If you hate John Mayer, stop reading now.

[theatokos]

Tonight I am going to Roller Derby. That's right: bad ass bitches on roller skates. Whee!

But last night.... last night was a huge disappointment and a giant artistic inspiration. I saw John Mayer at the unfortunately named Sleep Train Pavilion in Concord. Lordy, was driving through Concord a reminder that suburban hell is not too far away. How can people, supposedly in their right minds, choose to live in a place called Crystyl Ranch?? No, I did not misspell that. Last night was also a reminder that I hate large venue concerts. I swear I was a mile away from the stage. There were 4 large tv screens though to show me John Mayer's dorky mug and "O" face. He really does look like he's having sex with his guitar. It's a little awkward at times, I must say, even though the man is a fucking rock star on the guitar. Oh wait, that's redundant because we know he's a rock star. In any case, the man puts on an incredible show. Musically, he is off the hook and his energy and honest-to-god sincerity carried all the way to us lowly lawn people.

The quality of his show was driven home when Sheryl Crow stepped on the stage. I don't want to spread rumors or anything, but the consensus of my pals is she was drunk. Wa-a-ast-ed. I knew it was going to be bad when two people on either side of me asked, at the same time, if she was singing in English. After song one she asked the audience if they were having a good time (confirming cheers) and then flung her arms out, as only the intoxicated can, and said "I'm grrreeat!" looking as though she could tip over at any moment. Musically, the woman has a great voice but she has the charisma and musical interest of, say, ordinary noodles and bottled marinara. Fine, if you're hungry and just need a quick bite so you don't starve, but nothing of interest or substance. Her relentless 4/4 beats reminded me how interesting JM's rhythms are.

So, I'm on a little bit of John Mayer high. I saw him in concert 5 years ago in a much smaller Seattle venue. His unexpected blues guitar won me over. Even though I had to endure a large stadium-like venue, I'm glad to know that the man's only become a more amazing musician and performer. His sheer unadulterated dorkiness and his clear love of sharing music was a great reminder for me: dare to be dorky, people. Dare to be dorky.

Comments

[ginger-root.livejournal.com]

I totally feel you on the general hatred of stadium shows. I think I (and you too, I imagine) have been ruined by tiny little club folk shows. You know, the kind where you pee in the same place as the performer and they're like, smushed up to the mic maybe eighteen feet from your face. They drove there in a Subaru older than yours, and they're wearing the same clogs as you... dammit, I love folk singers, for real. ;)

Also, John Mayer = saliva.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Yeah, smaller venue shows are just so much more enjoyable. Too small though and I tend to get claustrophobic. I'm only 5'2" so lots of people squished up all around me makes me need to flee.

And Subarus! Ah, NH is so much like Alaska! No drives Subarus here in CA. Why would they need to?

[goddessofmercy.livejournal.com]

How can people, supposedly in their right minds, choose to live in a place called Crystyl Ranch??

chris and i drove past that place when we were up there two weeks ago, and we were floored by that name as well. what the fuck? that name is a travesty.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Concord seems a sad sort of place. You can probably speak to this much more accurately than I can.

[goddessofmercy.livejournal.com]

well, i didn't go to concord much except sometimes to a couple of stores and restaurants, mostly because there wasn't much in concord worth seeing. it's not known as an interesting place. when i was a kid my parents favorite sushi place was a little hole in the wall in concord and they would take me there for sushi. the owners loved me and even bought me my own pink pair of training chopsticks.