Matt Nathanson

Acerbic, self-aware and irreverent, Matt Nathanson sings beautifully cathartic songs that threaten to break your heart. But then, just when you need it most, says something so wholly inappropriate, or recounts a hilarious story (often one that inspired a song) with such detail and candor, that you can't help but fall in love. "The way that I joke with people onstage is the way I establish a connection," the Massachusetts-born, San Francisco-based musician explains. "It's like introducing yourself if you're hanging out with someone at a party.