Idolator: John Mayer

John Mayer Wants To Write Her Name In The Snow

Anthony Miccio — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EDT

John Mayer's cover of "Free Fallin'," as covered on his Where The Light Is CD/DVD, just missed the Hot 100's top 50 in its first week as an iTunes download. Between this and that cheesy Bucket List song, it's clear Mayer isn't going to stick solely to Da Blooze any time soon, for better or worse. So why did John decide to cover this Tom Petty nugget? I'm guessing it has something to do with getting to sing "I'm a bad boy, cuz I don't even miss her" on stage. [YouTube]

Surprise: John Mayer Fans Love The New John Mayer DVD

Dan Gibson — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EDT

Normally on Tuesdays, we run "The Last Word," which examines the quips that close out reviews of new releases. Today's slate of new albums is a little weak (besides the new G-Unit disc, obviously) but we wanted to provide a perspective on the biggest release of the week, John Mayer's live CD/DVD. Sadly, many news outlets have chosen to ignore this release as well, instead taking the day off to watch Wimbledon coverage, I assume. So let's turn to those who know Mayer best—those fans who post on the message board at Mystupidmouth.com.

Note: These reviews are from the theatrical release of the DVD that hits stores today.

• "So glad I made a point of seeing it on the big screen. It was magnificent, but I was left feeling so regretful that I hadn't seen this live. If you were one of the lucky ones who did, pat yourself on the back, for you saw greatness. You know, I've seen all of the Mayer incarnations over the years, and each time I thought YES, the boy's got it going on, but seeing all three together had me saying to myself, "Clapton? You thought he was this generation's Clapton? Well, you're wrong. He's that and THEN SOME." [MissT]

• "I drove 2 hours by myself to Memphis, TN to see the show and felt like I was at a concert. I really expected folks to applaud after songs, but no one made a sound. In fact, very few folks around me were even bobbing their heads or swaying or anything. At the very end, there was a little applause, but that was it. Maybe everyone was just so into it or didn't want to disturb their neighbor by clapping. Anyway, it was great and maybe a little bittersweet. I don't know if I just paid more attention to Dela knowing that he won't be around, but it seemed like he was shown a lot. Kind of made me a little sad thinking that we might not see him play with John again." [Stephanie]

• "Just got back from my local showing and it was amazing to see JM on the big screen. The Trio set just absolutely blew me away, including the backstage stuff....There were about 40 people in the theatre and most were grooving...I was doing my best not to sing along too loudly... I can tell this is an amazing piece of work - and I'm really glad JM decided to do it." [Kimono]

John Mayer - Live In LA [Mystupidmouth]

John Mayer: Less Guitar Hero, More "Hero Of The Day"

Anthony Miccio — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Despite recording that Michael Jackson cover with Fall Out Boy, John Mayer told Rolling Stone that "Guitar Hero was devised to bring the guitar-playing experience to the masses without them having to put anything into it. And having done both, there's nothing like really playing guitar. I mean, what would you rather drive, a Ferrari or one of those amusement-park cars on a track?" See, guitars mean a lot to John. "It's my flotation device, because I now exist in this celebrity sort of world. But I don't feel like anybody's been able to truly knock me off my legs, because I have a trade. You can't just walk onstage and start playing guitar 'cause you thought it looked neat. With guitar, you get out what you put in, and it's the ultimate shield for other people trying to fuckin' take away your heart and soul. It's a completely exposed craft. There is no facade." When John stops getting to nail celebrities, he'll still gonna be able to show up at a bar and wail for his pretzels. Can Guitar Hero players say that? Maybe someday he'll be as awesome as Kirk Hammett, who recorded one of his "favorite guitar solos in the world." On Load.

One of my favorite guitar solos in the world is from Metallica's "Hero of the Day." Clapton's got a bunch of songs where he's really playing blues but he's playing it over these chordal changes, like "Old Love" and "Wonderful Tonight." It's not really about the solo — when I hear Prince at the end of "Let's Go Crazy," I get it. But for me, it's more about the way the harmony and the melodic movement of the chords support the guitar-playing. People respond to chords. I mean, Jimi Hendrix was a songwriter.

I'm enough of a candy-ass that I've always had a soft spot for "Hero Of The Day," though "King Nothing" is probably my favorite mid-'90s Metallica original. Still, I can't figure out how anyone who puts as much stock in the six-string as Mr. Mayer does would immediately think of "Hero Of The Day" when asked what his favorite "guitar moments" were. Did it just come up on his iPod? Maybe it reminds him of his adolescence, a wonderful time before technology had corrupted the ability of young people to create.

The fact that you could record a song tonight greatly dements the creative process. The fact that if you wanted to right now, you and your friends could get together, do a photo shoot. Within 20 minutes you could have a band name, a photo shoot, a Website, a logo. The first time I ever got a four-track recorder I didn't write a song. I did like as many-part harmony to "Star Spangled Banner" vocally as I could do, because you just want to experience the technology. So I think that's part of it too. I'm trying to be compassionate about it and not say oh, these fuckin' kids, you know? But it is.

Those kids with their video games and their photographs, Web sites and logos. Things were different in me and John's day, let me tell you. The mid-'90s weren't about technology and image, they were about soul.

Metallica - Hero Of The Day [YouTube]
Secrets of the Guitar Heroes: John Mayer [Rolling Stone]

Usher Accidently Disses John Mayer, Intentionally Disses Chilli

Anthony Miccio — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:30:00 EDT

You really didn't think the release of Here I Stand signaled the end of Usher's recording for the album, did you? Fans should look forward to plenty of remixes and collaborations on its inevitable special edition, though Usher's indifference to all things not named Usher may have accidentally crushed the possibility of one artist he'd like to work with. "It would be nice to work with some British artists- be on the look out for remixes. I'm going to do a lot of unique stuff on this album. I'd like to do something with John Mayer on the song 'Something Special.' I'd love him to play piano." So would his mom, I'm sure, but Mayer's instrument of choice is the guitar, Ush. Though if there's anyone who should feel slighted by Usher's interview in RWD it's ex-girlfriend Chilli from TLC, whose claims that she still loves the family man-of-the-moment receive one of the coldest smackdowns I've ever had the pleasure to read.

Chilli was quoted as saying you were the one she 'truly did love. I'm not in love with him anymore, but I can't say I don't love him.' Do you think it's appropriate for her to make these comments considering you're married with a child?

Usher: I mean, I think it's a little unrealistic, I'm married (laughs), I'm not a boy. It's been three years past, you know? But we all have unrealistic goals too. Like shoot, I will always forever love Katie Holmes and Halle Berry. I don't feel anyway about it. It does appear maybe to be a plug for something. She got a record coming or something?

Oh snap! Who's got it bad now, huh?

TXT BACK: Usher [RWD Magazine]

John Mayer Bros Down In Apatown

Anthony Miccio — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:15:00 EDT

Thirty years from now, John Mayer will look at the last few years as the best of his life. That's if he isn't getting blown by one of our daughters (who love like you do) in the Oval Office Bathroom after a hacky-sack game with the other members of the G8. Not only is he checking off every Rolling Stone cover star he ever masturbated to in high school, getting feathered haircuts, and enjoying a top 20 single from the freaking Bucket List soundtrack, he's making short films for Funny Or Die with cast members of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Knocked Up, and The 40-Year-Old Virgin. I don't know whether to hate the guy or see if he's interested in hiring a blog consultant. Looking for a Turtle, John? I could be Turtle.

Dude gets to hang out with Haverchuck! Don't fly too high, Icarus.

Makin' Music With John Mayer [Funny Or Die via ONTD]

LiveNation Bans Tailgating At Jersey Rock Shows. Duuuude?!?!!?!

Anthony Miccio — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EDT

Damn, LiveNation! Would you ban the birds for singing? In a rather belated response to two alcohol-related deaths and 83 arrests at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel last August, LiveNation is banning tailgating from at least five shows at the venue this summer. These gigs will include ones by John Mayer, OAR, 311, Linkin Park, and WTKU's Beatstock. Not that I planned hitting a 311 concert in Jersey this summer, but this still seems painfully uncool. There has to be a way to curb violence and underage alcohol abuse without eliminating half the reason people go to hippie jams and festivals in the first place. And why only these five shows?

Planned concerts at the PNC Bank Arts Center that will presumably allow tailgating include James Taylor, The Ringo Starr All-Starr Band, Chicago/Doobie Brothers, John Mellencamp, Rush, Donna Summer, Joe Cocker/Steve Miller, Kenny Chesney, Yes, James Blunt, The Police/Elvis Costello, Maroon 5/Counting Crows, Judas Priest, Boston and the Jonas Brothers. Aside from the Jonas Brothers (whose prepubescent fans love to get hiiiiiigh don't you know), all these acts are aimed at audiences well above drinking age, unless accompanied by a parent. But what about Warped? Ozzfest? Well, those shows won't be happening at the venue at all.

"We need to teach kids that getting out of control in the parking lot is not cool," Live Nation New York president Kevin Morrow told a small audience at Holmdel High School last month. "We have tried to get some of the more sober musicians to do public service announcements, but they don't want to be the poster child for it."
"I have never had someone die at one of my shows," Morrow also said. "So, we decided to remove shows like Ozzfest, the Mayhem Tour and Warped Tour."

Seeing as how teenage revelry isn't solely a Jersey thing, can we assume other LiveNation-booked ampitheatres (there are about 40) will soon enact similar plans, or will this be forgotten in a year? Could this signal the end of youth-oriented festivals that stoners can be stoned at?

Tailgating Banned at John Mayer, 311 Shows [Spinner]

Is "Beat It" The Best Rock Song Of 2008?

Anthony Miccio — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EDT

As already noted, the top debut on the Billboard's singles chart this week was "Beat It," Fall Out Boy and John Mayer's energetic cover of the Michael Jackson megahit. It may be a bit premature to declare this the best rock song of the year, but "Beat It"—and its success—could signify several promising developments for the state of rock.

• If Guitar Hero has inspired Fall Out Boy and John Mayer to rock hard and fast, imagine what it will do to musicians who already kind of do?

• Emo kids already dress hair-metal; this cover may inspire them to play it.

• Fall Out Boy now has three hits that aren't ballads. Perhaps established rock bands will realize there is actual commercial potential for songs that aren't slow, turgid, or any other quality we associate with Nickelback.

• This song's success might keep Fall Out Boy from putting out so many damn ballads themselves.

• Patrick Stump can sing pretty well, and he avoids that anonymous, butt-cleching nasal tone we associate with most emo acts. Hell, in the world of emo this kid is Teddy Pendergrass or something.

• The return of the instrumental solo to pop music. Today the guitar, tomorrow the saxophone!

Beat It - Fall Out Boy ft. John Mayer - Guitar Hero [YouTube]

Perez Hilton Breaks Sony BMG Embargo After 24 Hours In Interest Of Self-Promotion

Maura Johnston — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:50:00 EDT

You just know that the "news" of the Sony BMG-signed John Mayer making out with the rainbow-haired gossipeuse is going to result in a directive from the VP of publicity at the company to all the promoters dealing with its male artists, telling them to get their tongues wagging in Perezzers' general direction ASAP in an effort to work around his "ban" on the label's artists. (And maybe Beth Ditto, since she seems like she'd be up for some gender-bending.) [Perez Hilton]

Dear John Mayer: I Admit It--I'm Pretty Jealous Of Your Life

Maura Johnston — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:30:49 EDT

Because while I was blogging away earlier this week with my TV tuned to ESPN2 and me half-paying attention to the 2008 baseball-season opener between the Red Sox and the A's—my mind should have really been 100% focused on the delicate balance between pounding out a post and trying to actually enjoy my Grape-nuts with yogurt—you were sitting right behind the plate at the Tokyo Dome and sucking down hot dogs and Asahi. And you even managed to be witty about it! You win. Uncle. (And yes, if you're wondering, posting this does make me feel a little bit better. Ah, the cleansing power of truth!) [YouTube]

John Mayer Files A Bug Report

Maura Johnston — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:00:27 EDT

Sorta-sensitive singer John Mayer went back to a well-worn blogger well when he wrote up a recent iTunes crash—complete with screenshots!—on the latest iteration of his personal site. (I guess since he already went the "blogging his lunch" route, this was the only direction that he could take.) Mayer wonders if his report will be met with a reaction not unlike the ones that the cast of The Front Page has when a big story breaks, but I suspect that it'll just be met with relief that the missive doesn't just say "U SUCK ITUNES!!11one"

Report [John Mayer's Blog]

Mile High Festival Hopes To Differentiate Itself From The Pack By Having Dave Matthews, John Mayer On Its Bill

Maura Johnston — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:00:09 EDT

If it's Tuesday, it's time to find out about the latest entrant into the more-crowded-than-ever 2008 festival lineup! Say hello to the brand-new Mile High Music Festival, which is headlined by Dave Matthews Band, Tom Petty, and John Mayer; it's scheduled to take place July 19 and 20 in a park that's nine miles outside of downtown Denver. (For those of you marking calendars, yes, that's the same weekend as the Pitchfork Music Festival. So much for Petty playing Full Moon Fever on Friday night in Chicago!) The current announced lineup—which, be warned, bills OneRepublic above the Roots—after the jump.

Dave Matthews Band
Tom Petty
John Mayer
The Black Crowes
O.A.R.
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Steve Winwood
Spoon
Flogging Molly
Colbie Caillat
OneRepublic
The Roots
moe.
Leftover Salmon
Citizen Cope
Martin Sexton
Andrew Bird
Josh Ritter
Flobots
State Radio
JJ Grey & Mofro
Ingrid Michaelson
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Bob Schneider
Brett Dennen
Tea Leaf Green
Newton Faulkner
Meese
The New Mastersounds
Born In The Flood
Railbenders
Serena Ryder
The Photo Atlas
Rose Hill Drive

Mile High Music Festival [Official site]
[Photo: AP]

After a year during which he was one of the ...

Maura Johnston — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:45:48 EST

After a year during which he was one of the more entertaining celebrity bloggers—who can forget his take on food blogging, or his broadside against the word "douchebag"?—John Mayer has apparently turned in his Movable Type license, signing off with the following epitaph: "There is danger in theoretical speculation of battle, in prejudice, in false reasoning, in pride, in braggadocio. There is one safe resource, the return to nature..." Not to engage in "theoretical speculation of battle," but this means he's going to go back to making music, doesn't it? Aw, crap. [JohnMayer.com]

In a brilliant bit of counterprogramming ...

mjohnston — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 12:03:33 EDT

In a brilliant bit of counterprogramming to the Lonelygirl15 finale, popular blogger John Mayer sings a Nelly Furtado-inspired version of the runaway YouTube hit "Chocolate Rain." [Best Week Ever]

John Mayer blogs on his arrest-filled show ...

mjohnston — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 09:16:03 EDT

John Mayer blogs on his arrest-filled show in Hershey, Pa.: "Though the names of the arrested were not released to the public, I was able to obtain them by way of my well-placed source in the Hershey police department. Upon first glance, I find it interesting that of the 63 arrested, 55 were named Kyle." [johnmayer.com]

Liner Notes: This New Order Rumor Doesn't Have A Whole Lot Of Substance

Brian Raftery — Fri, 04 May 2007 14:15:54 EDT

- New Order has allegedly split up, for the blimpteenth time; meanwhile, London-based children's-rock outfit Gnu Order is still available for birthdays and picnics. [NME]
- As we predicted yesterday, John Mayer will play Time magazine's "Most Influential People Or Some Shit" party in New York City next week. We can't wait for the special version of "Your Body is A Wonderland" dedicated to Beijing Communist Party Secretary Liu Qi. [Page Six]
- Prince was all set to appear on The Simpsons, but then his chauffeur got in the way. But not for any sexy reasons. [Rush & Molloy, third item]

"Time" Magazine's "Most Influential People In The World" List: One Of These Things Is Not Like The Others

Brian Raftery — Thu, 03 May 2007 16:18:09 EDT

Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People In The World" list is out today, and while we don't want to turn into one of those music blogs that reprints every absurd ranking ever released ("Hot crap! Mother Jones just listed the 25 sexiest songs about switchgrass...of all time!"), we can't help but note its pop-music entries: Justin Timberlake, Rick Rubin and John Mayer. Rubin? Sure, we'll give them this one, even though his biggest commercial success has been with some of his weakest albums. Timberlake? Okay, he's influential—influential on our pants! Ha! Still, he's going to be ripped off by a half-dozen or so male singers all year, so okay. But Mayer as "influential"? How can they possibly justify that choice?

John Mayer doesn't radiate courage. With his sunken eyes and a wardrobe you might generously call agoraphobic chic, his aura of passivity is an artistic achievement. Factor in Mayer's Grammy-winning ode to helplessness, Waiting on the World to Change, and it's tempting to dismiss the 29-year-old as the latest figure in a disturbing cultural phenomenon: the rock star as wuss.

Listen to his music, though, and you'll discover that Mayer wields sincerity like a pitchfork. His empathetic voice and emotional fearlessness elevate songs like Your Body Is a Wonderland and Daughters from pop ballads into more meaningful territory; give them half a chance, and during vulnerable moments, they'll be your friends for life.

Come on, Time—we know that nobody over there actually thinks Mayer (who, we'll admit, seems very smart and witty) is anything other than a modern-day version of Loggins and/or Messina. But hey, maybe he'll show up at the party if we put him on there!

John Mayer [Time.com]

Who Charted?: Bob, Beyonce, And Mayer McCheese

Brian Raftery — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 13:48:27 EDT

Welcome to our Wednesday-afternoon music-chart wrap-up, the second of approximately 328 posts today that will mention a certain ex-Mouseketeer named Justin. But how could we not repeatedly drop Trousernake references? The dude's FutureSex/LoveSounds is No. 1, with 684,000 copies sold. Behind him was John Mayer, whose recent indie-audience breakthrough no doubt helped him sell 300,000 copies of Continuum.

The two biggest surprises this week were Beyonce's B'Day taking a 70-percent nosedive, with a relatively wack 162,000 copies sold (we knew that honkified iTunes chart was on to something); and the triumphant return of Bob Seger, who sold 150,000 copies of his Face The Promise. This, despite his controversial pro-war ditty "Like Iraq."

Also of note: Lionel Richie's Coming Home earning him first Top 10 album in twenty years, and Nickelback's All The Right Reasons continuing to dominate the chart nearly a year after its release. Does Seger still live in Detroit? If so, could someone please implore him to do a midnight-boat run into Canada and take care of those yoo-hoos?

UPDATE: An alert reader has spotted a crucial mistake, which has since been corrected. We strive for fact-checking accuracy here, so it pains us to note that in paragraph two, sentence one, we accidentally spelled "wack" as "whack." We apologize, and we also apologize for using a phrase that hasn't actually been spoken since 2003.

Timberlake Earns First No. 1 Album With 'FutureSex' [Billboard]

Blogsmacked: Lessons Learned At Austin City Limits Fest

mjohnston — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 11:35:08 EDT

- Tampons are an effective way to stop nosebleeds. [ultra8201]
- The "contact high" theory is a myth. [I'll Be The Juddge Of That]
- You can never be too overdressed, too underdressed, or too rained-on ... unless you're Tom Petty. [theblog]
- Admitting to liking John Mayer on your blog ensures that a collective freak-out in comments section will ensue. [Stereogum]