Where the Light Is. · 29 June 2008
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Flight to Adelaide: $79
iPod Touch: $290
Qantas Delaying Flight: Annoying
Killing time at the airport on the iTunes music store and realising John Mayer’s brand new album has just been released:
.
Priceless.
This is the best collection of Mayer’s work to date. Unlike other musicians who peter off of and go stale after half a dozen big hits, Mayer is topping his work consistently with every single release; without fail.
It’s a credit to his attention to detail and incredible talent for knowing what sounds right, and what sounds right – right now. Knowing when things sound good, and when people need to hear a particular style of writing, or music is absolutely essential, and Mayer has it down to a fine art. – And his timing has improved immeasurably.
At the moment, my favourite track on the album would be one of my all time favourite songs that he used to play in the old bars when he was starting out in the late nineties called “In Your Atmosphere” (or sometimes known as “LA Song”). I learned to play it a year ago, and it hits a real hard note with me. It sounds fantastic in this live recording; the music sounds like the lyrics, which sound like the idea behind the song. That may seem a strange, and somewhat common-sense thing, but it’s incredibly hard to do. Mayer nails it – but not without hard work.
This is the best album I’ve ever bought. Hands down.
This is why:
(nuff said.)
The Evolution will be Televised · 15 October 2007
This, from John Mayer this morning:
It’s been a long time since the days of my playing small acoustic club dates, and though I’m more than happy (and extremely lucky) to be where I am these days, one thing I’ve missed is the creative spirit of working without a net. Some of my best songs were written because I had a show nearing and needed more original songs to take the place of covers. It was creation by way of necessity.
It’s been my stance for years that I don’t want to work out new songs on stage for fear of them getting out in their raw form. I’ve always believed that in music, the first impression is the most lasting, and I wanted to have the say as to when a song would be heard and in what incarnation.
I’m ready to change that stance now. I’ve realized that there’s a new level of access into my life, one that I accept as a by-product of both lifestyle and technology. And if there’s going to remain such a large window into my life off-stage, I feel like I need to open the window to my music equally as wide. I am still as devoted to music as I’ve ever been, and I won’t let anything redefine that against my will.
I’m going to return to that firefight, taking small late night gigs around New York City and Los Angeles, writing songs and playing them when they’re still fresh. The date of the gig is my self-imposed finish line and I will play a new song with each set I perform.
Last night I played a set at Mercury Lounge, where I tested a new song called “Let a Man Be Lost ”, and it was amazing to be back in that place of staring at my feet to read lyrics that I wrote that afternoon.
One of the side-effects of this process is that these works-in-progress will probably be available to you in one way or another. It’s your decision to listen to them if you like but it’s my decision to rework them, strip them down to just their title and re-write from the ground up, or just burn them down completely, never to play them again.
I’m also ready to accept the fact that some people will try and read into the lyrics and make gossip out of them, but I can’t worry about that. Trying to avoid that would be the worst thing for my songwriting. I won’t let the success I’ve had make me comfortable, or the media exposure make me fearful of expressing myself.
Stand-up comedians like Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld have it right. They get to the top with their act, only to deconstruct it and start from scratch in a brick basement. That’s the only way I can see staying vital as a musician; picking fights with all the hundreds of excuses that curb creativity.
See you on the street.
John
John Mayer | Vultures · 23 September 2007
I’m finding this one on repeat in the car lately. It’s from Mayer’s 2005 release of “Try” and he kept with it when he released “Continuum” in 2006. Well crafted song: Once again with Mayer’s writing/playing/composing the music sounds like the lyrics, that sounds like the feeling he’s writing about. Still one of the most talented musicians performing today.
Mayer does Chocolate Rain · 22 August 2007
I should preface the Mayer clip by saying have a quick look at this massively viral clip of Tay Zonday’s song “Chocolate Rain”. It’s been one of the most viewed clips since the piano-playing cat with 6.5 Million views to date… but aah.. that crazy cat. Hang on I’m gunna go watch that clip again.
Okay I’m back – that was great. So here’s Tay Zonday:
And here’s Mayer’s response…
Inside Mayer's Summer Tour · 6 August 2007
Mayer gets massive wrap at Live Earth · 11 July 2007
I read on John’s blog a couple of days before the concert that he was nervous about the whole thing; mainly from the nay-sayers and critics, but clearly he’s come out on top. Again.
This from iTunes this morning. Go take a look for yourself…
Mayer's public apology. · 20 June 2007
This is what rock stars do to kill time after a gig.. nay this is was brilliant rock stars do to kill time after a gig. Admitedly; a bit retarded, but a good insight into the guy’s messed up humour.
Mayer Caption Competition · 24 April 2007
Folds and Mayer... Finally · 16 March 2007
??Ben Folds to Tour with John Mayer
John Mayer has tapped Ben Folds as the primary opener for his Continuum summer tour, which kicks off June 1 in Ridgefield, Wash. Additionally, blues-rocker Rocco DeLuca, Dueltone artist Brett Dennen and British songwriter James Morrison will all spend time in the supporting slot during the 38-date trek.
??Tickets for most tour dates go on sale to the public on March 24. The tour comes in support of Mayer’s album “Continuum,” released last year, which recently earned him two Grammy Awards for best pop vocal album and best male pop vocal performance on that album’s single, “Waiting on the World to Change.”
??Mayer is also scheduled to perform at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 5.
Singer/songwriter Ben Folds will be embarking on his own headlining tour at the end of this month, beginning March 24 at Assumption College in Worchester, Mass. He recently released “Live at My Space,” a DVD featuring his performance on Myspace.com’s first live-by-request Webcast from last year.
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Seriously… this is possibly the best tour I could ever have possibly fathomed. Ben Folds…. AND John Mayer. My two favourite musicians of all time. I’ve been to all of their concerts whenever they’ve been in Australia but they’ve always toured separately.
I met Ben back in August last year and had my caricature signed when I went to see Mayer in Melbourne in November last year. Two of the most talented lyrisits and original musicians the world has ever seen and they’re touring the us in 2007…
.. and I live in Australia.
Comment? [2]
Mayer gets two Grammys! · 12 February 2007
A real testament to his unwavering superiority as a musician; John Mayer has received the grammy for best pop vocal album as well as best pop vocal performance..
Not a lot more needs to be said about Mayer’s win – especially considering those he was up against paled in comparison (despite their high ranking in the industry.)
The best thing overall, however, was when Ryan Seacrest went up to Mayer and asked him the inevitable question as to whether he and Jessica Simpson were going out.
In true Mayer-style genius, he broke out into fluent Japanese, completely baffling, but somewhat impressing Ryan Seacrest.
Click here to listen to the MP3
Frankly, I think he freaked Seacrest Out.
Those of you who get that joke should be ashamed… but nonetheless bemused.
Anyway, from my limited 3-years studying Japanese, I can roughly translate Mayer’s uncanny outburst as: “Jessica is a very beautiful woman and it’s great to be with her”
Nice work.
A couple of notable notes were
a.) Imogen Heap’s hairdo/ head-thing. I’m not 100% sure exactly what was going on up there, but I’m sure she would have had to buy an extra ticket to get it in. Jesus.. look at that thing. I’m actually a big Heap fan, so seeing that was a bit of a surprise.
The other notable note for me was seeing India Arie, whom I’d never heard of until I sat next to her mum on a plane to LA (while India flew in First Class.) She had a couple of nominations for her latest album – also something I had never heard of before.
Good times.