Art Actually is still around! After a successful semester of arts blogging in the spring, I’m back to reprise my role as art lover and blogger extraordinaire (in addition to my daily disguise as English major.) It’s my senior year, which means I’ve got this campus down pat. I know what’s going on when and where. I’m determined, I’ve got a plan, I’ll be taking on my limited time with my Penn State Bucket List in hand. But even after four years of seeking out the arts underground at Penn State, and half a year of writing about it, I have to shake my head and chuckle at the fact that I can still be surprised by what goes on at Penn State.
The plan was to meet Mark Bartels, a recent convert to the theatre, by the fish tank in the HUB. No Refund Theatre was opening its fall season in 111 Forum with a two man show. On the way, I met my ever sassy sidekick, Jen Kach. And on our way to the forum, the funniest thing (if you’re in the mood to appreciate a pun on a Latin class comedy) happened. The three of us had a celebrity run-in with Matt Nathanson.
Matt Nathanson’s concert surprised us. Pollock road was closed off for a Block Party in front of the HUB the first weekend of the semester. Belly dancers were on the stage when Jen and I first walked into the middle of the street. Sound poured out of the speakers in a great echoing thud that reminds you you’re one of many.
And then the crowd surged forward. Matt Nathanson was throwing his guitar strap over his shoulder. Here’s the thing about Matt Nathanson. When you first hear him play “Come on Get Higher” (the song that Nathanson is most famous for), “Wedding Dress” or “Modern Love” you imagine he’s every bit the sensitive brunette that takes on every affair of the heart with the help of his acoustic guitar. And his doughy-built doe eyed face smacks of eternal softness… until the day you see him perform at your school, all groomed scruff and loose cannon mouth.
I never expected Matt Nathanson to tell me that the best stories happen when you’re naked or that he was going to eat Sabarros out of house and home after the show. My Matt Nathanson doesn’t say such things. My Matt Nathanson only knows how to fall in love. Apparently, he also knows how to deliver an eyebrow-raising good time. His show was part musical chill session that the whole audience can sway to and part comedy tour.
Matt Nathanson loves his audience as much as he loves his music. He responded to shout outs from the crowd as if he were joking around with friends, and he explained one song as, “You know that girl who’s so beautiful, with the long blonde hair that’s so shiny you just want to touch it and run your hands through it. But then when it’s lying down on the pillow next to you and you do finally touch it, you notice these devil horns hiding underneath…but you still don’t really regret her because she’s just that hot…yea that’s what this next song is about…[cue devilish smile to the audience]” Out of anything else, when you see Matt Nathanson you will remember that Cheshire grin, especially when it hangs over you in the twilight like it did on the night of the Block Party.
Later, back at my apartment, we found out that No Refund Theatre was actually opening their season later in September. I had gotten the weekends confused. Looks like the Theatre Musketeers (Jen, Mark and I) are still good to troop over to the Forum for the actual season opener. In the meantime, we got to enjoy a surprise concert and an unknown side of Matt Nathanson. Proving, yet again, that you never know what you’ll find in the Penn State arts scene. All you can do is go looking for it, which is what I’ll be doing with my senior year (and on this blog!)