John Mayer, Where the Light Is
Before I can tell you about this film I have to help you understand the vast genius of John Mayer's music and his gift of producing music of such incredible qualities. John Mayer's music has over the course of his career witnessed such an amazing evolution, and ventured into beautiful genres to himself find and create songs of immense and incomparable beauty. It's something about the way he sings and create his voice as an instrument on it's own and merges it ever so beautifully with the rest of the music. It's something you have to hear and let grow on you, and once it grabs a hold of you, it will never let go. From easy listening almost pop-style tunes from his initial albums to an explosion of blues and jazz in "Continuum" to the more country style, harmonica helped new albums "Born and raised" and "Paradise Valley". John Mayer is one of those artists whose you cannot let go once they grab on. Alright, let's talk about the concert.
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| His first one, in 2003 |
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| His latest, 2013 |
Now I don't have a lot of experience watching live albums and reviewing them, but I first saw "Where the Light Is" in 2010, and have been watching it almost religiously ever since. As a musician, I find it to be like a "musical Bible". Almost every variety of genre from his career has been touched upon in this album and (I think) there are songs from every album. If you're a blues fan, this is especially for you.
The show starts with the most spectacular version of "neon", played acoustic with a brilliant intro towards the song, I don't think there is any young guitar player who isn't aware of John Mayer's Neon from "Where the Light Is". I think it's safe to say this one is more popular than the original recording from the "Room for Squares" album.
He goes on to play two more songs by himself, "In Your Atmosphere" and "Stop This Train". The first one , also known as LA Song is an old classic of John Mayer's which strangely has never actually been recorded and hasn't appeared on any albums except the live ones. It's a beautiful beautiful song played on a strangely tuned guitar. Listen to it closely. "Stop This Train" from his hit album "Continuum" really needs no explanation, it's another one of songs with a differently tuned guitar and it's melodies rise and fall to catch you in awe. He is then joined by guitarists Robbie Mcintosh and David Ryan Harris to play one of the most beautiful performances of "Daughters" and Tom Petty's "Free Fallin".
You can not miss either of these songs.
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| With Robbie Mcintosh |
Alright, Trio Time! The John Mayer Trio was formed in 2005 with drummer Steve Jordan and bassist Pino Paladino. They have released a blues-rock album "Try" and have been touring ever since. They form the middle section of "Where the Light Is". Dressed in classy black suits, the three of them look like the classic sexy blues band us blues people miss in the 21st century. BB King's classic "Everyday I Have the Blues" is the first item on the agenda only played this time with John's smooth voice and sexy guitar licks. That's the thing about this particular performance of the Trio, It's the old blues, only they're done in John's own unique style of singing, and his guitar playing? One word : Magnificent. John Mayer is one of the greatest blues guitar players alive today. Period.
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| He really Is |
"Go tell your friends, your stupid friends"
"Go tell your friends, what Johnny did,"
"Go tell your friends, what Johnny did,"
Then goes on to play another mind raising blues solo towards the end of the song, Now that's what I call Blues Swagger. He's got what what the old masters had, BB King, John Lee Hooker, the great SRV, the ability to sing and play in the blues guitar style, and John brings to this his own way of smooth singing and voicing over the licks.
The set ends with Axis : Bold as Love, by Jimi Hendrix, released by John Mayer in his album "Continuum". I guess this song sums up the blues side of John Mayer. The man doesn't really need anyone else to accompany him while he plays, much like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn, he sings and lays out riffs that you can't tell are lead or rhythm parts. But does anybody call him the next SRV? or the next Hendrix? Nah, they don't need to, 'Cos he's freaking John Mayer! Rolling Stone magazine's got a nice review.
That brings us to the last set of the show, with the entire band, including trio members Steve and Pino. The "Big Act" as John puts it in the dressing room prior to going onstage again puts up his most famous hits like "Waiting on the World to Change", "Belief" and "Gravity". And he lives upto his old reputation, performing these songs to perfection.
Gravity, Where the Light Is
Get high, turn off the lights, and hear this song. Gravity has to be the definitive song of John Mayer and his career so far. I really haven't much idea how to put a song like this to words. It's just, mind numbingly beautiful.
The stage lights are shut and a lone blue spotlight falls on John as he sings "I got dreams, dreams to remember..." . Pure awe, is what you feel, watching this song take shape. The lights go up, along with the entering organ and steady drumming. He asks the choir to keep going, and moves up to play, he plays a note and uses the head strings of his guitar to bend those notes. It'll make your body swoon to the floor. I really can't explain why this song is so good, maybe it's because of it's soft beginning, maybe it's the slightly bluesy chord progression, or it could be the gentle humming in the chorus, as John sings "Keep me where the Light is". But I can tell you that's how they named the album, "Where the Light Is". Because it's only when you're in the light that you can truly become who you are. To know who you really are, you must find that light, and find a way to stay there to sustain that perfection of yourself. And that's why the song goes "Just keep me where the light is".
I Don't trust Myself takes the show into a space age , synth guitar universe and Belief retains itself as a fantastic song. Why Georgia is something that you get by mixing a fresh glass of country music with John Mayer's clear voice and guitars. You literally feel like you've woken up to a fresh new dewy morning and you're driving down the road with the fresh morning chill against your face. When you mix funk and the blues you get songs like I Don't Need No Doctor. Almost every song in this concert is finished by a long guitarred jam . There's an especially fine one in this song. The Heart of Life is one of his most beautiful songs yet. Have you ever wanted to hear a really great Jazz song? Try John Mayer's I'm Gonna Find Another You. This song is a great example of Mayer's ability to take a genre and make it his own in his songs. With a solo intro using some sweet jazz scales, he smoothly takes you into the song with "It's really over...". What I love so much about this song is how his voice rises and flutters over the melodies. It's like a sweet jazz poem. All three guitarists take turns on their own sweet solos and rip out! It is one brilliant piece of music and probably was the best way to end the show.It's an album you cannot miss. Watch it!
That brings us to the last set of the show, with the entire band, including trio members Steve and Pino. The "Big Act" as John puts it in the dressing room prior to going onstage again puts up his most famous hits like "Waiting on the World to Change", "Belief" and "Gravity". And he lives upto his old reputation, performing these songs to perfection.
Gravity, Where the Light Is
Get high, turn off the lights, and hear this song. Gravity has to be the definitive song of John Mayer and his career so far. I really haven't much idea how to put a song like this to words. It's just, mind numbingly beautiful.
The stage lights are shut and a lone blue spotlight falls on John as he sings "I got dreams, dreams to remember..." . Pure awe, is what you feel, watching this song take shape. The lights go up, along with the entering organ and steady drumming. He asks the choir to keep going, and moves up to play, he plays a note and uses the head strings of his guitar to bend those notes. It'll make your body swoon to the floor. I really can't explain why this song is so good, maybe it's because of it's soft beginning, maybe it's the slightly bluesy chord progression, or it could be the gentle humming in the chorus, as John sings "Keep me where the Light is". But I can tell you that's how they named the album, "Where the Light Is". Because it's only when you're in the light that you can truly become who you are. To know who you really are, you must find that light, and find a way to stay there to sustain that perfection of yourself. And that's why the song goes "Just keep me where the light is".
I Don't trust Myself takes the show into a space age , synth guitar universe and Belief retains itself as a fantastic song. Why Georgia is something that you get by mixing a fresh glass of country music with John Mayer's clear voice and guitars. You literally feel like you've woken up to a fresh new dewy morning and you're driving down the road with the fresh morning chill against your face. When you mix funk and the blues you get songs like I Don't Need No Doctor. Almost every song in this concert is finished by a long guitarred jam . There's an especially fine one in this song. The Heart of Life is one of his most beautiful songs yet. Have you ever wanted to hear a really great Jazz song? Try John Mayer's I'm Gonna Find Another You. This song is a great example of Mayer's ability to take a genre and make it his own in his songs. With a solo intro using some sweet jazz scales, he smoothly takes you into the song with "It's really over...". What I love so much about this song is how his voice rises and flutters over the melodies. It's like a sweet jazz poem. All three guitarists take turns on their own sweet solos and rip out! It is one brilliant piece of music and probably was the best way to end the show.It's an album you cannot miss. Watch it!
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