Chris Carrabba, Jason Mraz, and Matt Nathanson all play guitar. How original.
The quality of a musician’s live performance forever validates or tarnishes his music. Kind of like when you first kiss a hot babe you’ve been seeing. Maybe you met her at a friend’s party, maybe you’ve taken her out for a beer. So far, you really dig this broad. You seem to be on the same page, if you will. You’re picking up what she’s putting down, if you will. She with her shamelessly low cut tops and tight rear and big…teeth. You’re putting all your best moves on her (“Is that a mirror in your pocket?”) and at the end of Date #2, you go in for that first kiss expecting the world to crumble all around you, leaving nothing but the two of you standing there lip-locked in a blissful embrace, floating above the din, purring softly like a pair of turtledoves.
Except…right away, you find out she kisses like a Viking warrior gnawing a turkey drumstick after ravaging a peaceful fishing village. In that moment, no guy — however desperate — wants to be that turkey drumstick. It’s like kryptonite for your cock. The same goes for musicians. When musicians you adore suck on stage, your music boner for them drains and dies and rots like a moldy banana. You hate throwing away that banana. You paid for that banana.
Below, you’ll notice a table that depicts my assessment of three established singer-songwriters making the rounds today. I chose to compare these three guys because their music is somewhat homologous, and I’ve seen all three in concert. My rating system is subjective, prejudiced, and completely partisan. It also may be genius. Read on.
Chris Carrabba (of Dashboard Confessional)
A couple weeks ago, I saw Dashboard Confessional’s lead singer Chris Carrabba play an acoustic show at intimate Lincoln Hall in Chicago. When Carrabba came onstage, the whole front of his hair, from ear to ear, was gelled straight up like a wide, black wall. Now, I am a fond proponent of hair products for men, but this was industrial-grade, prescription-strength hair gel. During the course of the evening, a gentleman in the audience said what we were all thinking — “Nice hair!” — and vulnerable Chris, in the midst of his emotionally charged setlist, turned the microphone away from our half of the venue and declared that he was no longer singing to “the people over there.”
I like Dashboard’s music, but seeing Carrabba in concert confirmed to me what I’ve always kinda known — he’s sort of a little bitch. He’s that kid in middle school who’s too mature to make fart jokes in class, or shove the special needs kids into the mud. (Who didn’t do that?) I believe it was the legendary Johnny Drama who once said of Eric Murphy that he only needs “a good book, a cup of tea, and a nice long hug” to get by. Judging by his onstage persona, Carrabba seems like one of those guys.
I remember seeing a video of Carrabba recording a song in the studio and then, halfway through, breaking down and sobbing uncontrollably…
If that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about the guy, what does?
Jason Mraz
The most vocally gifted singer-songwriter to come along in quite a while — unbelievable range and a unique, sweet-as-honey tone to his voice. With pipes like that, it’s a shame he’s a chain smoker. But then again, maybe his music will take on a more rock ‘n roll, Mick Jagger theme as his career progresses.
Since gaining mainstream popularity, Mraz’s music has evolved from raw acoustic riffs to heavily produced, jazzy tunes with layers of complexity. Whether it’s by his own input or his producers’, Mraz’s music is a series of controlled explosions. It’s an experimental but safe recipe, to be cooked and digested by a wide audience. And I do mean wide — even my Sinatra-loving parents bought the MR. A-Z album.
In another life, he might have been competition for Justin Timberlake. Let’s all be thankful that didn’t happen.
Matt Nathanson
Go to a Matt Nathanson show — stat. You will laugh. He’s got wit like Vince Vaughn, and makes love to his guitar like a man taming an obstreperous (rowdy) mare.
Where Carrabba seems at times to sing in order to purge some inner demon, Nathanson’s tunes are played with the energy and gratitude of a guy who’s just happy to be out there. Can it be emotional? For sure. But his aren’t the songs guys write for ex-girlfriends to show her how lonely he feels. Nathanson doesn’t bleed on his guitar. His songs represent the thoughtful maturity that comes after an experience, not the messiness that people endure in the middle of it. The dude’s just got a positive outlook.
Check out this video of him playing the song “Wedding Dress.” His introduction to the song is hilarious. Get thee to a Nathanson concert!
Thanks to Jenn B. for inspiring this article.
