For the Win, Martin Sexton!

Last night I ate a delicious apple. I will detail its sweet nectar, its succulent taste... though, since you didn't have a bite for yourself, I fear you may never fully understand:

First on stage was Ryan Montbleau with nothing more then an amp, a mic and his guitar. He put down his guitar and reduced the room to silence as he sang "How Many Times". The dust in the light of the stage lamp was the only thing moving. He captivated. Sure, he must be worthy to open for Martin Sexton, but I don't think anyone expected the genius lyrics that tumbled out. He should have his own show. (Wait, I just googled him. Turns out he has his own show. He even has people who open for him. And he still opens for Martin... of course.)

Then Martin. Oh, sweet sounds of Martin. Last night was his last show of this tour- he will have a smattering of stand alone shows through the holidays at places near his hometown, where he got his start and where he lives now- but the tour ended last night. He delighted us by saying,

"Here is how it will be tonight: You say it, I play it... I am done with the set list; I am just going to play. Whatever, my stuff, Freebird, Zeppelin, whatever you want... you say it, I play it."

We immediately started shouting out requests... one by one Martin filled the requests. The "crowd"(1) loved it. After each song ended there was another song shouted out and another song played. This went on time and time again. Finally Martin said:

"Really, if you say it I am going to play it. If that means I am here all night long, even if there are three damn people and me, I will be here". Who does that? About the time a typical concert would be wrapping up, I settled in and recognized this was something that would probably never happen again.

As the songs ran out, and the show drew to a close Martin said (speaking to his crew), "Well this has been the longest show ever by a how long? What? *pause* yeah". I don't know if anyone ever really answered him. It was just knowingly understood that it surpassed all others. That was right before the three encores.

Unselfishly trying to be respectful of our time…Martin began to wrap up by thanking us... then someone said to him “we have no where to go” so he gave us more! 

It has been said that Martin Sexton maybe the only artist who actually sounds better live then he does recorded with millions of dollars of re-mastery. John Mayer said that Martin Sexton is the best live performer he had ever seen. Billboard says he is the finest male singer/songwriter in recent memory. I say: The Martin Sexton concert was so epic that it could be the concerts all others are measured up to, but even I realize that the legendary night can not be the bar; it wouldn't be fair to all the other concerts. Marty- you're the apple of my eye.

(1) "Crowd" definition: Martin apparently signed with Atlantic Records back in the day but asked to be released of his contract with them because he cared about the music, not the money. This sucks for Atlantic, but means great things for the fans. Like tonight- I had more people at my Halloween party then at this concert. The venue only holds a couple hundred, and it wasn't even full. The annoying guy in the back row would say something in his normal speaking voice and Martin could hear him just fine.