by contributor Wendy Gordon
Photo credit: Courtesy of Matchbox Twenty
Back in the 90’s, we sang along with our radio to this new band…Matchbox Twenty.– Rob Thomas and Kyle Cook–as they crooned their ballads along with us (they were the ones who sang in tune).
Fresh 94 FM’s Tommy McFly & Kelly Collis of The Tommy Show hosted a special acoustic concert with the duo at The Hamilton on Friday afternoon. For those of us in attendance playing hooky, Thomas promised to call the boss with explanation. Thanks Rob.
We cannot tell a lie…………especially since we like to consider ourselves serious journalists……..…we were a little warm waiting in line to get inside the venue. Of course we soon realized this was a very small and worthy price to pay. Not to gush, but the Matchbox 20 performance was the awesomeness of which most Friday afternoons should be made–certainly worth sneaking out of the office. Mum’s the word.
Kyle and Rob had a little wine, a little actual hydration and sang a lot. It was Matchbox 20 “unplugged.”
Spoiler alert: For those that never wanted to know the derivation of these tunes, we’re about to spill. Who knew that the iconic song “3am” was about his experience of being a child caring for a mother with cancer or that “If You’re Gone” is about his bidding relationship with his now spouse and her concern about his chaotic touring schedule? Those, along with “Bent,” “Disease” and new songs from their recently released album “North,” “I Will,” a lovely sentiment about growing old together and one party promising to remember what the other party may forget. “Sleeping at the Wheel” and their newly released new single “Overjoyed” and She’s So Mean,” made up a set that would have gone on, according to them, potentially ‘Ad Nauseum’, if they didn’t have a plane to catch. “This is a really nice place,” Thomas said more than once. The two were so perfectly relaxed and seemingly having such a good time, we believe that.
Batting around some banter in between sets with 94 FM’s afternoon man, Darik Kristofer, who asked Thomas to remove his shirt to show some of his several tattoos, Thomas shot back “you remove YOUR shirt.” Much to the dismay of the audience’s female fans and the relief of most of the male attendees, neither happened. But what did happen was an afternoon of incredible music with both Thomas and Cook in perfect voice. They’re off to London tomorrow, but their US tour begins in January. We hope DC is a stop. We’ll be there. We’ll even bring the wine.