Time to program the iPod to play all the Matthew Good and Matthew Good Band CDs nonstop for the next two months.

This, truly, is reason to blog. Cause for celebration. Time to program the iPod to play all the Matthew Good and Matthew Good Band CDs nonstop for the next two months.

Matthew Good is coming to town.

Well, technically, he's not coming to MY town, but he is doing a U.S. tour—his first, if I'm not mistaken, other than a few token dates in northern cities, close to the Canadian border.

For those of you unfamiliar with Matthew Good's music, it's a shame but not entirely your fault. Aside from one halfhearted attempt back in 2001, Universal Records never tried very hard in the U.S. Up in Canada, Good's a legend, and rightly so.

Between his carefully considered, often pointed and political lyrics, his versatile voice (slipping easily from rock 'n' roll growl to strong and clear to fragile falsetto), and his brilliant instrumentation and sounds, Good has been a personal favorite since I first discovered him (back in 2001; see, that half-assed campaign did work). In fact, he quickly ascended to being one of my top three all-time favorite artists.

And the best part? He's still making music. And now he's touring the U.S.!

Go, familiarize yourself with his music; you'll find oh, so many things to appreciate and feel and consider and rock. And for those in the Chicago vicinity, I'll see you on March  17.

Can't freaking wait. | Laura Hamlett

Matthew Good Spring 2008 U.S. Tour
3.7:  Tractor Tavern | Seattle, WA
3.8: Lola's | Portland, OR
3.9: Cafe du Nord | San Francisco, CA
3.11: The Hotel Café | Los Angeles, CA
3.17: Double Door | Chicago, IL
3.18: Magic Stick | Detroit, MI
3.20: Cambridge Room | Cleveland, OH
3.21: The Club at Water Street Music Hall | Rochester, NY
3.22: Higher Ground | S. Burlington, VT
3.23: Middle East Café | Cambridge, MA
3.25: Highline Ballroom | New York City, NY
3.26: Tin Angel | Philadelphia, PA
3.27: IOTA Café | Arlington, VA
3.29: Club Infinity | Buffalo, NY