{"id":1127,"date":"2010-11-05T20:00:09","date_gmt":"2010-11-05T20:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/216.71.127.204\/wordpress\/?p=1127"},"modified":"2015-10-14T20:07:31","modified_gmt":"2015-10-14T20:07:31","slug":"matt-harlan-with-brian-hudson-heights-live-houston-texas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/houstonmusicreview.com\/wordpress\/2010\/11\/05\/matt-harlan-with-brian-hudson-heights-live-houston-texas\/","title":{"rendered":"Matt Harlan with Brian Hudson – Heights Live – Houston, Texas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
Written by Daniel Barker <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nov 05, 2010 at 08:00 PM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Image\"\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Some days are just better than others and on November 5th, a wonderful Texas fall night everything seemed to have fallen in place for another outstanding Friday night at The Heights Live Music Series @ Heights Presbyterian Church. On tonight\u2019s Sunday school ABC magnetic board marquee were Matt Harlan, who has risen to the top of the local Houston singer-songwriter scene thru due diligence and Brian Hudson, a newcomer to this performance genre after recently parting ways with his former group, The Hudsons. However, this pair that had attended UT at the same time was not 100%. Harlan was just getting over the flu and Hudson had dental work just done, so needless to say these guys were not going to be at the top of their game.<\/p>\n

It had never dawned on me that attendance would be an issue at this STEAL of an event but with an 8PM announced start and everyone still scattered about at 8:20 it was discouragingly evident. The Heights Live is hands down one of the best deals in town and I was convinced that a rising local like Matt Harlan would pull the crowd in for $10. Especially with Harlan\u2019s admitted chance appearance on the Anderson Fair documentary that has done so well. KPFT supported him on Wide Open Spaces with Roark and station manager Duane Bradley was heard tooting Matt’s horn during the KPFT Fall\u00a0\u00a0Fund Drive the week leading up to this gig\u00a0BUT maybe a show at Heights Live EVERY Friday is just too much and thinning out the attendees. The crowd that had come together when the show finally started around 8:30 proved to be primarily diehard fans, friends and family sitting somewhere around 20-25.<\/p>\n

Once the lights went down and Pastor Mark\u2019s infamous screen got going these two showed what being professional is all about \u2013 THE SHOW MUST GO ON!!! I had no idea these two had played together a few times, most recently at Brian Hudson\u2019s release party for his solo CD \u201cInto The Black\u201d at Austin\u2019s Flipnotics but when Hudson started accompanying Harlan and exchanging solos out of the gate on MH\u2019s \u201cWalter\u201d, I knew this was going to be a treat\u2026.MH is an extremely talented picker and BH is not too shabby of a lead himself\u2026.BH admitted to listening to Harlan\u2019s \u201cTips and Compliments\u201d all the way down from Austin before the show but joked that Harlan threw him a curve when he played several other tunes after this<\/p>\n

\"Image\"
\nIt was a basic song-swap where Hudson proved that he has been rather busy writing by playing many unreleased songs and tracks from his CD rather than just playing all Hudsons songs solo. In fact, he played very few of those\u2026 highlights were \u201cWorking For A Woman\u201d, \u201cLonely As Balls\u201d and \u201cThe Welfare Song\u201d\u2026He brings a more humorous pop flavor with him comparable to The Barenaked Ladies or Flight Of The Concords\u2026<\/p>\n

As mentioned earlier, Harlan started off with some songs not on his critically acclaimed \u201cTips and Compliments\u201d like \u201cLong Ride Home\u201d, \u201cDarker Shade of Grey\u201d and \u201cThe Easy Road\u201d but the standouts of the night were off that album. Besides the title track, there were \u201cDresses\u201d, \u201cYou\u2019re Just Drunk\u201d, and \u201cWaiting for Godot\u201d.<\/p>\n

These guys played great together. MH has a style that compliments his lyrics and vocal delivery that is just captivating and Hudson took that bet and just doubled down treating the fans to some fine acoustic guitar work all night\u2026and in a great listening room with Pastor Mark pulling out all the stops on his signature screen\u2026..The guys did some nice covers as the night went on \u2013 ABBA\u2019s \u201cThank You For The Music\u201d, Hank II\u2019s \u201cAll My Rowdy Friends\u201d, and Paul Simon\u2019s \u201cAmerican Tune\u201d\u2026<\/p>\n

This was a great night for any Texas singer-songwriter lover.\u00a0 HMR has fallen in love with this venue and has supported Matt Harlan for quite some time\u2026This was an introduction to Brian Hudson but we knew that Wrecks Bell loved The Hudsons so we knew he had cred\u2026.With the late start and the break it was midnight before I knew it \u2013 rather late for this event \u2013 but it was well worth it.\u00a0 We wish Matt Harlan continued success and welcome Brian Hudson wishing him only\u00a0the best\u00a0with this newest endeavor. Until next time, I will see you out supporting live music\u2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written by Daniel Barker Nov 05, 2010 at 08:00 PM \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Some days are just better than others and on November 5th, a wonderful Texas fall night everything seemed to have fallen in place for another outstanding Friday night at The Heights Live Music Series @ Heights Presbyterian Church. On tonight\u2019s Sunday school ABC magnetic… <\/p>\n

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