It turns out that wherever you go, you’re never on solid ground. I know now that what could help is a recording of Matt Nathanson performing at The Ogden Theatre!
The King of (Un)Simple returned to Denver, bringing with him the infamous song wheel for a night filled with hilarious stories, songs (both new and old), a few choice cover selections, and the overall joyful exuberance that Nathanson fans have come to expect from his live performances. For those unaware, the song wheel is a large Price Is Right-style spinning wheel that allows for unique setlist choices dictated by the various panels it could potentially land on. Sporadically throughout the show, Matt spins the wheel, and its result determines a song, album, or themed option such as “Un-Song Heroes” (lesser-performed titles) or “You OK, Bro?” (tunes with a more melodramatic feel). It offers diversions from the structured setlist, injecting some unique flavor into the show and ensuring that each night offers a distinct experience.
Fans lucky enough to attend the VIP set were treated to an hour of stories guided by fan questions and a handful of songs—two staples (“Boston Accent” and “Little Victories”) and a rarity from Matt’s Still Waiting for Spring album (“Amazing Again”). He shared insights on why he wrote “Bill Murray,” whether or not he enjoyed touring with other artists, asking members of R.E.M. and Radiohead embarrassing questions, his opinions on the taper community, his favorite moments of being baited into covering songs, and much more. Matt answered fan questions candidly, never shying away from any, with each response offering an opportunity for another comedic tangent or reflective story. He spoke with sincerity and provided humbling reflections on his career, which now spans over 30 years.
The main show kicked off with a new song, “Map at the Mall,” the opening track from his most recent album, King of (Un)Simple. The raucous Denver crowd was already familiar with the tune and happy to sing along. This was followed by the fan-favorite “Faster,” the single from his 2015 album Show Me Your Fangs, which was complemented by a quick foray into Prince’s “Kiss” as part of the outro. Then, it was time for Matt to reveal the song wheel and go over its various options.
The wheel provided several of the night’s peak and most unique moments. The first spin resulted in a cover of the late Tom Petty’s “The Waiting,” with the Denver crowd more than happy to step in for the Heartbreakers, providing steadfast backing vocals throughout the entire tune. Next came the title track from Matt’s 2011 album Modern Love, featuring Matt on electric guitar. He then performed another new tune, “Pablo Picasso,” which received an equally warm reception from fans who had first heard it when he premiered it on social media several months ago. This was followed by “Sway,” a soft power-pop ballad from his previous album Boston Accent.
Then came the second wheel spin of the evening, which landed on “Un-Sung Heroes.” Nathanson seemed to disagree with the choice, implying it would disrupt the pacing of the show. However, he made it clear that he would not defy the wheel, as it is vengeful—citing a show in Morristown, NJ, earlier in the tour where he ignored the wheel’s request and the power went out. He spun again, landing on another fan-favorite, “Detroit Waves.” The resulting performance was powerful, featuring a segment of The Killers’ biggest hit, “Mr. Brightside.” He then followed it with “Run” in an attempt to “trick” the wheel. While “Run” is a single, it’s somewhat lesser played—possibly due to it being a duet. That said, as a hardcore fan, I find that explanation dubious, and the wheel may yet enact its vengeance. Beware the ides of the song wheel.The fourth and final wheel spin of the evening delivered “Adrenaline,” a somewhat lesser-played track from Show Me Your Fangs that highlights Matt’s dynamic vocal range and knack for writing a catchy rock song.
Even after the final wheel spin, the show still had plenty to offer. The band played a powerful rendition of “Giants,” with Matt repeating the refrain “We’re more than what scares us” in the bridge—a poignant message that resonated deeply with the Denver crowd, who erupted with a reaffirming roar. He then invited opener KT Tunstall to join him for a high-energy rendition of his cover of “Laid” by the English band James. Before the song, Matt joked about how he and KT literally sleep just feet apart in their bunks on the tour bus. After the song ended, KT quipped that the line “I found you sleeping next to me, I thought I was alone…” took on a new meaning now. They then launched into an even higher-energy version of Starship’s “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now,” with KT admitting that she didn’t know all the lyrics but had them written on her hand—something Matt found “surprisingly legible.” The crowd continued their role as backup singers, guiding the band through the loudest singalong of the evening.
The show ended with as powerful a Matt Nathanson one-two punch as any: “Suspended” and his most popular song, “Come On Get Higher,” which featured a brief tease of “Defying Gravity” from Wicked—met with gleeful cheers to close out the night.
Matt Nathanson | 2025-03-25 | The Ogden Theatre, Denver, CO
-= One Set =-
01. (Intro)
02. Map At The Mall
03. Kinks Shirt
04. Faster[1]
05. (“Kenny’s dancing…” & “Unsheathe The Wheel” Banter)
06. The Waiting (Tom Petty cover)
07. Modern Love
08. Pablo Picasso
09. Sway
10. (Wheel Spin 2: Un-Sung Heros & Wheel Spin 3: Detroit Waves)
11. Detroit Waves[2]
12. Run
13. Car Crash[3]
14. Used To Be
15. Whitney Houston’s National Anthem
16. (Wheel Spin 4: Adrenaline)
17. Adrenaline
18. Giants
19. (KT Tunstall Intro Banter)
20. Laid (James cover)[4]
21. Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now (Starship cover)[4]
22. Suspended
23. (“Come On Get Higher AI Version” Banter)
24. Come On Get Higher[5]
-= VIP Set =-
25. (VIP Set Intro)
26. Boston Accent
27. (VIP Q&A – Part 1)
28. Amazing Again
29. (VIP Q&A – Part 2)
30. Little Victories
Show Notes: This show was a part of the “King of (Un)Simple Tour”. KT Tunstall opened the show. The opening music was “I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)” (Meatloaf).
[1] “Faster” contained a portion of “Kiss” (Prince) in the outro.
[2] “Detroit Waves” contained a portion of “Mr. Brightside” (The Killers).
[3] “Car Crash” contained a portion of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” (U2).
[4] “Laid” (James) and “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” (Starship) featured KT Tunstall on vocals.
[5] “Come On Get Higher” contained a segment of “Defying Gravity” from the movie “Wicked” (2024) in the outro.
Taper Notes: Setup DFC in the soundboard area directly in front of the board. Mics raised around 8′ PAS. Thank you to FOH Engineer Otto for the setup location and great sound mix.
Matt Nathanson has been delivering one of the most unique singer-songwriter live experiences for over 30 years. His knack for powerfully melodic songwriting, a 15-album catalog with over a hundred original songs leading to unique setlists every night, and his penchant for comedy cultivate a live experience that is uniquely his. He has deep cuts, radio hits, viral covers, and the comedic wit of a professional stand-up, allowing him to command a room effortlessly. He is one of the great songwriters of our generation, and after 20+ years of seeing him perform, I can honestly say—after this show—it was amazing again.
Thank you to Matt Nathanson and The Ogden Theatre for being cool taping/sharing shows. Go see live music and tip your bartenders! #spacetapes
Links:
Band: Matt Nathanson (https://mattnathanson.com/)
Venue: The Ogden Theatre (https://www.ogdentheatre.com/)
DOWNLOAD LINK: https://archive.org/details/mnathanson2025-03-25.StudioProjects.C4.MKII.cards
