Matt Andersen & Daniel Lanois in Concert at Hughes Room
Thousands of photos have been taken of these two artists, many of the photos looking as these do. This is a record of a January 11, 2011 concert at Hughes Room, Toronto, a remarkable pairing of musicians, Matt Andersen and Daniel Lanois, playing in a 200 seat sold-out venue.
As the owner of the club told me leaving, Matt's getting too big; you'll never see him again in this size venue. And with the two together that night, well, quite a night.
I did see Matt Andersen in another smaller venue at Mariposa Folk Festival, Orillia. He was sharing a break-out stage with 4 other musicians on a warm sunny Sunday afternoon. People attending the festival roam about the grounds and stop by various stations where musicians are playing, often a group of them jambing together or taking turns playing their tunes.
Matt was performing on the main concert stage for the night time concerts, but on this lazy sunny afternoon he was at one of the break-out sessions with 4 other musicians. Sometimes they played together. Sometimes each took a turn to play a song.
Matt was on his second song. People were lying about on the grass or propped up in camper chairs. What I've never seen before at the casual jambs over the years was when Matt stopped playing his song, people got up off the grass and out of their camper chairs, stood and applauded and applauded. For a song, given on a casual afternoon. Even then in the lazy sun, he moved people, reached into them, spoke to them with his music. Just being who he is. Touching people within with his music.
The concert this night in Hughes Room was sold-out, had been for some time. I talked my way in getting SNAP and the promotor to agree to have it photographed. I expect it will be the most remarkable concert I'll ever attend. You can't hear the concert here, but perhaps in the photos you can see why people stand for this music, why Matt has such a gift -because he especially, and Daniel, become the music, are the music, and their complete commitment to the moment with the audience is a gift passed on from deep within Matt that tells us who we are as human beings, what we are to be as human beings, this otherness, this beauty and grace and depth, that challenges us from deep in Matt's music. I don't think I can say enough of what this music is. I want you to have the experience I had, but I only have pictures, but let the pictures be this record, of who these performers are, artists who let us know who we are. Thank you Matt and Daniel for your dedication and your grace.
Read MoreAs the owner of the club told me leaving, Matt's getting too big; you'll never see him again in this size venue. And with the two together that night, well, quite a night.
I did see Matt Andersen in another smaller venue at Mariposa Folk Festival, Orillia. He was sharing a break-out stage with 4 other musicians on a warm sunny Sunday afternoon. People attending the festival roam about the grounds and stop by various stations where musicians are playing, often a group of them jambing together or taking turns playing their tunes.
Matt was performing on the main concert stage for the night time concerts, but on this lazy sunny afternoon he was at one of the break-out sessions with 4 other musicians. Sometimes they played together. Sometimes each took a turn to play a song.
Matt was on his second song. People were lying about on the grass or propped up in camper chairs. What I've never seen before at the casual jambs over the years was when Matt stopped playing his song, people got up off the grass and out of their camper chairs, stood and applauded and applauded. For a song, given on a casual afternoon. Even then in the lazy sun, he moved people, reached into them, spoke to them with his music. Just being who he is. Touching people within with his music.
The concert this night in Hughes Room was sold-out, had been for some time. I talked my way in getting SNAP and the promotor to agree to have it photographed. I expect it will be the most remarkable concert I'll ever attend. You can't hear the concert here, but perhaps in the photos you can see why people stand for this music, why Matt has such a gift -because he especially, and Daniel, become the music, are the music, and their complete commitment to the moment with the audience is a gift passed on from deep within Matt that tells us who we are as human beings, what we are to be as human beings, this otherness, this beauty and grace and depth, that challenges us from deep in Matt's music. I don't think I can say enough of what this music is. I want you to have the experience I had, but I only have pictures, but let the pictures be this record, of who these performers are, artists who let us know who we are. Thank you Matt and Daniel for your dedication and your grace.
