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Music
for the masses
Mayer’s live album does him
justice
By Kelly Morris
Managing Editor
Singing. Cheering. Tapping feet. Clapping hands —
all in one crowded theater.
All captured in one two-disc CD set.
If you didn’t get to see recent Grammy winner John
Mayer on his summer tour, don’t worry. You don’t
need a $40 concert ticket. Just $17.98 for his new live
CD set, “Any Given Thursday.”
Released this year, “Any Given Thursday” was
recorded live at the Oak Mountain Amphitheater in Birmingham,
Ala., on his recent summer tour with Guster. The CDs
feature four unreleased songs: “Something’s
Missing,” “Lenny/Man on the Side,” the
Police classic, “Message in a Bottle” and
“Covered in Rain.”
This is not just any CD. It not only captures Mayer’s
talent, catchy tunes and humorous banter with the audience.
It some how puts you in a better mood. Maybe it’s
the lyrics. For example, in “83” a line says,
“What ever happened to my lunch box? When came
the day that it got thrown away?” His song, “Your
Body is a Wonderland” won Mayer his first Grammy
for best pop performance. Ten of the songs appear on
Mayer’s highly successful debut album, “Room
for Squares.”
But the live versions are much better. I was fortunate
enough to see Mayer in concert at the Bronco Bowl in
August. I knew he was talented, but after hearing him
live, I didn’t know he had that much talent. Once
I played the CDs at home, I immediately felt like I
was back in the crowded Bronco Bowl, singing along to
every song.
“Room for Squares” doesn’t give Mayer’s
talent justice.
“Any Given Thursday” sure does. Some of the
songs include an added intricate, musical introduction.
And I’m not talking about the boring, drawn-out
drum solo here. Mayer creatively disguises some of his
most recognizable songs leaving anxious fans, glued
to the end of their seats, trying to guess what song
it is.
After listening to “Any Given Thursday,” you
can tell John Mayer is having a lot of fun. Some critics
say it’s too early for Mayer to have a live album.
One listen and they’ll soon disagree. With no time
at all, they’ll be singing, cheering, tapping their
feet and clapping their hands in their own rooms.
No crowded theater required.
Kelly
Morris
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