John Mayer Brings "Born and Raised" to the First Niagara Pavilion

In 2010 during the Battle Studies tour, Mayer was fresh off the media backlash from his recent Playboy interview. His performance during this tour was lack luster and seemed forced. Mayer seemed ready to throw in the towel and could not wait for that tour to end. One comment he made, as I remember it, was a reaction to the crowd heading to the parking lot before his set was over. Pittsburghers gave back the energy that he was putting into the show and decided to beat the traffic.

The Born and Raised tour last evening, however, was singing a different tune. He entered the stage with a warm welcome to his Pittsburgh fans and brought an undeniable energy to the lake last evening. Mayer was filled with smiles and laughs and truly was enjoying the show.  We were lucky enough to be in the second row to experience his triumphant return.

He started out his set with the Paradise Valley hit, “Wildfire” followed by an up-tempo version of “Half of My Heart”. During his heart-wrenching break up song, “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room”, a young couple was escorted to the front row and before my eyes the young man proposed to his girlfriend.  This was probably not the best Mayer song to pop the question to, but a beautiful moment to witness.

Mayer continued on with a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad” and later broke out his harmonica with a wonderful interlude into the tour titled tune, “Born and Raised”.

Later, Mayer performed “Who Says” and changed the lyrics to reflect his current age -  “Its been a long time since 32”. This is certainly acceptable, since he is now looking back at the time when he was struggling to find who he is today. 

Other unique performances included, “I Will Be Found (Lost at Sea)” from Paradise Valley while on the piano and “Come Back To Bed” from his critically acclaimed 2003 album, Heavier Things. Mayer attempted to play this for a fan that requested it from the 5^th row. He said he had not played it for a very long time and ‘put it away’ to make room for his new songs. Mayer really went for it, knowing the chords were not coming easy and we enjoyed watching his interaction with the fans during this moment.

Mayer ended the night with his guitar-shredding classic, “Gravity” and left fans soaring to their cars talking about how impressed they were with the evening.

 

He later put a picture on his Instagram, showing he was not holding back - shredded fingertips and all. Mayer seemed taken back with the Pittsburgh crowd this time. He certainly received from us the high praised energy that he and his amazing band were putting into the show … and no one was trying to beat the traffic.

This was the best I have ever seen him perform. The vibe was chill, the fans were singing, and John was smiling. This performance was memorable and showed his appreciation to being back on the stage.

 

John Mayer - Born and Raised

It has been a little over two years and several hiccups along the way since the world has heard anything from John Mayer. Deleting his Twitter account and periodically sweeping clean his Tumblr page, Mayer has been making a point to keep others from looking in and for good reason.  He has been on a personal journey of self-discovery and has written a classic and revealing album called Born and Raised due out on May 22, 2012.

Fans of John Mayer have been anticipating this album for quite some time since the release of Battle Studies in 2009. In a transitional period with his music, Battle Studies lacked patience as a follow up to Continuum, and only skimmed the surface of this writer as he penned the lyrics and laid the melodies. But without this period in time, Mayer may not have been able to let go of control and write a beautifully structured classic, country feeling album such as Born and Raised.

iTunes released a full album stream last evening and here is a track by track review of the new album:

“Queen of California” – Most Hopeful -  Reminiscent of days filled with the sounds of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, this catchy tune takes you on a trip out west as Mayer is letting go and believes there is another color waiting on him as he takes an adventure into something new.

Lyric: Boarded a flight with a song in the back of my soul

“The Age of Worry” – Most Courageous – A power ballad with an Irish pub feel about facing fears and letting go of the worry and to ask oneself “why should I care”.  He is asking to reclaim your heart and mind in this “Age of Worry” and not let it hold you back.

Lyric – Dream your dreams, but don't pretend | Make friends with what you are

“Shadow Days” – Most Apologetic – This song is the first single from the album and by now is no secret to the apologetic nature this song exudes and has definitely set listeners up for the story the album brings.  This song is just one chapter into this autobiographical record.

Lyric - But you find yourself alone | Just like you found yourself before
|

Like I found myself in pieces on the hotel floor

“Speak For Me” – Most Transitional – This track is the “Something’s Missing” from Heavier Things morphed to meet Born and Raised. He is still stumbling on that missing link, still looking for guidance into the man he wants to be but is willing to ask for help.

Lyric - Show me something I can be | Play a song that I can sing |

Make me feel as I am free | Someone come speak for me

“Something Like Olivia” – Most Familiar – With a melody as familiar as yesterday this slow southern rock groove touches on a girl named Olivia that would be the perfect “other half”, yet she is with another man.

Lyric - No I'm not trying to steal | No lover way from no man |

But if Olivia herself were at my door | I'd have to say I'd let her in]

“Born and Raised” – Most Revealing – The title track is the title track for a reason. This open and honest song hits home every time you take a listen.   To reach the moment of being “Born and Raised” can only be achieved when one accepts their own grass roots in which they came. Mayer touches on his family and makes reference to his parent’s separation while laying out his experiences over the last two years on this track.

Lyric - Then all at once it gets hard to take | It gets hard to fake what I won't be |

Cause one of these days I'll be born and raised| And it's such a waste to grow up lonely

“If I Ever Get Around to Living” – Most Freeing – The ability to let go of your past life and move into your own soul, your own home, your own self.  He has accepted to be free of a life he does not need and acceptance into whom he is. This track is amazing in the sense the song starts out very different that how it ends. It is as if two songs were put together and the tempo and shift change in the song is marvelous and seamless.

Lyric – I’ll take the end of every day| Tie it up to every morning| And sail away

“Love Is a Verb” – Most Descriptive – Almost as if Mayer is channeling Van Morrison in this stripped down simple song of love, describing how love is shown and not something one possesses.

Lyric - Love ain’t a crutch | It ain’t an excuse | no you can’t get through love

| on just a pile of IOU’s

“Walt Grace’s Submarine Test, January 1967” – Most Anticipated - Those that have followed the release of this album know this song is a story of a man named Walt Grace and his “one man submarine ride”.  A man searching for something more, builds a submarine which his wife and friends disapprove of. But questions still loom – will he succeed? Where is he going? And most of all…does he survive?  I guess you will have to listen to find out.

Lyrics – Cause when you’re done with this world | You know the next is up to you |

“Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey” – Most Introspective – A song repeating the lines “whiskey, whiskey, whiskey - water, water, water - sleep”.  Perhaps a pattern experienced in Mayer’s life  in which he was stuck in a phase in which he knows he will get through but has “a ways to go”.  A narrative of a past he is laying to rest.

Lyric – Walking home with no one left | Speak softly underneath my breath |

“Hey world you ain’t seen nothing yet”| Great now it’s raining

“A Face to Call Home” – Most Accepting – Mayer knows a girl that he says has a “face to call home” and is accepting the chance to be vulnerable and happy.  This song has the right feel for this album but underneath is a classic Mayer track.

Lyric - Maybe I could stay awhile | I’m talking like all the time

“Born and Raised (reprise)” – Most Complete – This sums up the album as if to almost release all the turmoil and struggle with a big “sigh”. Now it has all been left behind as this modern day music cowboy walks into the sunset.

Lyric - And half the time I’ll be twice my age | Better learn how to turn the page |

Cause time is strange when you’re Born and Raised

Born and Raised is such a complete album that if you were to “shuffle the deck” and realign the songs into chapters from a book, you will find Mayer’s journey over the last few years included in this record. If you are willing and ready to forgive the past and live the journey of Mayer’s self-discovery, please pick up a copy of Born and Raised.

John Mayer - Shadow Days

This first single from John Mayer's upcoming album, Born and Raised, hit radio waves February 27, 2012 and the first station to feature it was Minnesota's Cities 97. Mayer is showing a much different side in this album and per Mayer's Tumblr account, Born and Raised will be released May 22, 2012. Here is the full studio version of "Shadow Days".

Track Listing:

1. Queen of California
2. The Age of Worry
3. Shadow Days
4. Speak for Me
5. Something Like Olivia
6. Born and Raised
7. If I Ever Get Around To Living
8. Love is a Verb
9. Walt Grace’s Submarine Test, January 1967
10. Whisky, Whisky, Whisky
11. A Face To Call Home
12. Born and Raised (Reprise)