Matthew Sweet emerged in the era of grunge and broke through by combining the intensity of that genre with the melodic grandeur of power pop. The results were potent.
Sweet recently suffered a massive stroke while on tour in Canada. Like many independent musicians, Sweet doesn’t have adequate insurance coverage. He now faces a long – and expensive – road to recovery. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help with these costs, not to mention the lost income as Sweet focuses on his recovery.
Here are a pair of videos that showcase Sweet’s virtuosity and commitment to raucous guitars. First is an incendiary performance of his breakthrough hit “Girlfriend” that features guitarist Ivan Julian (and John Hiatt joining on vocals and guitar). Next is a stripped down but no less fiery performance of “Sick of Myself” with the masterful Jason Victor on electric guitar.
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.