Matt Nathanson in concert tonight

Not many touring acts plan to celebrate their first trip to Bloomington by "Googling" John Mellencamp's private recording studio so they know where to break and enter. \nSinger/songwriter Matt Nathanson did.\n"I don't want to steal anything," Nathanson said. "I just want to walk around and play some 'Jack and Diane.' It might be kind of hard to get in though. Do you know any ninjas?"\nAs nice as it might be to say "all kidding aside," with a personality like Nathanson's, one can never be too sure.\nKate Earl and Matt Wertz will join Nathanson for an IU Dance Marathon benefit concert tonight at Alumni Hall in the Indiana Memorial Union. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. show. Nathanson will perform third. The Boston native turned San Francisco resident has made a name for himself touring the country, wielding a 12-string guitar and witty banter that would put any late-night talk show host to shame. \nHe laughed as he described how he carries his personality on stage with him and views it as a weakness when on his third night in Boston, he's still telling poop jokes. Interacting with the crowd is one of Nathanson's favorite aspects of touring. \n"Connection with the crowd is what makes the show transcendent," Nathanson said.\nNathanson said he writes almost exclusively from personal experience and how he deals with those experiences.\n"Everybody carries around baggage," he said. "And they'll carry it with them until they decide to deal with it." \nNathanson's most recent release, Beneath These Fireworks, marked his first and final dealing with Universal Records. Until that point, his records had been released independently, though he said he remains close to his friends at the label.\n"Working with Universal was kind of like when you're dating a girl, and you say to yourself, 'Well, she's attractive and kind of fun,' but they just didn't dig what I dig," Nathanson said.\n If no major label is willing to promote the album, Nathanson said he has no problem releasing it independently in January or February 2006. \nTonight's concert marks the first time Union Board and IUDM have worked together on a fund-raising project. IU Dance Marathon president Christopher Carlson said he is excited about the show and hopes the two organizations will continue their relationship. All proceeds benefit Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.\nUnion Board Concert Director Lana Kleyman said she is excited for Nathanson's performance.\n"He has a wonderful and energetic live show," she said. "He has a great way of connecting with the audience and leaves everyone smiling, singing along and having the most wonderful time"