I’ll Be Somebody In My Own Time

Saturday was wild. It started with the radio show that I co-host just like any other Saturday, but after that, I was thrown into a world of social activism as I took my photography skills to the streets and documented the massive No Kings rally in downtown Minneapolis. It was a whirlwind and an event that made my heart so full, but also left my head spinning just due to the realization of what I was documenting. I was riding a high when I got to my show on Saturday night, but I was also fighting exhaustion. My feet were killing me, and I was ready for my bed, but that wasn’t an option. There was a sold-out show happening at First Avenue that intrigued me, and I was not about to miss it.

The line was still wrapped around First Avenue after my little snack of tater tots at The Depot, but I knew that if I didn’t get in line then, I would miss the opening act, so I begrudgingly left my stool at the bar and hopped in line. Everyone was excited, and everyone was talking to everyone. I instantly felt a bit out of place and then felt put on the spot when someone behind me was asking everyone around him how they heard of Matt Maeson. I started sorting through my ideas of a response, but when he got to me, all I could do was be honest and respond, “I’ve actually never heard of him before. I’m just here to document the night.” Gasps took over the other people in line around me. “You’ve really never heard of him before?” “Have you heard his music at least?” I was steadfast on my answer– “Nope! But I’m excited to see what this is all about!” People seemed confused and perplexed, but also seemed to find a little sense of fun in what I do. They all mentioned how cool it was and how I should brace myself for the show of the year. Although I’m not sure that this was the show for me, there’s no denying that I was seeing something special, and that was enough for me to push through the exhaustion I was feeling.

Opening act Wells Ferrari didn’t start their set with a powerful instrumental start. Instead, they got on stage and started singing. It was a four-part (or maybe three, I honestly don’t remember if the drummer was singing) harmony that instantly sent chills up my spine. Much like the headliner of the night, I knew nothing about Wells Ferrari, but they absolutely had my attention when they started their set off like this, and as the music continued, they never lost that attention. Stylistically, Wells Ferrari was this slightly gritty country-leaning rock n’ roll sound. Although it was definitely a bit calmer than I tend to go and than what my heart was craving, there was something so genuine about this group that I found absolutely irresistible.

I’m a lyrics lady. If you’ve been reading this blog for any sort of time, you know this. I’m all about finding music that I can relate to when it comes to the lyrics, and I feel like that’s what my ears kind of tune into when checking out a new band. That was not the case with Wells Ferrari. I honestly couldn’t tell you a single line of words I heard from this band, yet they struck me. They played with such an undeniable sense of heart and had a way of connecting with the audience through more than just their words. You could tell that this band is full of people who genuinely like playing together and were just honored to have this legendary stage to do it on. Long story short, Wells Ferrari wasn’t my normal cup of tea, but I’m in love with them and highly suggest you check them out if only to appreciate the heart and talent they clearly have.

At just 32 years old, headlining act Matt Maeson is clearly making waves. A singer-songwriter from Virginia Beach, Virginia, Matt took the stage on Saturday night and instantly captivated the audience with ease. I could hear his words not only booming out of the speakers, but also coming from the audience behind me. It was a weird but beautiful world to be stuck in. Matt’s lyrics may not have hit me super hard like they did the rest of the audience, but just being lost in this space where everyone seemed to be in a moment of worship in a way, it was hard not to get wrapped up in it all.

Unlike Wells Ferrari, I instantly caught onto some of the words that Matt was singing, and they hit straight to the heart. Sure, I felt some of them had a slightly more religious background than I would typically go for, but his raw and emotive way of putting those words out there was a thing of sheer beauty. There was something so authentic about Matt’s performance. Classic me, I’ve backed myself into a corner and can’t really expand on this, but it felt so barebones and naked. There wasn’t much pomp and circumstance behind his set and, other than the lights, really no production value that was awe-inspiring or anything like that, yet I felt like I was at an arena show. Maybe that was Matt and his band’s performance, or maybe that was the way the audience was reacting; either way, I quickly understood the importance of Matt Maeson to many of those in the audience.

If you ask me, Matt Maeson’s nearly twenty-song set and two-song encore was more than enough for me to get a picture of who this man is and what he is all about, but if you asked others in the audience, nothing would have been enough. Every song turned into an epic sing-along, but with a sense of ferocity and a set of teeth behind it. People were engaging in the music like their life depended on it, and, although seeing people singing along to a set is nothing new, there was something special about this one. Matt Maeson isn’t my musician. Although I did appreciate his set and recognized his talent throughout the night, it wasn’t my night like it was for everyone else. Saturday night may not be one of the best shows I’ve seen this year, but that’s not to say it wasn’t the best show for many other people in the audience and being able to see people have that kind of night when I get to experience it time and time again just seemed like a continuination of the sense of community and love that I had been feeling all day.