Fresh Bread

John Mayer - Webster Hall 09.13.06

Yes, I enjoy some John Mayer.  He blew me away with his six-string skills during a surprise appearance at the 2005 Jammy Awards (which I attended).  A noted disciple of Lifetime Achievement winner Buddy Guy, Mayer added vocals and traded licks with the legend on "Hoochie Coochie Man" - Phil Lesh and ?uestlove provided the back beat on an amazing awards jam segment.

Technically, his guitar skills are top notch.  Creatively he can keep you on the edge during a live show with his emphatic and purposeful solos.  Those facts are hard to argue against.  Where Mayer takes most of his flack is in his past songwriting catalog.  Can you hold against him the fact "Your Body Is A Wonderland" is a sappy, sentimental pop track that dominated the airwaves back in 2002?  Some say yes, I say no (full disclosure:  *looks both ways* I like the song).

Once you move past the message in the song, you find intelligent and well crafted lyrics.  As a man comfortable with his sensitive nature I can accept the song for what it is and enjoy its over the top lovey-dovey-ness.  That song has dropped just as many panties as many Barry White songs have....but back to the show on Wednesday.

Having just released a new album - Continuum - Mayer sold out Webster Hall to promote the gig as well as record it for a future DVD release (TBD).  I missed the first 20-25 minutes but was able to get inside in time to catch an excellent version of "Clarity".  Mayer showcased his new single "Waiting On The World To Change" - an upbeat R&Bish smile maker - that was well received by the audience.  The gorgeous "Daughters" was played during his encore.  I seriously want to get married and have a little girl just so I can play this song for her (told you I was a sensitive one!).

Continuum is Mayer's third album and the first he produced himself.  Amrit Stereogum sums up Mayer's new album quite effectively:

...we're seeing brilliant glimpses at what J. May could do best: meld a strong pop sensibility to his burgeoning blues and bring the smoky sounds of Stevie Ray to the people. Sure, the record has that too slick sheen one expects from a major label adult alternative release, but John marries R&B and lots of licks to his hooks. It all makes for a record that's … really good.

I highly concur with the above.  Mayer-haters should at least take a chance and listen to his cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Axis:  Bold As Love" from Continuum. 

Peep this JM cover of Jimi's "Wind Cries Mary", performed 12.28.2004 at Webster Hall:

"Wind Cries Mary" (Live) - John Mayer.mp3

Stereogum has an mp3 of "Gravity" available here

I missed the opening act Mat Kearney (but saw him last February and liked it alot)

Widespread Panic - Radio City Music Hall 09.14.06

I had not seen Athens, GA band Widespread Panic in concert since 1998 before Thursday night's gig at Radio City Music Hall.  I remember having a good time at the Lawrence Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, NC back then - not a great time - but a really fun show.  I also remember this one girl who wouldn't stop playing drums on her boyfriend's shoulders during the show (a move which I decided to name "back bongos")....

Thursday marked the beginnings of a new chapter for the band after parting ways with their second lead guitarist George McConnell at the beginning of August.  WSP asked former Aquarium Rescue Unit/Phil and Friends/the Dead guitarist Jimmy Herring to become an official member - a position he happily accepted.  He was warmly received upon his entrance stage right; his white beard appeared from the darkness of the curtains setting the crowd into a glorious ovation.

As some should have expected the band will take some time to incorporate a new member.  It will take time to thoroughly understand and to anticipate each other's playing - something that is utterly important for bands based in improv land.  While there were some good grooves, the two sets from WSP were only fair.  I so wanted to be blown away but, alas, I wasn't. 

the setlist:

Set I: Pleas > Imitation Leather Shoes > Rebirtha > Blackout Blues, C. Brown, Time Zone, Don't Wanna Lose You > Give > Tallboy

Set II: You Got Yours, You Should Be Glad > Wondering > Bear's Gone Fishing > Arlene > drumz > Papa's Home > Junior > Solid Rock > Action Man

Enc: May Your Glass Be Filled, Chest Fever

Producer/friend John Keane joined the band throughout the night to play both pedal steel and electric guitars.

For me the first set was much more interesting than the second - with the set ending "Tallboy" the highlight.  The band was no where near being on the same page during the majority of that set and thus did not hit any great improv heights.  The drum solo effectively killed off a mostly average show. 

HOWEVER - any show in Radio City is a good show and the sound Thursday was spectacular.  It really is my favorite NYC venue.

Picture Of The Day - 9/11/06

Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals - Central Park Summerstage 09.05.06

My first gig in the music industry was working as tour support for Virgin Records on Ben Harper's Winter 2000 tour stop in Charlottesville, Va.  I had seen him once before - opening for DMB in 1996 - but for reasons I will not explain here do not remember his set.  So after giving out some free-bees I settled into a good spot inside legendary live club, Trax.  Simply, I was blown away.  Since then, Ben Harper has resided near the top of my all time favorite artists list.  Tuesday night in Central Park Harper and his Innocent Criminals put on a performance that was simply inspiring.

The list of adjectives describing Harper's music is endless; confrontational, angry, passionate, spiritual, dark, playful...you can find an entire spectrum of emotions in his records.  His most recent studio effort, a double album entitled Both Sides Of The Gun, seems to have sprung from current affairs like Katrina and WWIII the War On Terror.  It's classic BHIC and if you haven't heard it please take a listen (four songs on his myspace).

The band was clearly moved by the amount of people who braved the rain and wind that drenched Manhattan yesterday.  They repaid the crowd with a great set spanning the entire BHIC catalog.

The setlist:

Faded
Both Sides Of the Gun
Steal My Kisses
Diamonds On the Inside
Get It Like You Like It
Waiting For You
Forgiven
Please Don't Talk About Murder While I'm Eating
Ground On Down
Black Rain
With My Own Two Hands

Encore 1:
Another Lonely Day
Walk Away
Where Could I Go

Encore 2:
Heart Of Gold (Neil Young cover)
Please Me Like You Want To
Burn One Down
Please Bleed
Better Way

Highlights were "Black Rain" (which included a sick bass solo by Juan Nelson), "Forgiven", "Ground On Down", and the gospel track "Where Could I Go" (from his Grammy award winning album with the Blind Boys of Alabama There Will Be Light.  During the latter, Ben stopped the band, hushed the crowd (as best he could), and sang a verse a cappella without a mic.

I missed the opening set from Damien Marley due to the rain.

Magic Numbers - Joe's Pub (Early Show) 08.30.06

The Magic Numbers show at Joe's Pub last week was unbelievable.  The London-based band came over to record a set for WFUV (to be broadcast and posted on the station's website in the near future).  The tickets sold out so quick they added a second show.  I caught the early set and despite being stuck in the corner the band sounded amazing.  Apparently the second set was longer and had a better crowd.

I love their 60s pop-r&b sensibility, two and three part harmonies, catchy lyrics, and toe-tapping melodies.  The band - consisting of two brother/sister pairs - brought their hits from the first album .  "Long Legs", "Forever Lost", "Don't Give Up the Fight", and a set closer of "Mornings Eleven" were excellent.  The highlight for me was "I See You, You See Me". 

They also used the gig to test some of their new songs from the upcoming album they just finished recording in up-state New York including the first single "Take A Chance".   Peep this version of that song from Brixton Academy last February:

I See You, You See Me.mp3

The new material sound good - I am highly anticipating the announcement of the release date.

Check out two songs on the band's myspace page

Who's Driving the Bus was also there for the early show