It is still hard to believe sometimes that the city where music dreams can come to life is just right up the road from Chattanooga. Many move to Nashville each year, but there are only a few that make it to the big stage. Mat Kearney is one of the few that has begun to make it into the spotlight. However, his journey to Nashville is a little different than most.
Kearney was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, but he did not pick up a guitar and get interested in making music until his college days in Chico, California. After playing around in local coffeeshops, he agreed to go to Nashville for a week or so and help a fellow musician make the move there. However, soon the draw of making it himself turned the short trip into a more permanent one for Kearney.
On his first two albums, Kearney mixed his singer-songwriter style of music with a little bit of hip-hop. After songs off of his second album, Nothing Left to Lose, started catching the attention of more folks, he zoomed in on his niche. For his third album, City of Black & White, Kearney dropped the hip-hop and has focused on making more acoustic driven, singer-songwriter styled songs that have become his signature. He has gained praise from all generations, recognized regularly as a successful adult contemporary artist, but also by a younger audience with his songs featured on popular television shows such as 30 Rock, The Hills, Friday Night Lights, One Tree Hill, Scrubs, Grey's Anatomy and Parenthood.
Now on tour to promote his latest album, Young Love, Kearney will take the stage at Track 29 in Chattanooga on Monday, January 23.
ALBUMS:
Young Love, 2011
Hey Mama ' Sooner or Later ' Learning to Love Again
City of Black & White, 2009
Here We Go ' Annie ' New York to California
Nothing Left to Lose, 2006
Nothing Left to Lose ' Where We Gonna Go from Here 'All I Need
OTHERS YOU SHOULD KNOW
THE BLACK KEYS
Ohio blues based rock-n-roll duo
El Camino, 2011
Lonely Boy ' Dead and Gone ' Gold On the Ceiling ' Little Black Submarines
Brothers, 2010
Next Girl ' Tighten Up ' These Days
Attack & Release, 2008
I Got Mine ' Psychotic Girl Lies ' Things Ain't Like They Used to Be
Magic Potion, 2006
Strange Desire
FLORENCE + THE MACHINE
London based pop/rock soul singer and her band
Ceremonials, 2011
Shake It Out ' What the Water Gave Me ' Spectrum ' Leave My Body
Lungs, 2009
Dog Days Are Over ' You've Got the Love
STEPHEN MARLEY
Reggae artist; son of the late, great Bob Marley
Revelation, Pt. 1: The Root of Life, 2011
Break Us Apart ' Jah Army ' Pale Moonlight
Mind Control, 2007
Mind Control ' Hey Baby ' The Traffic Jam ' You're Gonna Leave ' Lonely Avenue