Mayer revives rock with sheer style

  John Mayer and his band are known for
their intense live shows.

By Chris Moriates
Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Where the hell did this guy come from?

Reflecting the passion, sincerity, and, yes, even the guitar
prowess of Jimi Hendrix, the pitch-shifting vocals of Dave
Matthews, the live show intensity of Pearl Jam and the nonsensical
bantering of John Frusciante, this guy seems to have it all.

John Mayer, a singer-songwriter from Atlanta, amazed a full
crowd at the Troubadour in Hollywood on Wednesday, displaying that
he is truly a live performer. The show was part of his U.S. tour in
support of his new album released on Columbia Records, “Room
for Squares,” which, while good, is not an adequate
representation of Mayer’s abilities.

Mayer’s guitar is attached to his body like an extra limb
and he reacts as though electricity runs through his spine. While
displaying his unbelievable soloing, Mayer’s body contorts
and moves with his mouth lipping every note, as if the sounds are
being exorcised from his body. The display is powerful, and almost
too choreographed ““ except there is a very strong sense that
it is completely sincere.

Mayer’s voice drips with feeling. Although he was backed
up by a full band, Mayer knew when to send them backstage,
performing songs by himself or with the accompaniment of his bass
player.

The band knew when to jam too, adding amazing improvisational
work to some of the songs. Mayer performed through the majority of
his own repertoire, including interpretive versions of Jimi
Hendrix’s “Wind Cries Mary” as well as short
teases of songs by Stevie Ray Vaughn and The Police sewn into
different songs.

The show opened with Shea Seger, who displayed her intense power
as a singer-songwriter. Seger has been described as country,
probably because of her origins from Texas; however, if
that’s country music then what the heck is Tim McGraw? Seger
is an introspective rock ‘n’ roll artist who has
absolutely nothing to do with country music, except maybe a slight
accent.

She performed soulful renditions of blues songs and careened
herself across the stage many times singing and yelling in response
off-microphone. Janis Joplin would’ve been proud, and Macy
Gray would’ve been jealous.

If Seger and Mayer are any indication, then the life support can
be removed from soulful, heartfelt, blues-based rock
‘n’ roll, because it is alive and well.

CONCERT: See John Mayer and Shea Seger live at
the Roxy Theatre on Sunset Blvd. tonight, 8 p.m.