Is it me, or does it seem like every new male acoustic guitar artist today is trying to emulate John Mayer? Don’t get me wrong, the guy is great, a real trailblazer. But it’s becoming difficult to find an acoustic guitarist who can really stand on his own. Dan Godlin, however, may be the newest exception.

A self-taught guitarist, Godlin is first and foremost a story-teller, which is evident in his live performances as well as the lyrics to his songs. With a breathy, airy voice, the Boston native pays tribute to past and current crushes and loves with his undeniably poetic lyrics. Prediction: Godlin’s lyrics are going to be all over 12 year-old girls Myspace pages as they swoon over the idea that maybe in some far off world, true love does exist. The kid is a chick magnet, and I think he realizes that and uses it to his advantage.

It’s difficult for someone to appeal to the masses, but Godlin has the charm and wit to do so. With clever anecdotes in between each song in his 8-song set, Godlin had the crowd engaged and laughing. His live band included guitarist/back-up vocalist Dave Gold (whose harmonies were pitch-perfect) and piano player Gary Greco. The trio performed several covers including “Free Fallin’,” (which I personally liked better than John Mayer’s cover of the same song), and The Script’s “Breakeven”, but Godlin’s potential really shone in his original songs.

One of his strongest songs is called “Did She Look,” and the background story that he told before performing it is almost as cute as the song itself. Apparently, he was going out of a revolving door as a gorgeous girl was going in and they made eye contact, and when he was on the other side he asked himself, “Did she really just look at me?” Godlin has the ability to turn everyday situations into songs that people can relate to, the mark of a true artist.

While Godlin is talented enough to stand on his own, a comparison to John Mayer does have to be made, and not necessarily to Godlin’s advantage. His voice is uncannily similar to the blues guitarist’s, and in order to stand out and really shine he may have to stretch his vocal comfort levels a little. He has the raw talent, though, and we’re looking forward to seeing what he has in store in the near future.

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