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Taken from Calgary Sun (April 4, 2010)
Mayer thrills rabid fan base
by Lisa Wilton
John Mayer thrilled 10,000 rabid fans
at the Saddledome Saturday night.
(Lyle Aspinall/Calgary Sun) |
It’s been a couple of years since John Mayer tried to shake the sensitive singer-songwriter tag in exchange for a more serious guitar virtuoso image.
For the most part, he’s been successful. His 2006 album, Continuum, was a rich mix of blues and neo-soul that managed to channel the spirits of Curtis Mayfield and Jimi Hendrix into a catchy adult-contemporary pop package. His latest release, Battle Studies, returns to the pop side and proves that underneath Mayer’s smug bravado lies an immensely talented musician and songwriter.
Despite his recurring case of foot-in-mouth disease, Mayer has remained wildly popular with his fans —10,000 of whom watched as the Connecticut native played a fluid and soulful two-hour set at the Saddledome Saturday.
“Hey Calgary, how you feeling tonight?” Mayer sang after his opening song, Heartbreak Warfare, the second single from Battle Studies.
Mayer’s confident stage presence was apparently a huge turn on for the women who made up most of the audience. They oohed, they ahhed, they cooed and screamed every time Mayer so much as glanced in their general direction.
But for those who weren’t mesmerized by the singer’s good looks, Mayer’s exceptional guitar playing and ice-melting vocals were worth the trip.
But the problem with Mayer’s music is that there is no edge. None. It’s smoother than marble, which is fine for a dinner party, but live it can get a little boring. Mayer was joined by a well-oiled five-piece band and two backing singers who added some depth but no real zest.
The singer was also at a disadvantage having to follow opener Michael Franti.
Franti, a Calgary Folk Festival favourite, had the crowd up on its feet with his reggae-acoustic rock mix.
A hugely entertaining performer, Franti was backed by his stellar band, Spearhead. Forget the regular 45 minutes usually allotted opening bands, Franti and Co. played a full hour’s worth of amazing material that spanned his career, although there was a focus on his latest CD, All Rebel Rockers.
While plenty of acts connect with their fans, Franti has a special way of interacting.
Franti grabbed about a dozen audience members to join him on stage to sing and dance along to his final song, the rousing hit single, Say Hey (I Love You.)
Mayer fans might disagree, but it’s pretty safe to say Franti stole the show.
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