The 2020 Maple Blues Male Vocalist of the year recipient, Matt Andersen made a stop at the Shell Theatre in Fort Saskatchewan recently as a part of his Halfway Home By Morning tour and left people wanting more.
It’s rare to see someone bring the house down as an opener, especially if you are opening for the venerable Matt Andersen, but Melbourne Australia’s Shaun Kirk did just that. He was playing a vintage 1957 hollow body Kay Barney Kessel producing some rich tones and a perfect accompaniment to what has been described as one of the finest blues voices in Australia. He ripped through Howling at the Moon and ended with Slow and Steady. He connected with the audience immediately, to which someone shouted, “Great start.” Kirk replied, “That’s better than I get back home where they yell, ‘shit start'” His infectious happy go lucky attitude was perfect to set the stage for an amazing night of blues. He was offering ‘free and sweaty hugs’ after his set. It was obvious the audience wanted more as many lined up for the sweaty hugs after his set.
Shaun Kirk performs at The Shell Theatre in Fort Saskatchewan
Matt Andersen opened his acoustic set on Saturday night with crowd favourites such as Free Man and No Matter How Far I Fall setting the stage for a night of blistering blues, great stories and selections off his latest outing, Halfway Home By Morning. It was simple set up on stage with just a stool, a chair and a few lights to accompany the blistering blues that was about to envelope the audience. Andersen proved he didn’t need much more than that as he riffed through song after song with amazing solos and powerful vocals. It’s easy to see why he was awarded the Maple Blues Male Vocalist of the year award.
After his first few songs he took a moment to engage with crowd. He said, “A lot has happened since I’ve been here last. I bought a new shirt” He spoke about how social media has caused many people to say things to each that they wouldn’t dream about saying just a few short years ago. He recalled his childhood when he was always cautious about what came out of his mouth. He said, “I wouldn’t say anything in public that I wouldn’t say in front of my mother because I knew there was a wooden spoon waiting for me at home.” He then intro-ed the song What would Your Mama Say, which has this great line: ‘Lay down your burning torches and the light will shine through’ by adding, “The world needs a few more wooden spoons.”
Andersen continued through his set proving his voice is as versatile an instrument as his guitar. He demonstrated his vocal prowess on haunting songs like Coal Mining Blues and what is sure to be the highlight of the night, his rendition of Ain’t No Sunshine. Another highlight for this reviewer was the story leading into Quarter on the ground from his newest outing, Halfway Home By Morning. He spoke of losing a close relative recently, his uncle Joe, and how he’d love to call him up and just hear his voice one more time. The song Quarter On The Ground was quite goose bump inducing with Matt’s soulful voice and lines like “I keep the paper in my pocket from when you wrote your number down. I take it out and think about it when I see a quarter on the ground.”
Andersen capped his show off with a duet from opener Shaun Kirk. As the audience shouted out a few song titles, Matt said, “Don’t worry, we have an idea of what we are doing” He ended the set with an emotional and powerful rendition of Neil Young’s Helpless Helpless. From the opening notes to the closing of the song, the audience was so enthralled they leaped to their feet for a standing ovation.
Matt Andersen blisters though one of his solos with his trademark head thrown back
Be sure to catch Matt Andersen on his latest tour. You will enjoy the microwaved underwear story as much as his voice and playing. He is on Vancouver Island this weekend. He resumes back in Halifax for a few dates starting on Feb 27 after a stop on the Keeping the Blues Alive cruise. He then meanders through Ontario with Shaun Kirk in late March and a few stops in Quebec in early April. For more tour information or to purchase Matt Andersen music, visit http://www.stubbyfingers.ca/
