John Mayer

I’m really not into concerts. Really. Until this year, I’ve only paid for tickets to 2 concerts, other than the free Summerfest shows. I’m into singer-songwriter stuff that you see for free at coffee shops or Jazz in the Park downtown. I’m not into blaring speakers, music you can’t understand, screaming girls or 10,000 people jumping on metal benches for 2 hours (Love Monkeys, 1999). I had a friend who is VERY into concerts; actually, he’s just very into music. He has very good taste in music, except for a strange affinity for the Supersuckers (their lead singer is Eddie Spaghetti – don’t ask). This is the guy who told me to see Coldplay at the Eagle’s Club – a small venue in Milwaukee. His exact words were, “It will change your life.” I didn’t go and I’ve survived just fine. He introduced me to John Mayer way back when. The lyrics, the music, the voice – it all got to me. It isn’t unlike some great authors, who put words to thoughts or feelings we’ve had. Some of his songs perfectly describe situations I’ve been in (My Stupid Mouth), moments in relationships (Slow Dancing in a Burning Room / Comfortable), or just transitional times in my life (Why, Georgia).

In February, I went to my first John Mayer concert with my friend Nicole, and if you remember my previous blog entry about it, I was completely surprised. It was nothing like I expected it to be. So, we gave it another shot and bought tickets to see him at the Marcus Amphitheater at Summerfest. Thanks to her membership in his fan club, we got great tickets again – 8^th row, center stage.  Unfortunately, Nicole was cast in Footloose recently and couldn’t get out of rehearsal on the 3^rd. I checked with a few friends that would be willing to pay $65 for a ticket, but it was too close to the date and everyone had plans already. I ended up taking my brother with me, who is even less into concerts than I am. However, he’s very into good guitar playing, and John Mayer is on track to be a legend of our generation. There were a few points in the show where I caught Lafe looking at him in awe of some of his fretwork. He especially liked it when they had an unrehearsed jam session for several minutes.

If you’re interested, here is a very accurate review of the show. Brett Dinnen was different – I know he wasn’t bad, but his voice is odd enough that I’m not sure if I could listen to much of it. Ben Folds was good. All his music does sound alike, but he is a great entertainer and an amazing piano player – I don’t know if I’ve ever seen fingers move that fast before. He entertained the crowd for a while with his synthesizer by flirting around the “brown note.” If you don’t know what the brown note is, click here. At one point, he became a mad choir director (see video). And during one song, Weird Al walked across the stage with a tambourine, and then reappeared at the end. John was just…John. Good, clean, creative, entertaining, inspiring to people who wish they could play music better…As long as Nicole keeps up her Local 83 membership, I’ll keep getting the good seats for these shows.

Pictures of Summerfest and the $17 million waste of money can be found here.

Summerfest

It’s been a few years since I’ve gone to Summerfest.  I know some people who think it’s the showcase of human depravity, and at some times, and for some people it is.  There’s a lot more there than beer, skimpy clothes and eardrum bursting music, though.  They used to have a midway like the one at state fair, but they had to take that away because it attracted a younger, violent crowd.  I think they closed a few stages that drew the same crowd.  It’s kind of like Zoo a la Carte, too.  All the best restaurants in town open up shop on the lakefront, so you can sample a little bit of everything and walk it all off.  They have fun games, contests, military recruiting stations, autograph sessions for artists and athletes and some really good music (and some really bad).  Summerfest has experimented the last few summers with different performers, and I think it’s working.  A friend of mine called this year “Starbucks Summerfest” because there wasn’t anybody really crazy coming.  Almost everybody is mellow this summer, which suits me perfectly fine.

If you are entertained by watching drunk people, Summerfest is usually the place for you.  If you’re like me and you’re annoyed by drunk people, you don’t want to go.  This year, I saw probably only 3 or 4 people that were clearly drunk, which is a huge improvement from past years.  And, in years past I usually make a point of reporting people who are smoking pot (it’s kind of fun for me to watch them being taken away as they try to figure out who in this crowd of 5,000 people saw them smoking a joint).  This year, I didn’t see anyone like that, I just saw one person that was popping some pills that probably weren’t legal, but I didn’t do anything.  So if this is the effect of Starbucks Summerfest, bring on the coffee! 

I didn’t spend too much extra time there this year.  I only went the night of the concert and I got to the park about 2 hours before the show started.  We walked through the new Lakeshore State Park (formerly Summerfest Island), which was pretty, but not once you know the story.  Here’s the Cliff Notes version: $17,000,000.  17 acres.  No trees.  Short grass prairie with cement trail.  Boat camping only.  Boat slips for 30’ and under yachts only.  500 square feet of wetlands preservation land.  200 foot sand beach for those who choose to swim in the nasty water.  Oh, and in January, this park will probably be covered in 2 feet of ice.  I think that pretty much covers it.  I love the government.