ANNA WEBBER
A&E Assistant Editor
Mat Kearney struggles in an industry where it is hard to be original. It seems every singer/songwriter is pigeonholed to the John Mayer style of subtle pop, a comparison that is hard to break. Even Mayer himself is breaking away from the cookie-cutter singer/songwriter mold with his bluesy roots rock band, the John Mayer Trio.
Having just toured with Mayer and Sheryl Crow, Kearney is now headlining his own tour.
Kearney will play in 25 states, hitting Los Angeles on Oct. 10 at the Roxy Theatre. Perhaps he is a bit Mayer-esque by keeping with an acoustic base, but Kearney keeps things fresh by incorporating the unlikely duo of folk and hip-hop.
In this way, Kearney is not easy to classify. Regardless of his muddled blending of genres, he creates music worthy of appreciation.
Confusing genres of music is a very brave undertaking and a definite risk. Although his sound is unique, it may not be pleasing to the masses.
Sure his songs possess the cutesy cliché pop and acoustic folk, but they offer a bit of an edgy rap style as well, spoken word, poetic rhythms, hip-hop beats and a tinge of Christian rock influence.
Kearney draws from a big pool of influences, including Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, De La Soul and Sound Tribe Sector 9, which partly explains his eclectic mix.
Easily fitting with the subtle pop scene, he clearly tries hard to break away from expectations with songs off his new album, “Nothing Left To Lose,” like “Undeniable” and “Bullet”.
In “Undeniable,” Kearney’s spoken word seems noticeably out of place. The beginning of the song is full of clichés like “you shine like a star,” and “it’s undeniable how brilliant you are.”
Then all of a sudden you get a spoken flow of words in the hip-hop style. “February 5th, Friday morning, purple dawn/ broke a yawn, as I stepped through the fog, like I stepped to a song.”
“Nothing Left to Lose,” was released on Aware/Columbia Records last April. The title song is moving up the ranks, as it has been added to VH1’s play list and is currently in the Top 25 on the Hot AC radio charts. He was also featured by AOL in their emerging artists series, “Breakers,” and was profiled on Billboard.com as an up-and-coming artist, making his concert one not to be missed.
Some Pepperdine students will appreciate Kearney’s non-preachy but still spiritual tone. On “Nothing Left To Lose,” references to faith and God are subtle, but definitely there, as the last word on the album is “Hallelujah.” Kearney’s religious views are woven throughout the work, but he told Relevant Magazine in its 2005 Fall issue that becoming a Christian rock star was completely unintentional.
Though he has played in the past at a few Christian venues, he usually plays in neutral locations like bars, theaters and clubs, like the Roxy.
Originally from Eugene, Ore., Kearney grew up in a Christian household. He had a pastor for a mother, but did not come to an understanding of his own faith until a hard partying lifestyle left him feeling miserable, according to an article in Relevant Magazine.
Though he is subtle, Kearney does little now to mask his own faith in the interest of gaining listeners from all angles.
Kearney traveled from Oregon to Nashville when he was 21 with his friend Robert Marvin originally to help Marvin move, but he had no idea he would discover his passion for music and would never want to leave.
In the country music capitol, he produced a few songs with friend and producer Marvin, which eventually landed him a record deal.
The title track from the album clearly echoes Kearney’s move, in which he sings, “So I packed my car and headed east/ where I felt your fire and a sweet release/ there’s a fire in these hills that’s coming down/ and I don’t know much but I found you here.”
“Nothing Left To Lose” features 13 of Kearney’s original tracks. Kearney plays acoustic guitar, joined by Paul Moak and Lynn Nichols on guitar, Tony Lucido on bass and Lindsay Jamieson on drums.
Amazon.com calls his latest CD “one of the top releases of the year thus far.”
Interested music lovers can check his set out Tuesday. Tickets are $15, a small price to pay for a night out on the town. Check out www.theroxyonsunset.com for more information.
10-05-2006
