Live Review: John Mayer in Los Angeles
June 11, 2007 04:01 PM
by Paul Gargano
LiveDaily Contributor
If a performer's art truly does offer a window into his soul, John Mayer (tickets | music) left his window wide open in Los Angeles Sunday night (6/10). In his second of two sold-out evenings at the Hollywood Bowl, Mayer delivered a 14-song set bookended by songs that questioned his place in the world. In between, he delivered to the crowd of nearly 18,000 a progression of flawlessly-executed performances that explored the complexities of life, love, humility and uncertainty.
Opener "Why Georgia," the first of five tracks from Mayer's multi-platinum 2001 debut "Room for Squares," was penned long before the Connecticut native and Atlanta transplant's move to Los Angeles, but its soul-searching lyrics echoed through the Bowl like they could have been written for his latest release and his intensified media spotlight: "Everybody is just a stranger / but that's the danger in going my own way / I guess it's the price I have to pay / Still, everything happens for a reason is no reason not to ask myself if I am living it right…"
His soft vocals carried by his equally soothing guitar and the buoyant backing of a seven-piece band, Mayer coupled his inspired delivery with masterful pacing. "I've got no evidence to support that theory, but I've got a guitar and some songs to help pass the time on the way," offered Jessica Simpson's tabloid-headline-sharing mate as an introduction to the bustling blues-rock fervor of "Good Love is on the Way," which blended into the epic, swampy soul of his modern-day blues classic "Gravity." He toggled seamlessly into the smooth jazz and spunky soul of "Neon" and the slow, supple and poetic "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room" before launching into the pop friendliness of breakthrough hit "No Such Thing."
The historic Hollywood Bowl proved a magical setting for the coming-of-age anthems, Mayer's simple staging and trio of video screens ensconced within the Bowl's stark white shell, which ran awash with color throughout the night. A brief foray into The Police's "Wrapped Around Your Finger" led into the introspective falsetto of "Vultures," and the saxophone and three-piece Bourbon Street breakdown that closed the gem from latest release "Continuum."
"Bigger Than My Body" was one of only two tracks from sophomore release "Heavier Things," but the perfect pop-rock delivery and swirling psychedelic lighting offered a staggering counterpunch to the less dramatic staging but equally as poignant adult-contemporary styling of "Wheel."
"This song is my baby, and my baby has taken some lumps," offered Mayer of "Your Body is a Wonderland," which formed the second half of an acoustic encore with "3x5" before the full band returned to deliver "Waiting on the World to Change." (If there's a more fitting song to be tabbed as a theme for the upcoming presidential elections, it's yet to be written.)
Falling in the "shameless plugs" category, the Apple logo on Mayer's guitar during "Neon" wasn't exactly subtle, but didn't come close to the kudos he aimed at Los Angeles AAA radio giant Star 98.7 in his intro to "No Such Thing," thanking the station for being an integral part of his present success. The song was a startling reminder to the Hollywood crowd that while Mayer may be one of the most highly-regarded young guitarists on the planet, it's his knack for embracing subtle pop nuances that has earned him the crossover recognition so many equally-talented players can't dream of approaching.
While none in attendance would have argued if the set lasted a few songs longer, the 100-minute performance was as representative as any we've seen from the budding superstar.
In the end, Mayer's message resounded loud and clear: In a world where wisdom is often hard to come by, it's the voyage to finding it that sometimes makes the most lasting impression. John Mayer may not have the wisdom of ages, but he has an undeniable gift for setting life's uncertainties to a billowing musical backdrop.
As was the case in Hollywood Sunday night, a commanding grasp of the questions proved far more fulfilling than feeble attempts at answers.
Originally found here.