It's a testament to the unstoppable drive and resonant artistry of Matt Nathanson that this new live album came to be. After releasing five albums independently from 1993 to 2002 he signed to a major label for 2003's Beneath These Fireworks. Not happy with the alliance, he extricated himself from his contract after a couple years and recorded this set live in front of fans. The venue in the title is the long-running club outside of Philadelphia and the entire house is in his hands. They delight at his anecdotes and comedic asides, sing along when prompted, and, in general, fall under the spell of one man and his acoustic guitar. Having built his fan base from extensive touring, a live performance on disc is an apt and welcome addition to his discography, both pleasing those already familiar with Nathanson, and providing a fine starting point for those just finding out. --David Greenberger