Gig 'review'/ John Mayer

 

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

John Mayer/ Solo, Live in Mumbai

Genre: Pop-rock/ singer-songwriter 

Presented by: BookMyShow Live 

Details: Mahalaxmi Race Course, February 11

Rating: Jenny *****/ Jiggy ***

On February 12, still nursing their feet after the endless walk at the Mahalaxmi Race Course the previous evening, Jenny and Jiggy got into their next argument. Both had contrasting views on the John Mayer concert, and their interaction could make for some interesting battle studies. Let's hear them.

Jenny: Wooow, what a show!! John Mayer is so good-looking. Have never seen anyone hold a guitar like that. And his voice !!! Ooohh!! Mwahhh!!!

Jiggy: Are you crazy? I've seen all those rave reviews you and your friends have splashed all over Facebook. What rubbish. I'm not saying he was bad or anything. Actually, he was fabulous as a musician. No doubt about that. But I've seen far better shows. Roger Waters. Scorpions. Sting. Michael Jackson.

Jenny: You're just showing off. Actually you're jealous. Anytime I think someone is handsome you can't stand it. Who do you think you are? Why only John? I saw 50 men yesterday who were better looking than you.

Jiggy; I'm used to your habit of finding people more handsome than me. And I'm not criticising him. Just trying to be objective without getting too carried away. I really liked some of the stuff he did. When he sang 'Love On The Weekend' and 'Last Train Home' early in the set, I really thought it would be a great night. A solo set has its own charm. But after a point it all started sounding the same. Except when he played 'You're Gonna Live Forever In Me' and 'Changes' on the piano. They were brilliant. The George Harrison 'My Sweet Lord' cover was smart. But again, I've seen such stuff over the years. Where was the X Factor? And there was too much noise in the audience.

Jenny. I don't know what songs you're talking about. But can any of your favourite musicians play guitar and piano at the same time? Who's that fellow - Joe Badasamosa?

Jiggy: Bonamassa. Stop insulting musicians I like. I really wish you'd come for the Jon Batiste show at the NMACC Grand Theatre last year. But you didn't. Just because your hoity-toity friends hadn't heard of him. Now that was some other level. Not only the music and the range of genres, but the way he connected with the audience. Even the solo show by jazz pianist Chick Corea in 2018 was very interactive. Mayer had very little connection. Just saying I love the way Indians cut their hair doesn't mean there's a connection. It was actually a hair-brained thing to say hahaha.

Jenny: Very funny. Ha! He thanked the audience for coming there to see him. Such a humble person. And look at you. 

Jiggy: Haay meri maa. Why don't you understand? John Mayer is a fabulous musician. He played wonderfully last night. Some of those riffs were just amazing. But for a solo act, there could have been more variety. Even his choice of songs. Barring 'Edge Of Desire' and 'Gravity', most people didn't know most songs. Imagine he didn't play 'Your Body Is A Wonderland', his most famous song. 

Jenny: Isn't that by Billie Eilish?

Jiggy: See, you don't even know his songs and you go about posting on Facebook and Insta that John took you to another planet and his music is ethereal blah blah. He could have done so many other songs. 'Shadow Days', 'Waiting For The World To Change', 'Badge And Gun', 'Dear Marie'. And he didn't even play Dead.

Jenny: Have you lost it? I mean, seriously? Why should he play dead when he was playing live? Never heard anything more silly in my life.

Jiggy: Bhagwan, kaun samjhayega aise namoonon ko? Dead means Grateful Dead. It was a band. He paid tribute to one of its members Bob Weir, who passed aay recently. He sang 'Ripple' at a recent tribute. If he postponed his visit to Mumbai because of that, he might as well have sung it here.

Jenny: You have no taste of music. You just proved that. See all those OTT stars who were at the show. They all posted reels that this was the best concert they attended while asking people to watch their latest series. I've bookmarked four series.

Jiggy: I also feel this wasn't the right place for an acoustic solo set. Why have it in a large open air setting where people are moving around and chatting away? It would have been ideal for a place like the Dome, Grand Theatre or Shanmukhananda. 

Jenny: You wouldn't get your Black n' White whisky there. You'd complain for that too. 

Jiggy: I mean I spent 21k for our tickets. It was a bit much I think. Definitely not worth what I got in return. I could have spent that much money on something else.

Jenny; Honey, let's forget John Mayer. I waa just joking. You're actually looking really good today. What are you buying me on Valentine's Day?