Poppin into Chaplins last night totally paid off. Shame on you if you missed it. The final act to go on, Mat Burke, totally wowed me. He was sharp, witty, and loaded with great tunes. His stage presense was on fire. He was the only artist to look comfortable up there, while the others stood in place plowing through their songs.

He explained each song and talked about traveling all over the country and breaking up with long-time girlfriends between songs like we were some of his best friends. He seemed a bit off his hinges and frantic, but at the same time like someone who has full confidence in his songs and what he does, and rightfully so. It was as if he had walked right out of the pages of Kerouc's "On The Road" and climbed up on stage in Spring City with a guitar and started playing some folk songs. Kicks, man. Kicks.

And while his songs were pure folky tale tunes, he ran up on stage with an undeniable rock n' roll force. He woke everyone up in the crowd by igniting the stage with his immediate energy.

"This is MY angry woman song," he said, referring to the previous act who introduced one of her piano-laden tunes as her "angry woman song." He then proceeded to sound-check with Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive." I'm telling you, the guy was a hit before he even finished SOUND CHECK!

And there was a sure-fire Bob Dylan swagger in his step through the whole set. Each song read like a story, and he was so smooth and comfortable with the guitar. Plus he whizzed across his harmonica harp easier than some people can walk. I bet my marbles this guy treasures Dylan records the way Dylan treasured Woodie Guthrie.

"I don't consider myself much of a singer. I just tell stories," he said before opening his set with the scathing "Jack And Jill, parts 2 and 3."

But I won't call him "the next Dylan." That's like a curse or something in the music business. Instead, I'll just say he's a must-hear. He's from Scranton, living in Philly now. Seriously, check him out. Click the link for some tunes. I look forward to hearing much more about him. Lets get this guy a ton of more shows in the area people!