Have I told you about the time I got arrested on top of a movie theater? Two weeks ago i played my first show in Chico, California. As a college freshmen it was the town I took a new pair of soccer cleats and barley enough of a GPA to make my home away from oregon. I was nervous pulling into town after being gone nearly a decade. I walked off the tour bus and headed for the halls of my old english department. I peered into the rooms where I first discovered my love for writing. I headed across campus to Hobart St. and walked among the citrus trees I used to take for granted as I rattled past late to class on my sparkle red beach cruiser.  I climbed the steps of my old house, where late at night as a sophomore, I would steal my roommates guitar and head to the racquetball courts to pour my heart out over the only 3 chords my fingers knew.

That night we played in front of bright familiar faces at the El Rey Theater in the heart of down town Chico. We used to scale the back wall of a local coffee shop quietly making our way over a series of store rooftops to where a ladder awaited.  We would scale the 3 story theater wall and sit on the roofs edge-- legs dangling like perched pigeons to smoke cigars and watch the wobbly kids return from a night of drinking.  Once a hatch on the roof flew open as two gun drawn police officers stormed in on our viewing party.  I was forbidden to ever return to the El Rey again.  I never dreamed i would return in a fashion like i did.  Our homecoming show was more uplifting than i every imagined in the many day dreams i had of returning. 

I wanted to drop you a note and say thank you for allowing a roof top criminal like me to have moments of homecoming like that. This journey has been a dream come true.

I also wanted to (drumroll) finally reveal to you (drumroll) the video for "SHIPS IN THE NIGHT".  We work tirelessly shooting it in way too many locations across america for what turned out to be an incredibly unique video. I believe I had to sing the song over 300 times-- often in front of very curious or annoyed strangers. You can see it here... feel free to pass it along...

I also wanted to tell you about all i have going on this summer. Train has asked me to support their summer tour and how could i resist. We will be headed to some beautiful venues across the country. Train took me out on some of my first shows so it is an honor to return holding my head just a tiny bit higher this time. I would love to see you there singing along as i playing the 5 chords i now know.  You can see those dates here...

Tour Dates with Train & Andy Grammar
7/26 - Time Warner Center - Charlotte, NC
7/27 - Raleigh Amphitheater - Raleigh, NC
7/28 - Concert Tours for Radio - Des Moines, IA
8/04 - Indiana State Fair - Indianapolis, IN
8/05 - The Woods at Fontanel - Nashville, TN
8/07 - Meadow Brook Music Festival - Rochester Hills, MI
8/08 - PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center - Cincinnati, OH
8/11 - Ravinia Festival - Highland Park, IL
8/12 - Ravinia Festival - Highland Park, IL
8/14 - Zoo Amphitheatre - Toledo, OH
8/15 - Illinois State Fair - Springfield, IL
8/16 - Jacob's Pavilion at Nautica - Cleveland, OH
8/18 - Mann Center for the Performing Arts - Philadelphia, PA
8/19 - Mohegan Sun - Uncasville, CT
8/21 - Wolf Trap - Vienna, VA
8/24 - Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center - Canadaigua, NY
8/25 - Champlain Valley Exposition - Essex Junction, VT
8/26 - Meadowbrook US Cellular Pavilion - Gilford, NH
8/30 - MAC Center - Monmouth University - West Long Beach, NJ
8/31 - Tanglewood - Lenox, MA
9/01 - Borgata - Atlantic City, NJ
9/05 - Mizner Park Amphitheater - Boca Raton, FL
9/06 - St. Augustine Amphitheatre - St. Augustine, FL
9/07 - Chastain Park Amphitheater - Atlanta, GA
9/09 - Downtown Revival Music Festival - Dayton, OH
9/11 - Tuscaloosa Amphitheatre - Tuscaloosa, AL
9/12 - Mud Island Amphitheatre - Memphis, TN
9/13 - Zoo Amphitheatre - Oklahoma City, OK
9/15 - Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie - Grand Prairie, TX
9/16 - WhiteWater Amphitheater - New Braunfels, TX
9/19 - Red Rocks Amphitheater - Morrison, CO
9/22 - Edgefield - Portland, OR
9/23 - Western Washington Fair - Puyallup, WA
9/28 - Greek Theater - Berkeley, CA
9/29 - Nokia Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
9/30 - Comerica Theatre - Phoenix, AZ

Thank you for lending me your ear for a moment.

I hope this finds you well...

love,

Mat