I remember reading a while back that when Bob Dylan first picked up a guitar he was a fan of noted singer/songwriter/transient Woody Guthrie. It seemed that Dylan was so enthralled with Woody Guthrie that he fashioned his entire career after that of the "Great Historical Bum." Gutherie was quite the character, traveling around the United States with nothing more than guitar in his hand. A very romantic idea for the beatnick generation, but in actuality that kind of lifestyle isn't as romantic as it seems. It hard to be a free spirit, existing only to play music and tell the world what he sees. Matthew Gilbert is a throwback to that kind of free spirit.
The first time I saw Matthew Gilbert perform I couldn't help but be captivated by his overall presence. It wasn't just the fact that he stands 6'4 and couldn't weigh more than a hundred pounds dripping wet. Rather, he is one of the few artists that I can honestly say bears his heart and soul every single time he performs. Each live show he seems to fall apart on stage, and not in calculated way like Amy Winehouse, but in an honest and sometimes painful performance of his experiences. I've been at shows of his where audience members have started crying while he plays. No kidding.
Matthew is a rare kind of performer to see these days. He's not interested in money or fame, but merely to share his point of view with the rest of the world through music. He lives day to day, most of the time without a roof over his head. There's something about that kind of spirit that I admire, and I think that is why I like his music so much.
www.myspace.com/poemmusic
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