He introduced himself to the New York crowd, and noted that he would be playing some music for them that will change their lives, prior to praising them for being “powerful people,” while the show was sparsely attended. He was backed by a three-piece band.
Nathanson opened his set with the laid-back and mellow “Kinks Shirt” and he continued with “Car Crash,” where he displayed his prowess on electric guitar.
“How is it going all the way up in the crazy seats?” he asked, inquiring about his fans in the nosebleed seats. “I appreciate you like bad teeth. You’re still chewing.”
He continued with a cover of the U2 classic “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” “I need you to be the confident leaders that I know you are,” he told the audience, and introduced “All We Are” are the only positive song that he has, and he delivered a soothing rendition of this ballad, while accompanying himself on acoustic guitar.
“All right. Look at us,” he said, prior to breaking into his cover of James Taylor’s “Laid,” which he incorporated as a sing-along, where the audience sang such words as “he” and “who.”
“It’s nice to see you all. While it is sparsely attended, it is still better than Camden, New Jersey, where the people seemed angry, as if they lost a bet,” he said, showcasing his sense of humor.
He continued with his newest single “Gold In The Summertime,” which deals with New York City in the summer. “Everybody, sing,” he said, midway through the song.
“Everybody doing okay? It looks like the rain has passed,” he said, and sang “Headphones,” which had a neat echo effect to it, and he interacted well with the audience, while walking through the aisles.
Nathanson noted that it was a pleasure being on a summer tour with Train and The Fray, and he introduced his three band-mates. “It was a pleasure sweating with you all,” he said.
The penultimate song, “Faster,” was a “togetherness experience” for Nathanson and his fans, where he inspired them to do synchronized movements and clapping, and it fared well with the crowd. He closed with his signature tune, “Come On Get Higher,” which was the highlight vocal in his set, coupled with a medley of “You’re The One That I Want” from Grease.
“Sweet, Jones Beach,” he concluded. “I’m Matt Nathanson and you are fantastic. There is no place like New York.”
The Verdict
Overall, Matt Nathanson’s set was uplifting and entertaining. His witty and warm personality was evident throughout the afternoon, and he was able to warm up the stage for Train and The Fray. His Jones Beach show garnered 4 out of 5 stars.
