Matthew Sweet From Lincoln, NEB.

"Matthew Sweet from Lincoln, NEB."
Dr. Rox Remember When?
Article #187 September 2026
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0

So it's this time of year I start to remember back in 1999 when I was working for Wax Works out of Owensboro, KY. I got the news I was going to be transferred to St. Paul to open a "Super Store" now at this time I had finally settled down in W. Des Moines, IA. and I had no real interest in transferring and moving or being on the road as a D.M. Then I was informed either I take the transfer or I would no longer work for Wax Works, my fiance at the time told me to take the transfer as she wanted to leave Iowa. This was a really hard decision for me as I lived in MN. previously, but I knew she was having a hard time in Iowa and I wanted us to stay together. Then one night at work at Merle Hay Mall in Des Moines I put the CD Soundtrack to the film "Drive Me Crazy" (Oct 1999) and I heard Track #6 "Faith In You" I was deeply moved, I loved this song, this was the kind of music I wanted to write and perform, literally all my life. I took this as a sign to go ahead and take the move. I have been here ever since.

I was overwhelmed, who was this Matthew Sweet. Born Sidney Matthew Sweet on 6 October 1964 in Lincoln, NEB. So I did what I usually do when I discover a new artist, I delve into them and do extensive research. I had to think back over my own career when we did displays for new release records. I vaguely remember stocking the shelves with his 1989 A&M release "Earth" when I was at Valley West RecordShop #67. I do remember hanging posters for his 1991 BMG release "Girlfriend" on our backroom door I also remembered stocking the shelves with his 1995 BMG release "100% Fun" as the cover reminded me, of myself as a kid. When I was at Best Buy #19 on the southside we had a huge promotion for his 1997 BMG CD "Blue Sky on Mars" when you bought the Album, you received an "Exclusive Best Buy EP" I was intrigued enough I bought the CD to get the EP. I had also remembered I had bought "Saturday Morning" a various 1995 MCA release with Matthew performing "Scooby Doo Theme" (my son Obb and I sing this one all time), I was pretty sure he was in "Ming Tea" with Susannah Hoffs in the 1st "Austin Powers" Film form May 1997, performing "BBC" another song I loved and still do.

So when I moved to St. Paul at the beginning of 2000 I delved into and bought up all the Matthew Sweet I could find. However just moved here I was not all that familiar with the local music scene and I missed my chance to see Matthew in Mar 2000 1st Ave. I was told later, this was the show to have missed as Matthew had the flu and went on anyway, vomiting into a bucket off stage between songs. I was able to catch him live 2 other times, the set lists are provided a little later in this article. Strangely Matthew was also sick at the Feb 2001 show, I was able to get his autograph after waiting 45min in the bitter cold. At the 2nd time I saw him I met him after the show and spoke with him a little bit, i was curious about certain songs he had written and the inspiration for them, however like most musicians I interviewed he didn't remember too many details and was really focused on his most recent material.

I was speaking with someone I know after we heard the song "Girlfriend" over the P.A. and he had mentioned that Matthew's Drummer Ric Menck lived here in MPLS and worked at a local record store, and that he had many conversations with Ric. I mentioned I had met him once when getting Matthew to sign my "In Reverse" CD Ric actually came up to me and offered "I played on that would you like me to sign it, actually I played on most of Matthew's releases, I've been playing with him forever" I spoke with him a few minutes before he took off backstage, after signing my CD. For many years Matthew was one of my favorite artists, I listened to him constantly. Then he teamed up with Suzannah Hoffs of The Bangles and released 3 "Covers" CDs "Under The Covers Vol.1: 60s" "Vol.2: 70s" and "Vol.3: 80s" their voices and deliveries and arrangements are nothing short of fantastic.

I found out from my friend that Ric Danck told him, in Oct 2024 Matthew suffered a stroke while on tour which has grossly affected him, in walking and unable to play guitar. As just I lost my hearing due to Labyrinthitis, Ménière’s and Tinnitus, I could feel Matthew's pain, Matthew has worked with dozens of artists, appeared on TV, Films and Soundtracks, released some 21 Albums, with 10 Singles and 2 EPs and appeared on 21 Tribute Albums, this must be Matthew's worst nightmare, I know I myself, well, it feels like I have died and gone to hell, as music is my whole life, since I was about 9 months old and 44 years in the Music Biz. My frequent Co-Host on WDGY's The PsychoGello Show created a "Go Fund Me" to help me regain some of what I have lost, however the Hearing Unit I need is 5k and and we are not even half the way there yet. So I thought I would cover Matthew for the "PsychoGello Show" and "Remember When?" Here's to you Matthew.

Here are the Setlists for the 2 shows I saw (I have them on tape somewhere in my vaults).

20 February 2001 MPLS 1st Ave.
Beware My Love
Time Capsule
Divine Intervention
We're the Same
Where You Get Love
Untitled
I've Been Waiting
Devil With the Green Eyes
Someone to Pull the Trigger
If Time Permits
Come to California
You Don't Love Me
The Ugly Truth
So Far
Girlfriend
Sick of Myself
What Matters
Winona
Ready
Faith in You
Evangeline
Thunderstorm / Superdeformed

22 October 2008 MPLS 1st Ave.
Time Machine
Room to Rock
Byrdgirl
Dandelion
We're the Same
Feel Free
I've Been Waiting
Girlfriend
Sunshine Lies
Someone to Pull the Trigger
The Ugly Truth
Flying
Sick of Myself
Divine Intervention
You Don't Love Me
Superdeformed

Here is the PsychoGello show on Matthew:

Mr. Zer0's PsychoGello Radio Show 2026
Episode #345: Matthew Sweet
with guest Co-Host: Missy Marrz
Save Time For Me -1986
Vertigo -1989 Jan
Girlfriend -1991 Oct (#10)
Devil With The Green Eyes (for Kimbolita) -1993 July
Sick Of Myself -1995 Feb
Where Do You Get Love -1997 Mar
Faith In You -1999 Oct

Until the next time fans ..... MrZerr0

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