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Rating: It had been a week now, I had told everyone: relatives, friends, girlfriends (or alleged ones), bakers, tobacconists, gas station attendants, dealers, and whoever else... always receiving the usual response:
"Who is this John Mayer?"
But how? Over the last year and a half, I've lived through his songs, breathed his emotions, studied his compositional technique, and these people... "who is John Mayer"?! Unbelievable!
But let me tell you, don't worry: John Clayton Mayer is an American guitarist and singer born in Bridgeport in 1977 (thanks, Wikipedia). That said, his main musical influences as he stated are: Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton. Now you might think: then this guy is an old-school bluesman! And I'll respond in this order: well... no, but maybe... yes, come on... wait, wait, let me think... partly.
Because our songwriter can (yes indeed) reasonably handle his hundreds of vintage guitars, but let's face it... he cheerfully disregards the blues tradition, the three-chord law, to wink at what he believes is the right path. He composes music like a young Paul Simon, imbues every pop work with soul, and climbs the charts with a nonchalance hard to believe if judged by the cover appearance.
Ok, fair enough, he might be a handsome guy, let's not get into that, but music comes first: meanwhile, the album "Room For Squares" (2001), with simple, effective, never banal rhythmic patterns, and a manic attention to arrangement, earns Mayer the title of "Star" in America. The second LP "Heavier Things" (2003) confirms his compositional talent and shifts to more electric and experimental yet pop-ish territories.
The leap into the blues/funky sphere comes with "Try!" (2005), a live album recorded with two top-notch musicians: Pino Palladino on bass and Stevie Jordan on drums. The sound here becomes dirtier, more acidic, and at certain moments it feels like the electric guitar is loudly calling Stevie Ray and Jimi, asking them to join the jam and party with the merry Trio all night. "Continuum" (2006) continues on the paved road to No. 1 on the best-selling album charts thanks to masterpiece songs like the bluesy Gravity or the effervescent Waiting on the World to Change.
What else to say? Oh yes, he recently released his latest work: "Battle Studies" (2009) which in Italy went as unnoticed as the contestants of Big Brother 5 if you come across them on the street now... But the blame also lies with various (and authoritative) local music magazines, which preferred to dwell NOT on the album review but on the frequent self-indulgence practices of our Johnny. Bah, go figure these journalists...
Anyway, to super-summarize the fact: last week, I was in London to enjoy 2 (and I say two) live performances by this artist, as unknown in Italy as he is praised in the Old and the New Continent (by the way... and Japan, in which continent is it? well, anyway, even there!)
What to say about Mayer's two performances in London? Simply, Ladies and Gentlemen, that this is one of the best artists and performers (living) that the world has kindly granted us so far. Impeccable vocal and instrumental technique (John is also supported by a band of industry professionals), remarkable stage presence, and improvisational skills brought to gargantuan levels (don't worry, for drama, I used the word of the day).
How could I sum up in a few words two of the most beautiful evenings of my life?
Simply by sending me a check with many zeros to my home address, or by reading directly below:
MAGIC MOMENTS:
10 - two guys (Italian) sitting in the front row before us, who in the middle of the concert give us their seats (without being noticed by the Anglo-Saxon security, put there with the clear intent to forbid you anything)
9 - During the song "Half of My Heart" a medley starts with Don't Stop Believin' by Journey
8 - the medley "Atmosphere"/"Something's Missing"
7 - the very relaxed banter with the audience while reading the banners
6 - the freestyle beatbox during "Vultures"
5 - the security guy who gifts me the set-list at the end of the concert
4 - "Assassin" during the break..
3 - ..and during the unconventional solo with the drumstick!
2 - "Edge of Desire" sung to the fan who was taking his photo
1 - the ending of "Gravity" with spectacular guitar evolutions
ten +
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