Eugene native Mat Kearney played at the McDonald Theatre on March 7, putting on a personal and authentically passionate performance.
To kick off the show Kearney played the song “Heartbreak Dreamer” from his new album Just Kids, which was released just over a week ago on Feb. 24. He sang the lyrics, “And I barely had the GPA to make it out of Eugene…” getting the crowd off their feet right off the bat.
Typically, an audience at any concert gets some kind of interaction with the performer – but this was different.
Kearney fed off the crowd, naming nearby cities to see where everyone had traveled from. As someone who grew up in Eugene, and as a declared “6th generation Oregonian,” he knew his stuff.
“Churchill? South Eugene? Crest Drive? Thurston? (You guys are probably riding horses somewhere). Willamette? North Eugene? (Are you guys still hangin’ out at the Dairy Queen?) Any Ducks in the house? [Lots of applause and cheering]. I love you guys.”
Also sung from his new album was “One Black Sheep,” to which the lyrics again gave the audience an exciting sense of familiarity. “I was born a love child of the ’70s, touched down at Sacred Heart […] In the cities of hippies and angels […] Packed up in Eugene, Oregon, Amtrak wearin’ soccer cleats.”
Kearney didn’t disappoint in playing every older song we could have hoped for, including his 2006 hits “Nothing Left to Lose,” “Undeniable,” “Hey Mama” and “Ships in the Night” from his 2011 album Young Love.
Witnessing the interaction between Kearney and his band members was truly entertaining as they fed off each others’ energy.
At one point Kearney also brought out opening act Judah & the Lion for a little Tennessee jam session, playing a bluegrass version of Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk.” The genuine connections between all the band members made the show that much more engaging.
After the song, Kearney asked Judah & the Lion if they had ever been to Oregon, to which they replied that it was their first time. When Kearney asked the band how they were liking it, singer Judah Akers replied, “These people feel like family because you feel like family.” The crowd cheered and awed, and Kearney joked, “Why you trying to steal my thunder? This is my city.”
The interaction between band members was enjoyable, but the interaction with the audience is what made this show one of the most exciting and personal. From taking selfies with audience members’ phones during a performance to hopping into the crowd and swimming through people – he never missed a beat in keeping his fans engaged.
“No one has ever mentioned Eugene on a record as much as I have, ever,” Kearney said, laughing. His eyes light up and a smirk spreads across his face every time he does.
The concert was special for us, but even more special for the kid who left Eugene to pursue his dreams, to come back to where it all started. In his encore, Kearney finally gave us what we had been waiting for – “Coming Home.” It was easily a crowd favorite, and a memorable way to say goodbye.
Hometown connection aside, Kearney’s show was a feel-good, purely talented performance and the genuine personal connection he gave to his audience was an incomparable experience.
While he may have left his heart in Oregon, he came back and stole ours.