Interview with Matt Giraud of American Idol Season 8

August 11, 8:33 PMDC Concerts ExaminerKim Reed

Previous Next

15 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the DC Concerts Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Matt Giraud performs "Hard To Handle" by The Black Crowes
American Idols Live Tour 2009, Verizon Center, Washington, DC
Photo Credit: Kim Reed

The American Idols Live Tour 2009 made a stop at the Verizon Center last week and just like on the television show the performances ranged from lifeless to simply breathtaking.   For some Idols it could be seen as a farewell tour, never to be heard from again, but others left the audience yearning for more. 

Matt Giraud not only left the audience wanting more, he left the audience wondering why he was undiscovered until auditioning for Idol in Louisville late last year.

Before auditioning for Idol Matt performed as a dueling pianist who tickled the ivories at a hotel in Kalamazoo, MI.  The Examiner.com recently caught up with one of Giraud's former coworkers from the hotel and she had nothing but praise for him. "He is an incredibly well-rounded and versatile performer. He does not read music, and has an almost "photographic" memory when it comes to music. He can hear a piece of music and almost immediately play it...Hard to believe that a year ago he played at a festival around here to almost no one but the vendors! He was an opening act to the headliners, and it was before the crowds showed up for the evening entertainment (4-7 pm). If people had only known."

But after seeing Matt Giraud on the Idol tour people now know what to expect, a charismatic performer and exquisite musicianship.  Giraud has an alluringly soulful yet modern voice, expert piano skills and slick dancing.  Fans of class acts like Ne-Yo, John Legend, and Alicia Keys will most likely enjoy Giraud. 

Although his style has been compared to Justin Timberlake, Giraud is most like Jamie Foxx who can serenade you and make you laugh. 

The Idols had a day off before the DC show and Matt Giraud spent the day at some of the city's most popular attractions.  Giraud said he, "went to the Capitol building and the Smithsonian Natural History Museum and totally geeked out and bought shark week and made lots of Night at the Museum references."  He instantly went in to comedian-mode and impersonated a character from the movie. From that point on we laughed more than we talked.

While playing tourist he said someone asked if he was "the guy from the Real World." I told Matt that the show is filming in DC and he said, "I wasn't with a cameraman!" 

At this point in the interview Danny Gokey pulled up a chair and Matt Giraud would soon be swept away.  But before he left we chatted a bit about  the tour.  When asked if he received any memorable gifts from fans, Matt asked Danny what he thought.  Danny Gokey said, "Matt's fans give him the best professionally printed yearbooks with pictures of fans, tributes, a nice designed paper cover." He then pointed to my Italian leather notebook and said "the books are like this. They probably spend a lot of money printing multiple copies for each other. And I just get scrapbooks like the 3-ring binder type."  Of course Danny Gokey was joking but perhaps his fans should step it up and try to catch up to Matt Giraud's.

When asked what they do on the bus, Danny Gokey, still joking, responded, "we talk about girls all night." 

Finally before Giraud left I asked if they read reviews or blogs and both said, "not anymore." When asked if they read the funnier Idol related sites like Vote for the Worst or Idletard they briefly squirmed around and Danny changed voices in to a bit of a childish, whiny character and said, "What's Vote for the Worst?"  Matt then chimed in, "no they're mean." I said true but at times they can be funny to which he replied, "not to us!"

Add Matt Giraud to your social networking sites because he is a wonderful musician who we need to hear more from.  Hopefully he will return to DC again but next time as a headliner performing a full set. 

 Video Credit: Barbara Burawski