "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" on December 22, 2008.^[4] The CW show The Vampire Diaries featured his song "All We Are" in the first season episode, "Family Ties" and Life Unexpected in second season episode titled "Parents Unemployed". The song was also on the fifth season episode ("Family", episode 2) of the CBS show "NCIS" His song "Bulletproof Weeks" appeared in the episode "Another Second Chance" of the TV series Private Practice on January 14, 2010.

On February 13, 2009, Nathanson and his band performed "Come On Get Higher" on the Late Show with David Letterman. On March 3, 2009, he performed on Ellen, singing "Come On Get Higher".

In March 2009, Nathanson was the special guest for Episode 17 of "Live From Daryl's House", Daryl Hall's monthly Internet concert. They, along with Hall's house band, performed (among other songs) "Car Crash", "Come On Get Higher", "Still" and "All We Are", as well as Hall & Oates classics "Did It in a Minute" and "One on One". Matt Nathanson's "Come On Get Higher" is featured on the CD "Circle of Friends - Dave FM: Volume 2," an Atlanta based radio station.

Covers

Matt Nathanson's cover of "Laid" by Manchester band James was featured on the American Wedding soundtrack, as well as American Pie Presents Band Camp.^[5] Matt also covered the Prince song "Starfish & Coffee" for the children's album "For The Kids Too". Matt also performed a cover of Cat Steven's "The Wind" for the album "Wake Up Everybody".

Matt Nathanson performing in 2009

Albums

Please

Recorded and mixed in February/March 1993 in a house in Van Nuys, CA. Most of the songs were written while Nathanson was in high school and a freshman at Pitzer College in Claremont, CA. Before this, Nathanson had recorded only demos. This was his first collection of songs ever put on CD. Please was released in the spring of 1993.

Ernst

Recorded in Nathanson's new hometown of San Francisco in the winter of 1997. An entirely acoustic record, the instrumentation is mostly acoustic guitar with some accordion, cellos and percussion . This record was mixed at Toast Studios in San Francisco, by Jaquire King.

Not Colored Too Perfect

This record is a compilation of unreleased material, the bulk of which was recorded in San Rafael, CA in the fall of 1997. Two other songs on this compilation, “You're Smiling” and “Wait Up” were recorded in Santa Barbara, CA in the summer of 1995. The final two songs, “Trace of a Cat's Eye” and “Vandalized” were taken from the unreleased record by Nathanson's college band Here Comes Everybody. The HCE album was recorded in Claremont, CA, in the spring of 1995 but was never released. Both these songs were written by the drummer in the band, Bill Foreman.

Still Waiting for Spring

Recorded December 1998 in Cotati, CA. and January 1999 at Tiny Telephone in San Francisco, with Mark Weinberg. This record features David Immergluck & Charlie Gillingham of Counting Crows on tracks including the song "Loud," which was featured on the television show Dawson's Creek. The record was mixed at Different Fur in San Francisco and released spring of 1999.

When Everything Meant Everything

Recorded in the Winter of 2002, at Trakworx in South San Francisco. An entire album of songs was recorded but the release was shortened to an EP when Nathanson signed to Universal Records halfway through the mixing process. Studio versions of “Princess” and “Fall to Pieces” appear only on this EP. It was produced by Mark Weinberg and Nathanson and released in the fall of 2002.

Beneath These Fireworks

Recorded in Los Angeles in the winter of 2003, the team included drummer Matt Chamberlain, guitar player David Garza, and Glen Phillips, of the band Toad The Wet Sprocket, for background vocals. "Lucky Boy," from Still Waiting for Spring was re-recorded for this record, as were most of the songs from the When Everything Meant Everything EP/sessions. It was mixed by Mark Endert in Los Angeles and released in October 2003. "Suspended" and "I Saw" were released as singles and more than half the record was licensed to television shows like Scrubs, Tarzan, One Tree Hill, Joan of Arcadia and Men in Trees.

At the Point

Upon deciding that the major label world was not for him, Nathanson got out of his contract with universal records and released "At the Point." Recorded live over the course of 2 nights at The Point in Bryn Mawr, PA in June 2005, this is Nathanson's only live album. This record was released in April 2006 and debuted at #29 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart the week of its release.

Some Mad Hope

‘Some Mad Hope’ was recorded between August 2005 and March 2007 in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Cotati, CA. The album was made independently, and Nathanson partnered with Vanguard Records for its release in August 2007. It debuted at #60 on the Billboard Top 200 and was on the charts for 34 weeks. Various songs on the record were placed on television shows including CSI, One Tree Hill, Private Practive, Melrose Place, 90210, Vampire Diaries, American Idol among others.^{[citation needed]}

Singles included “Come On Get Higher" (peaked at #2 at Triple A, #9 at Hot AC, #3 at Mainstream AC and #19 at Pop), “Car Crash” (peaked at #12 at Triple A, and #29 at Hot AC), “Falling Apart (peaked #29 at Hot AC), and “All We Are” (peaked at #26 at Triple A).

Some Mad Hope has sold over 300,000 copies and “Come On Get Higher” went platinum selling over 1.8 million in single sales.

Modern Love

Nathanson's album Modern Love was released in June 21, 2011. The first single, "Faster", was released in March.

Personal life

In the early 1990s Nathanson relocated from Boston, Massachusetts to San Francisco, California. ^[2]

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Details	Peak chart positions
		US [6]	US Rock [7]	US Heat [8]	US Indie [9]
Please	Release date: July 1993 Label: Acrobat Records Formats: CD, cassette	—	—	—	—
ERNST	Release date: February 1997 Label: Acrobat Records Formats: CD, cassette	—	—	—	—
Not Colored Too Perfect	Release date: April 1998 Label: Acrobat Records Formats: CD, cassette	—	—	—	—
Still Waiting for Spring	Release date: March 1999 Label: Acrobat Records Formats: CD, cassette	—	—	—	—
Beneath These Fireworks	Release date: October 14, 2003 Label: Universal/Acrobat Records Formats: CD, music download	—	—	44	—
Some Mad Hope	Release date: August 14, 2007 Label: Vanguard Records Formats: CD, music download	60	16	—	3
Modern Love	Release date: June 21, 2011 Label: Vanguard Records Formats: CD, Vinyl, music download	17	4	—	4
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Live albums

Title	Details	Peak chart positions
		US Heat [8]	US Indie [9]
At the Point	Release date: April 4, 2006 Label: Acrobat Records Formats: CD, music download	29	28

Extended plays

Title	Details	Peak positions
		US [6]
When Everything Meant Everything	Release date: November 2002 Label: Acrobat Records Formats: CD, cassette	—
Plus	Release date: October 14, 2003 Label: Acrobat Records Formats: CD, music download	—
iTunes: Live Session EP	Release date: 2009 Label: iTunes Store Formats: Music download	185
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions					Certifications (sales threshold)	Album
		US [10]	US AC [11]	US Adult [12]	US Pop [13]	CAN [14]
2003	"Sad Songs"	—	—	—	—	—		Beneath These Fireworks
2004	"Suspended"	—	—	—	—	—
	"I Saw"	—	—	—	—	—
2007	"Car Crash"	—	—	30	—	—		Some Mad Hope
2008	"Come On Get Higher"	59	3	9	20	30	US: Platinum[15]
2009	"All We Are"	—	—	—	—	—
	"Falling Apart"	—	—	28	—	—
2011	"Faster"	74	24	12	31	88		Modern Love
	"Room @ the End of the World"[16]	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Featured singles

Year	Single	Artist	Peak chart positions		Album
			US Country	US
2011	"Run"	Sugarland	60	53	Non-album single

References

1. ^ http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2011-06-16-on-the-verge-matt-nathanson-faster-modern-love_n.htm
2. ^ ^{a b} Katz, Leslie (November 4, 2005). "Matt Nathanson enjoys that some people know his songs". Oakland Tribune. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20051104/ai_n15807877. Retrieved 2008-12-30. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ "Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Jeff Corwin, Colin Hanks, Matt Nathanson". tv.com. http://www.tv.com/late-night-with-conan-obrien/jeff-corwin-colin-hanks-matt-nathanson/episode/1173012/summary.html. Retrieved 2008-12-30. 
4. ^ "The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson - Joel McHale, Matt Nathanson Performs.". locatetv.com. http://www.locatetv.com/tv/late-late-show-with-craig-ferguson/season-1/5979868. Retrieved 2008-12-30. 
5. ^ "American Wedding Soundtrack". 
6. ^ ^{a b} "Matt Nathanson Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/matt-nathanson/chart-history/447824?f=305&g=Albums. Retrieved April 3, 2011. 
7. ^ "Matt Nathanson Album & Song Chart History - Rock Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/matt-nathanson/chart-history/447824?f=408&g=Albums. Retrieved April 3, 2011. 
8. ^ ^{a b} "Matt Nathanson Album & Song Chart History - Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/matt-nathanson/chart-history/447824?f=324&g=Albums. Retrieved April 3, 2011. 
9. ^ ^{a b} "Matt Nathanson Album & Song Chart History - Independent Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/matt-nathanson/chart-history/447824?f=326&g=Albums. Retrieved April 3, 2011. 
10. ^ "Matt Nathanson Album & Song Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/matt-nathanson/chart-history/447824?f=379&g=Singles. Retrieved April 3, 2011. 
11. ^ "Matt Nathanson Album & Song Chart History - Adult Contemporary". http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/matt-nathanson/chart-history/447824?f=341&g=Singles. Retrieved April 3, 2011. 
12. ^ "Matt Nathanson Album & Song Chart History - Adult Pop Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/matt-nathanson/chart-history/447824?f=343&g=Singles. Retrieved April 3, 2011. 
13. ^ "Matt Nathanson Album & Song Chart History - Pop Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/matt-nathanson/chart-history/447824?f=381&g=Singles. Retrieved April 3, 2011. 
14. ^ "Matt Nathanson Album & Song Chart History - Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/matt-nathanson/chart-history/447824?f=793&g=Singles. Retrieved April 3, 2011. 
15. ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - April 3, 2011: "Come On Get Higher" certified awards". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Matt%20Nathanson&title=Higher&format=SINGLE&go=Search&perPage=50. Retrieved April 3, 2011. 
16. ^ "Future Releases on Triple A (AAA) Radio Stations". All Access. http://www.allaccess.com/triple-a/future-releases. Retrieved September 20, 2011. 

External links

• Official site
• Matt Nathanson collection at the Internet Archive's live music archive

Persondata
Name	Nathanson, Matt
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	March 28, 1973
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death