Matt Nathanson

Matthew Adam Nathanson was born on March 28, 1973. He grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts, attending Proctor Academy and later Pitzer College, where he majored in English and World Literature. His musical journey began early, recording his first album, “Please,” in 1993, which largely featured songs written during his high school and college years. After college, Nathanson moved to San Francisco to further his music career, releasing his fully acoustic album “Ernst” in 1997 and “Still Waiting for Spring” in 1999, which saw his music begin to appear on television.

Nathanson’s career progressed with a mix of independent releases and major label collaborations. His 2003 major-label debut, “Beneath These Fireworks,” included contributions from musicians such as Matt Chamberlain and Glen Phillips. Despite returning to independent status for a period, his 2007 album, “Some Mad Hope,” marked a significant turning point, featuring the platinum-selling single “Come On Get Higher.” This success led to further chart appearances with albums like “Modern Love” (2011) and “Last of the Great Pretenders” (2013), the latter reaching No. 16 on the Billboard Top 200. He continued to release albums, including “Show Me Your Fangs” (2015), which featured the song “Giants” as the opening music for the 2016 World Series of Poker on ESPN.

Over his career, Nathanson has explored various musical projects, including an EP of Def Leppard covers, “Pyromattia” (2018), and a full cover album of U2’s “Achtung Baby” titled “Achtung Matty” (2021). His most recent studio album, “Boston Accent” (2022), produced by Butch Walker, draws inspiration from his Massachusetts roots and his experience moving to California. Nathanson has consistently toured, maintaining an active presence in the music scene, with his live performances often featuring personal anecdotes and humor.