The Tallest Man on Earth
Kristian Matsson was in NYC to play a few shows during a stretch of nasty weather. We got together one rainy afternoon to raid some downtown spot to make a film.
One catch: after soundcheck the day before, Tallest Man’s guitars were locked inside the NYC music venue, Town Hall, where he’d be playing later that night with Bon Iver. Solution: we’d have to shoot somewhere with a decent supply of guitars that he might borrow. A fan of music of all kinds, Jeff, the awesome, museum-quality proprietor of the legendary Music Inn on West 4th Street in Greenwich Village was happy to oblige. The staff took refuge downstairs, where they ripped through some take-out tacos while the Swedish guy played songs from his debut Shallow Grave. The Tallest Man, who inevitably gets talked about in terms of Dylan apparently had no idea he was playing just three doors down from where Dylan actually lived and just around the corner from where the cover photo of The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan was shot.
The Tallest Man had a blast with the Music Inn’s incredible collection of instruments that squeeze the hallways like clogged arteries and hang from the ceiling like stalactites. In this one, he puts together an impromptu rendering – with thumb-piano, toy piano, guitar – of “These Days,” by Jackson Brown, best known via Nico.
Ben Cramer
The Tallest Man on Earth
Reply to this message
14 April 2009, by Michael
The Tallest Man on Earth
Reply to this message
14 April 2009, by brian
The Tallest Man on Earth
Reply to this message
14 April 2009, by Eddie
RE : The Tallest Man on Earth
Reply to this message
14 April 2009, by Chryde
RE : The Tallest Man on Earth
Reply to this message
3 May 2009, by Hope
The Tallest Man on Earth
Reply to this message
15 April 2009, by un courageux anonyme
RE : The Tallest Man on Earth
Reply to this message
17 September 2009, by west 4th wanderer
The Tallest Man on Earth
Reply to this message
15 April 2009, by un courageux anonyme
The Tallest Man on Earth
Reply to this message
15 April 2009, by Fikri
The Tallest Man on Earth
Reply to this message
16 April 2009, by Sweetex
The Tallest Man on Earth
Reply to this message
18 April 2009, by D
The Tallest Man on Earth
Reply to this message
25 April 2009, by un courageux anonyme
The Tallest Man on Earth
Reply to this message
27 April 2009, by Billy Shears
The Tallest Man on Earth
Reply to this message
1 May 2009, by un courageux anonyme
The Tallest Man on Earth Videos
Reply to this message
5 May 2009, by squish
Blogotheque
Some musicians dream about signing a record deal with a major.
I dream about drinking a coup of tea with Simon of Bella Union, thank him in person for giving me the background songs of the most wonderful moment of my life and give him some of my musics as a gift. Another one of my dreams is to make exactly the same but with the guys of Blogotheque.
You changed me!
Thanks,
Simão (Portugal)
Reply to this message
9 May 2009, by Simão
The Tallest Man on Earth
Reply to this message
11 May 2009, by Andrew
The Tallest Man on Earth
Really phenomenal video. I’ve watched it 5 or 6 times already.
But you people in New York need to get your own influential folk musician. Bob Dylan is Minnesota’s.
Reply to this message
27 May 2009, by un courageux anonyme
RE : The Tallest Man on Earth
Reply to this message
15 November 2009, by un courageux anonyme
The Tallest Man on Earth
This is beautiful. My heart is smiling.
Thank you.
Reply to this message
12 July 2009, by CQ
The Tallest Man on Earth
AAAH! So, I saw this video when it was first posted and just last night on my last day of my NYC trip, I found this music store and thought it looked familiar! I asked one of the staffers if, by chance, there had been an improvised music video shot there and he mentioned this video. As if that wasn’t exciting enough, the whole back of the wall had ukuleles, resonating ukuleles, and banjoleles! I was soooo happy! I got to play around with them, the drums, the old toy pianos, and even a sitar! :D Outside, two guys were playing guitars, jamming and such like they must do ever day (they sounded very well practiced). They played some Jimi Hendrix, Beatles, and some indie tunes, but I was delighted to hear them play “These Days”, just like in the video! I hung out on the sidewalk and sang along, and stuck around for more than an hour making friends and talking about how fun NYC had been before I had to leave the next morning.
One of the greatest nights evah!
If you’re interested in going there, it’s a block over from Bleecker Street. Turn on Jones and then right on West 4th Street and you’ll find the glorious Music Inn, standing between a bong shop (another good place to pop your head in ;>) and two sex shops! haha
Reply to this message
12 August 2009, by Amy
The Tallest Man on Earth
Reply to this message
18 September 2009, by Rob
The Tallest Man on Earth
Reply to this message
8 December 2009, by luminous beam
The Tallest Man on Earth
Reply to this message
30 December 2009, by Shawn