I’ll admit it – I was afraid of John Mayer. For starters, I’ve heard way too many Dave Matthews Band fans sing his praises.
He also used to be on a record label that was associated with those “jam” bands that I so frequently hate.
Finally, his latest album Room for Squares got good reviews in several of those generally tasteless national music magazines.
For some reason, I still let a friend talk me into going to see him when his tour swung through Asheville in May.
In preparation for the show, I listened to his latest CD. While it didn’t knock my socks off, I kind of liked it.
I can see why fans of the Dave Matthews Band like him, but I can also see why fans of folksy-type, and maybe even journal rock, like him. His lyrics are perfect for the twenty-something demographic, and he sounds sincere.
That sincerity is multiplied in his live show. The guy’s got charisma, he’s super-funny, and above all, he’s talented.
Mayer draws a fairly diverse crowd. There were MTV-worshippers there, high school kids, college rock people and even some folks who were middle-aged and above. I thought I got lucky when a middle-aged couple sat next to me – I thought I’d be spared from the “wild” rockers. Unfortunately, I was wrong . Apparently they were the “cool” parents who bought beer for the neighborhood kids or something.
Everyone there seemed to know and love these people, and most of their friends were really tall (thus blocking my view). They kept sticking their butts in my face and stepping on my toes. Still, somehow, I managed to have fun.
Mayer performed most of the songs off of his latest album, and he threw in some semi-covers (he didn’t play the whole songs) of something by Jay-Z, “Girls
Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper, and that
“Let’s Hear it for the Boy” song off of the Footloose soundtrack. He also did the song from the “My Buddy” commercials (remember those dolls from the 1980s?).
And, the guy is actually a really, really good guitarist.
So, my verdict on John Mayer is that he is much better live than on CD, although the CD isn’t bad. I’m actually looking forward to his next tour through the
Southeast, and since Atlanta’s his home-base, I shouldn’t have to wait too long.

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