JOHN MAYER

– Where the Light Is, Live in LA

2008-10-13

John Mayer’s two-disc, live release Where The Light Is shines most brightly on Mayer’s largest attribute, his ego. Disc One consists of an acoustic set and a blues set featuring the John Mayer Trio, a ‘Mayeresque’ romp through the blues. While the acoustic set doesn’t really offer anything new vocally (a criticism I’ve heard of Mayer’s live performances), it does offer an intimate review of a few of Mayer’s bigger hits and a very nice cover of Tom Petty’s Free Fallin’. The Blues set offers a different perspective of Mayer’s talent, and provides an opportunity to get Mayer onto the WYCE airwaves by those programmers who may avoid Mayer because of his pop success. It’s during the blues set that you can more fully appreciate Mayer as a gifted guitar player, however at times it’s clear that showing off is his singular objective. Disc Two is replete with Mayer’s FM radio hits, and those who can’t get enough of Mayer will feel comfortable with the consistency of his live performance to the studio versions. Overall, it’s an okay live disc, although it’s not a landmark piece of work you sense Mayer would like it to be. Perhaps it would be more enjoyable if Mayer didn’t take himself so seriously. - Matthew

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Rock

  • reviewed 05/2007

    Arjun
    Pieces

  • reviewed 11/2006

    JET
    Shine On

  • reviewed 08/2004

    Guy Pearce
    A Slipping Down Life OST

  • reviewed 11/2015

    Rob Drabkin
    Live Vol II

  • reviewed 03/2008

    JACKIE GREENE
    Giving Up the Ghost

  • reviewed 06/2008

    COLDPLAY
    Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.