The Tallest Man on Earth

You found this. Be the first one here.

One man, one guitar, tuned to something that is not standard, singing in a voice that sounds like it has been dragged across gravel — the comparison everyone reaches for is obvious and unhelpful, because what actually distinguishes this is the guitar playing, which is fast, unusual, and almost never simply strummed. Kristian Matsson is Swedish and has been doing this for the better part of two decades, filling rooms considerably larger than this one by moving around a stage constantly, alone, like a much bigger band. There is no setlist most nights. Highland Park's upstairs Masonic hall, wood floors, high ceiling, the natural reverb doing real work on a solo performance. Music at 8:00 PM at 104 N Avenue 56, a Wednesday, with a second night after it. Two-night runs at this scale mean the people who come both times end up recognizing each other, which is half of why they book them that way.