Dining with Sexton

Acclaimed acoustic guitarist performed for crowded union

By Pattie Barry

Posted on April 29, 2004, at 12:00 a.m.

melissa armes

FREE - Martin Sexton played for a dinner crowd in the MarketPlace Tuesday evening. The concert and free barbeque were moved inside due to poor weather.

Singer/guitarist Martin Sexton delivered a powerful performance to a considerable crowd Tuesday night in Memorial Union. Sexton, whose songs varied from blues to folk to rock, impressed the audience with his variety of sound and mastery of rhythm.

Sexton played his entire set solo, using no instruments other than a Godin acoustic guitar and his own voice. Unlike other artists of similar genre, Sexton managed to employ a range of sounds, creating the auditory illusion that there was more than one individual performing on the stage. At times he would scratch his guitar strings, pound on the guitar body like a drum, beat box , scat into the mic, or use distortion pedals. Not once did he use a guitar pick.

The set flowed, each song sliding into the next. For the first half hour, Sexton let his music do the talking. The crowd, which initially was only about 150 people, swelled to fill most of the dining room by the halfway mark.

Wearing a faded plain black T-shirt and worn jeans, what Sexton lacked in appearance he made up for in charisma. Though he made a few mistakes during the performance, he left no long awkward pauses.

“This is a song called ‘Diner’ for your listening and dining enjoyment,” he said while introducing the song. He began to play the song, stopped, and pretended to rewind his voice.

“This is a song called ‘Diner,’” he said while starting the song over again, to the delight of the audience.

He even sang in one song, “I’m going to remember the words to my own song.”

Crowd participation was soaring though the last song, which was a cover of Prince’s “Purple Rain.” Though he alleged that he had just learned the song and had played it only once before, his performance was energetic and flawless.

Sexton, who has four albums, a two-disc live album, and his own record label, is a native of Syracuse, N.Y. and currently lives in western Massachusetts, according to his Web site.

Like many artists, Sexton maintains his popularity and promotes his records by touring, said Kelly Donnelly, assistant vice president of Student Entertainment. Student Entertainment organized the event, and the Campus Board of Activities helped with production.

“I personally always have been a fan of [Sexton's] music,” Donnelly said. “I’m glad that he came, and I think that people really responded to it. We wanted to go out with a bang, and I think we really accomplished that.”

Sexton’s performance was Student Entertainment’s last act of the semester. Student Entertainment advertised the concert to be on the mall with a free barbecue, but due to the weather the event was moved inside. The barbecue was still held outside on the patio. Despite the change of venue, Donnelly still considered the event a great success.

“The student body, from what I saw, really, really liked him,” Donnelly said.

Members of the audience seemed to agree.

“He had a different sound than anybody I have ever heard before,” said Nicole Morin, a third-year student.

“I thought it was groovy that he came up here for a sort of free concert at six o’clock,” said Valerie Doyle, a fourth-year student.

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