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7.26.2012

WHAT I'M LISTENING TO// the tallest man on earth



back toward the beginning of june i went to see this guy at town hall here in new york city.

i went by myself, sat there with pen and paper as sometimes words come when you least expect them, and the whole experience was...

have you ever been in the presence of someone who is so damn present? like really there, in the moment, and you can tell they are fighting to say in it just as much as you then have to fight to stay in it with them? and what i mean by fighting to stay in it--it's been my experience that there are few places more terrifying and exhilarating because in the present moment it's as though you feel every human emotion there's ever been--and you feel them all at once--and strongly, deeply.

but if you can stay there, there's a sort of revelation that comes along?

i had an experience of sitting there, listening to mr. matsson's brilliant, brilliant easy and stunning music and suddenly knowing something about the future of my life--knowing in that bone-deep knowing sort of way. a ferocious sort of knowledge and confidence in the future.

and of course i can talk about the moment now, but the body knowing passes as it often does, and even to describe it seems ridiculous. and yet. it happened.

does any of this make sense?

this is all to say, this man's new album is something else. and seeing him live and in person...well, if you can, you must. you really, simply must.

9 comments:

Alexa said...

i was there, too, and can report having had a similar experience. words fail me now, but the best i can say is that there was an ache, a hope, a longing, and a contentment, all at once. it was really remarkable.

vintch said...

oh meg, what a timely post. just last night, i stood inches away from the brilliant mr. matsson. in the middle of an old warehouse turned concert hall. i watched in awe as he poured every bit of his soul into the music, sweat flying from his brow every second.

halfway through the second song, he was playing so furiously he broke a guitar string. he smiled a sweet grin and just kept on playing.

it was one of those live shows that makes you want to play an instrument or sing or just SOMETHING to halfway match the talent you're looking at.

all of this to say, yes. tallest man on earth is a must-see live show. one encore wasn't enough.

Mary Catherine said...

I just saw him in Nashville on Monday. Such an amazing experience and I have you to thank Meg! I've read your blog for a while now and fell in love with his music through the videos on your blog. So thank you for sharing. You never know how your taste in music might lead to someone else loving it in their own special way!

kat said...

I have not stopped listening to this since you posted it this morning. It's perfection.

Emily Jean said...

I'm seeing him Aug 5th at the gorgeous Pabst Theater. I'm over the moon about the prospect of experiencing his energy in person.

Think it'll be just what I need.

katilda said...

i started playing the violin again recently after a 9-year hiatus...and it was like finding my left arm again. let me tell you, i'm rusty but muscle memory is an amazing thing. i had one of those "feel every emotion" moments when it suddenly clicked for the first time. so beautiful.

La Mode by Marianne said...

Ahhh he reminds me of Dylan - after such a crappy week this makes me so happy, thank you for sharing :)

Angelica said...

Ah! I'm going to see him at the beginning of September and I absolutely cannot wait. I already know it's going to be a great experience. :)

Angelica

Freya Lily said...

I love this :)