Gravity

As I sit here listening to the soulful tunes of my new pretend boyfriend, my mind wanders back to Saturday night when John Mayer sang to me.

Me and everyone else at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, but that’s not the point. I like to think we had a connection. I’m sure he felt it too.

I was introduced to John Mayer later in life. This seems to happen to me a lot. I’m sort of slow discovering what’s “in” with the world. Sure I had heard of him. I knew that he was looking forward to running through the halls of his high school and screaming at the top of his lungs. I was aware that he was really passionate about waiting on the word to change. And that he thought some chick’s body was a wonderland.

But then I heard “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” and I was hooked. I immediately went and purchased his Continuum album and fell in love with his bluesy acoustic sound, preferring those to the more “pop” tracks.

You can imagine my excitement for seeing him in concert for the first time ever. Saturday night could not come fast enough. The crowd was pumped. The outdoor theater was hot. The energy was palpable and the anticipation was infectious. We heard the music swell and then a spotlight beamed down.

And there he was.

I nearly peed my pants when I saw he was shirtless. Did I think this was odd? I’m pretty sure the obvious answer is, “Who cares?” All I know is that is was hot and he never made an obnoxious point to address the crowd as to why he was sans shirt. He was just feeling the audience vibe, the heat and the music. And I LOVED that he had a buzz cut.

His first song was “Waiting on the World to Change.” Since this is not one of my favorites, I decide to take this time to text everyone I know and rub it in that I’m in the sweat vicinity of the great John Mayer.

My pretend boyfriend played from 9:00 to 10:45, stopping only to switch guitars. I have to say that he is talented, sounds exactly like his recordings and has an obvious passion for what he does in his life. I love seeing people in their element and he was in his on that stage.

Now let’s talk about the face.

Yes. Yes he makes weird faces when he sings. But I’m going to return to my original point from earlier and say, “WHO CARES!” Dude…whatever you need to do to make you sound the way you sound is fine by me.

It was a nice mixture of chill, thrilling and crazy entertainment. And then he ended with “Gravity.”

This is my song. I had to sit down because my knees went weak. Lord.

This is a pic (from the Jumbotron screen) of John during the riff at the end of the song. The best way to describe “Gravity” would to simply say, “mmh.” There are no words. I needed a cigarette afterwards and I don’t smoke. It was that good.

After the audience goes nuts for an encore, he returns to the stage, claiming that if someone takes the time to go to the art store and make a poster requesting a song, he will sing it.

One lady’s poster said, “Your music is my Xanax.”

Amen sister.

Another one read simply, “SAY!”

And that’s how the night ended…with “Say” and a ton of screaming fans. It was 0ne of the best concerts I’ve ever been to.

At church the next day, I left my Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion venue arm bracelet on so people would ask me where I had been. Is that too much information to share? Regardless, I would gush about how he sang to me, was shirtless and how I’m starting a campaign to be the Houston fan club president. In almost every instance, the person I was talking to would ask if Jennifer Aniston was there.

Following my theme from the night before, my answer was always, “Who cares?”

I fully suspect to have John’s people call my people in the next few days and Jennifer will be a thing of the past.

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: it’s good to have goals people.

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Lora Gaige
August 4, 2008 1:34 pm

JM is the best! I just saw him at the mile high music festival in Colorado and he was unbelieveable! I love your description…it’s just dead-on. Just this weekend, I also downloaded a bunch of acoustic and live tracks from iTunes that are just incredible. The album is listed as “The Village Sessions – EP” and “Where the Light Is – John Mayer live in Los Angeles”. Belief and 3×5 are other favorites of mine!

Bachelor Fan
Bachelor Fan
August 4, 2008 2:35 pm

Holy cow, he is Hottt! Move over HTC Brad, Lincee’s got a new love!

I saw JM at a fancy restaurant a few months back. I became fast friends with the maitre d’ and he was nice enough to point him out IF I didn’t make a big deal of it. 🙂 So I immediately made a detour on the “way to the ladies” to see John and his people. I have to say, love the the sans shirt/ buzz cut look!

Shannon
Shannon
August 4, 2008 2:39 pm

I’m going to be that person to burst the bubble. I can’t stand John Mayer. I know, I know. I have a legit reason I promise. My dorm mate in college would put the “Your Body is a Wonderland” cd on repeat as she was going to sleep EVERY night, ALL night for an entire semester. Her computer was password protected so I couldn’t turn the darn thing off after she went to sleep either. Listen to that gravely voice all night, every night for 5 months and I promise it will be like nails on a chalkboard. Not to mention any respect I had for him went out the window when he started dating Jessica Simpson….that goes for you too Tony Romo.

Lauren
Lauren
August 4, 2008 2:56 pm

OMG… I SOOO agree with you. Except, you will have to take a number on the pretend boyfriend thing… he’s been my pretend boyfriend since 2002!! 😉 I saw my 12th JM show the night before in Dallas, and he did the whole show without his shirt. The shirt never even made it to the stage! It’s the only time I guarantee you I will not complain about hot weather. I got to meet him in 2004…best 3.5 minutes ever. I actually wrote about it on my blog a few weeks ago… I usually have no shortage of things to say, but John Mayer took all the words (and composure) right out of me! http://www.mustlovedogsandmyparakeet.com/2008/07/9-days-till-john-mayer-and-i-meet-again.html

MC
MC
August 4, 2008 3:02 pm

I feel old reading Shannon’s comments as “your body is a wonderland” was not out in my college days, and neither was JM, haha.

Anyhow, I’m a fan of his.

I have to say I’m not bothered so much by his face when he sings…it’s the fact that he looks like he’s about to eat the microphone when he sings. It’s not an appetizer, dude.

That being said, most of his songs are so awesome that I listen to them with my eyes closed anyway. (of course, not when he’s sans shirt….hawt!!)

addy
addy
August 4, 2008 3:04 pm

Oh man – I was at the show in Irvine and I was so excited with everything he played. And the shirtless thing? Awesome. I love his music, especially Continuum, the Village Sessions and Trio albums… Also the songs he does with Herbie Hancock and BB King. Amazing. I have a couple blogs up about him, but I also wrote a sort of “ode” to him here: http://www.longwindedandproud.com/2008/04/music-i-love-john-mayer.html

I know. I’m a huge dork. But really, who cares??

sheila
sheila
August 4, 2008 3:15 pm

He looks very yummy!!! Jennifer Aniston bugs-hopefully he’ll wise up soon.

Dani
Dani
August 4, 2008 4:22 pm

You had a great seat! We watched him from the lawn section in Dallas, and I must say the sans shirt makes for a better performance!

Jess
Jess
August 4, 2008 4:23 pm

I heard on the radio this morning that before the Dallas show, he let Jennifer Aniston shave his chest and then he went shirtless when he played. So, who knows, but that’s what was on the radio this morning.

Cat
Cat
August 4, 2008 8:16 pm

Comfortable, Victoria, City Love, My Stupid Mouth, Quiet – check those songs out Lincee – they will make you swoon….I fell in love with him about 7 years ago

BC
BC
August 4, 2008 9:21 pm

awwwww, #7 sheila – I really, really like jennifer aniston, ever since angelina stole the other HTC Brad away from her. I don’t care how many kids Angelina adopts or has, she wore Billy Bob’s blood in a vial around her neck. Sick.

Kristin
Kristin
August 4, 2008 9:43 pm

No shirt? No fair!

When I saw him last summer I couldn’t get over how talented of a guitar player he actually is. I love John Mayer. He’s on my “list”. 🙂

One of my favorite parts of his concert last year was watching his feet when he plays. Almost as good as his facial expressions. He’s so talented!!!

julie
julie
August 5, 2008 8:31 am

I love him too – I can put one of his cd’s on & just let it repeat over & over & over. And I laughed out loud at “pretend boyfriend” – my PB for years was Rob Thomas until I found out he’s a big pothead – very disappointing. So now I’m pretend dating Chris Daughtry.

KT
KT
August 5, 2008 11:40 am

John Mayer was also one of the best concerts I had ever been to (second only to Keith Urban!!!) only he was fully clothed and dating Jessica Simpson at the time I saw him. I would give anything for him to come back to Denver!

Lindsey
Lindsey
August 5, 2008 2:23 pm

Oh my gosh, so jealous! I love him too and was hooked to “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” as well, it’s one of my favorites. I haven’t ever seen him in concert, but would absolutely love to one day. So glad you got to see him, and as always, I loved your post.

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