Calling all John Mayer groupies and fanatics:Your digital bible has arrived!
The 25 year-old guitarist just released his first concert DVD, "Any Given Thursday". Recorded live at the Oak Mountain Amphitheatre in Birmingham, Ala., the DVD showcases Mayer performing 16 of his most popular songs. From "No Such Thing" to "Comfortable", Mayer envelops his audience with his breathy voice and surprisingly casual stance on stage.
While John Mayer may be a fine live performer, however, he hardly creates stunning entertainment as did preceding showmen such as Kiss or Elton John. The concert is nowhere near visually addicting -- Mayer prosaically stands stationary nearly the entire show. Aside from the head pecking and making out with the microphone, Mayer was just another member of his band. This explains why the other musicians stand in the background until later in the performance -- so not to distract from Mayer himself.
The sound and video quality are outstanding throughout the concert. Every breathy tone from John's mouth can be heard without much audience interference. If I had a large enough TV screen and a few beers I would have felt as if I was in the front row -- almost. Minus the few rows of empty seats caught by the camera, I would say that this Connecticut native's popularity amongst the attending Southerners is quite impressive.
The DVD Bonus features attempt to humanize the idol we know as "John Mayer". We begin the morning of the concert and continue through the afternoon rehearsal in "Any Given Soundcheck." Not one minute of the day is passed over, including the stage setup and instrument tuning. Having a quasi-backstage pass to John's rehearsal offers an interesting look into what normally is taken for granted.Mayer always has looked quite awkward on stage, but later he opens up to state that the crowd provides supporting feedback that helps him perform at his best. The chaos and confusion documented from that "Any Given Thursday" cultivates appreciation for every concert I have attend.
The last thing I'd ever want in my face at 7 a.m. is a camera, but in the bonus feature, "The Next Morning," Mayer welcomes the camera into his hotel room for an early interview. The entire scene involves Mayer thinking aloud and displaying such fascinating things as the shower knob and the "Life" section of the "USA Today." I suppose he has a sense of humor, but I must have missed the joke. After a few minutes, Mayer begins to discuss his life and inspiration for song lyrics. "City Love," based on New York, was an emotional song for Mayer to perform in Alabama. The concert was held on Sept. 12, 2002, the day after the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. He noted that the crowd was in sync with his voice and emotionally tied to the lyrics. Those enthralled with John Mayer absolutely will adore this bonus feature along with the following slideshow. Here, John Mayer is seen as a true person, without the hype and media.
As a John Mayer memento, I would agree that this DVD is a fantastic compilation. Mayer is a talented individual, despite his lack of live showmanship. I definitely plan on at least listening to his performance again. Why then, didn't I just buy the audio CD?
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