If anyone ever wants to know what the best way to start a winter tour is, feel free to ask singer/songwriter Matt Nathanson. He will definitely have an answer.

"We did five days on this Rock Boat, where a bunch of bands get on a boat with a bunch of folks and we play shows constantly," Nathanson said. "Then we went to the Grand Cayman Islands and Jamaica. That's the way to start a tour, in case anyone ever asks you."

One might think that kicking off a winter tour -- "winter" being the key word -- by going to Jamaica can only lead to disappointment when performing in chilly State College.

But Nathanson is too excited to let a few below freezing temperatures get him down.

Not only did he sell out the State Theatre, but he was also asked to perform on a very popular late-night television show.

"We just heard this morning that we're going to [perform on] Conan O' Brien tomorrow night, which is super f**king exciting," Nathanson said last Monday. "All this positive stuff is great, especially because it feels like I've been taking the stairs throughout my career. Every step has been great. I feel like there's a nice momentum happening with the record."

Nathanson's new record, Some Mad Hope, is being enjoyed not only by fans on campus, but is also being featured on television shows like One Tree Hill, NCIS and Private Practice. He also performed a song for the American Wedding soundtrack.

"It's really validating in a weird way to hear your song in a movie or a TV show," he said. "We all remember Say Anything when 'In Your Eyes' was playing when John Cusack held the boombox above his head. Who wouldn't want that? It's something I'll tell the grandkids for sure."

It's not just Nathanson who's excited, but his fans as well.

Erik Dulaney (sophomore-business) has been a longtime fan and, having already seen Nathanson once in Baltimore, is eager for the performance.

"He blew me away," Dulaney said. "He's like a stand-up comedian in between songs. Everything he says cracks you up. He has a serious artist side after he does all that, which really impressed me. He's, overall, a great performer."

Whether he's connecting through his witty banter or his music, Nathanson said interaction with the crowd is essential to a good live performance.

"It's crucial. Playing the songs is great and connecting with the band is great," Nathanson said. "But it's all about connecting with the crowd. The crowd's energy is what elevates the whole event from just being rehearsal. It's sort of like you're throwing a party, and you want to mingle with everyone there. For me, it's a natural way of making me feel at ease."

Because the event is sold out, not all his fans had the chance to get a ticket.

"This was like the first opportunity I had to see him," Steve Liebfried (freshman-biology) said. "I couldn't get tickets."

Jessica Lowery (junior-engineering science) also missed her opportunity to see Nathanson live for the first time.

"I was super mad that it was sold out," Lowery said.

While he has no definite plans to return to State College, a performance in the future wouldn't be surprising, given his apparent affection for the town -- even if the weather is nothing like Jamaica.

"I love State College," Nathanson said. "There's always great food, great stores ... State College is nuts."