Singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson is releasing his 10th album, “Show Me Your Fangs,” October 2 and even after all these years, he says he still has inspiration in abundance. “I’m such a nerd for music still,” Nathanson replies without hesitation. “I’m the only person I know who still seeks out new music. I’m constantly going to record stores and blogs, and figuring out what’s going to turn me on,” Nathanson tells us. Related: Passenger: Turning heartbreak into hits Boston Philadelphia New York City
Tonight, 8 p.m.
Brighton Music Hall
158 Brighton Ave., Allston
$32.75, 617-254-9743
crossroadspresents.com
Sep. 30, 8 p.m.
World Cafe Live
3025 Walnut St.
$25-$40, 215-222-1400
www.wordcafelive.com
Oct. 1, 9 p.m.
Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey St.
$32.75, 212-533-2111
www.boweryballroom.com
Matt Nathanson isn’t afraid to get ugly
Vanguard Records
His energy is contagious. Early fans have stuck with Nathanson throughout the years, but he’s also picked up plenty of new ones. That probably explains why his U.S. tour sold out shortly after tickets went on sale.
Sinking his teeth into honesty
For his landmark tenth record, Nathanson’s hook-laden life stories are couched in an overall theme of self-identity and how we choose to reveal ourselves, and what we hide, he says, “The title track and all the songs move to this place of being honest and ‘Show Me Your Fangs’ is like, show me what you’ve got. Show me your ugliest; show me your cruelest side. I can handle them; it’s not going to scare me off.”
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Bill Murray, patron saint and hero
Among the songs on “Show Me Your Fangs” is one particular extraordinary take on a real person. Simply called “Bill Murray,” Nathanson wrote the song about the actor and latter-day legend who has somehow managed to reach general hero status, what with his everyday antics as well as his choice film roles. Nathanson’s song is about a fictional adventure he and Murray take around the world, and the life lessons Murray teaches him along the way.
“I feel like he is somebody who has a very low threshold of being embarrassed and self-conscious,” Nathanson says of why he chose to write about a famous person, who he’s never met. “I think he does things from a place of strength and it’s an inspired place to be. Bill Murray is the patron saint of this album and my life, probably.”
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