John Mayer - Gravity (Live at Crossroads 2007) WOW

[Jaradc]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6mHMPdbb6g&feature=related


:phones Too play in front of that many people, that good!

[bluesjunior]

Fantastic performance. It is when you see and hear a performance like that you realise what a silly bunch the JM naysayers are. The kids the real deal ain't no stopping him now.:AOK

[ak301]

Have to say I really enjoyed both of these performances. This is the first time I've actually heard the geezer.

At first I thought it was going to be another SRV type. Heavy stringed Strat, tube screamer type of OD, heavy hitting, etc etc.
Not a big SRV fan so i was a bit dubious when it started, but there's some really tasty playing on those two clips. Especially the second. Nice tone too!
Really enjoyed the performances!

[stratman34]

While he can cop that SRV hardness, that isn't his strength. He's a bit more 'esoteric'. Some of his melody lines are off the hook good, but around here they get dismissed as being too much like 'pop'.

[freedom's door]

I enjoyed it right up until the histrionics started at around the 5 minute mark, then it was downhill from there. Up til that point though, i enjoyed what JM was doing.
The guy playing rhythm guitar was doing some nice work too.

[KCWM]

I recently borrowed a few of his CDs and, while it's not my normal choice of music, it is definitely undeserving of the scathing opinions that can be found here. The guy can play really well, has a great sound, and is doing things with his passion that the majority of us can only dream of.

Color me impressed enough to keep listening.

[armando]

While he can cop that SRV hardness, that isn't his strength. He's a bit more 'esoteric'. Some of his melody lines are off the hook good, but around here they get dismissed as being too much like 'pop'.


His much more tasteful than SRV was............

[phatdave]

He is a fine blues player. If he gets trash talked here it's because peolpe are a little envious.

What more is there he can do? He has great tone, great phrasing, he knows when to lay back, he knows when not to lay back, he's in and out of the pocket...what more ?

I just wish I didn't have to watch him sing...shit oh dear .

[Vaachek]

Envious, sure, but my vibrato would sound considerably better if I had a pile of $10K heads behind me too.

[phatdave]

Yeah, there is that.

[tone4days]

very very nice ... the guy comping him is crazy good too - tasty fragments and stabs and tone

[bbrunskill]

I think JM is great, and alway have been a big fan. Flame me if you must.

[drod2045]

ive heard much better versions than the 2 posted from bootlegs. i dont think his voice is very strong here either (compared to other performances)

[hawklet06]

The guy playing rhythm guitar was doing some nice work too.

That's David Ryan Harris. Really talented guy.

[shark_bite]

The guy comping is David Ryan Harris - a pretty damn fine player and singer in his own right. But what I cannot figure out is - where is Robbie Macintosh? Strange...

I've actually heard almost enough live versions of this to tune it out (almost), but DRH's guitar work on there really made me perk up and listen.

That said... these versions are both OK - but LEGENDARY would be what he did with this song on his last DVD. That would have been a career-making performance if he actually needed one.

[JLaps]

My favorite version might be the one in the Berklee ensemble room with Tomo. Or maybe the version he did at the concert I went to in Hartford, Connecticut. He went on to do some nice (improvised?) lyrics about his childhood, and about how his dad bought him his first guitar, and growing up. Pretty special:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dMP2pbgJC8 (fast forward about 5 minutes).

[bluesjunior]

Envious, sure, but my vibrato would sound considerably better if I had a pile of $10K heads behind me too.

Dream on. If you need a $10k amp to improve your vibrato you really shouldn't bother.

[armando]

dream on. If you need a $10k amp to improve your vibrato you really shouldn't bother.

+10

[madscientist]

ive heard much better versions than the 2 posted from bootlegs. i dont think his voice is very strong here either (compared to other performances)


+1

Both good versions, but "Gravity" from the summer '08 show in Dallas is unbelievable. I'll try and post it when I get home later.


edit: found it....on youtube, of course.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJqIuLGj5T8&feature=PlayList&p=D73F923D82CD7F19&playnext=1&index=4

honestly, I liked it better when it was just an audio recording, and I thought his shirt was on. Dude...no thanks.

[Tomo]

Dream on. If you need a $10k amp to improve your vibrato you really shouldn't bother.

John sounds just great when he plays on Fender Hot Rod Deluxe or expensive amps. He may feels different (inside) but he can control right feel and he can play just as great on any amps or any guitars.

Tomo

[Derek Q]

His Where The Light Is DVD is really good. I especially liked the JM Trio segment. It's cool that he's evolving his SRV influence into something of his own.

And I haven't heard/seen so many hotties scream that appreciatively for a blues since... since... since...

:drool

[bluesjunior]

John sounds just great when he plays on Fender Hot Rod Deluxe or expensive amps. He may feels different (inside) but he can control right feel and he can play just as great on any amps or any guitars.

Tomo

I absolutely agree with you Tomo, I am a big fan of John. I wasn't critiscising him it was the guy back in the thread who originally posted the $10k amp comment I meant.http://www.thegearpage.net/board/images/icons/icon14.gif

[Charlie_Strat]

'07 Live Earth Version.........

You should ear that one.

[mik777]

Hey, I like this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSq5AmszniM

[jpastras]

Props to David Ryan Harris, who was John Mayer ( and a whole lot more) before John Mayer.

He's a fantastic singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and deserves way more attention than he gets.

Find some of his records, like "Soulstice" produced by Brendan O'Brien, and containing a good deal of tuneful, radio-ready pop with great vocals and guitar (a la Mayer)
OR
If you dig angular power pop, try Brand New Immortals, with Johnny Colt from the Black Crowes. I'm amazed this band didn't make more waves.

Also, when I was younger, we (all of us in Atlanta bands) used to think highly of Follow For Now, and thought he'd be famous one day.

Sorry to hijack, but somebody other than Mayer needs to recognize how great this guy is.

Carry on.

[bluesjunior]

Props to David Ryan Harris, who was John Mayer ( and a whole lot more) before John Mayer.

He's a fantastic singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and deserves way more attention than he gets.

Find some of his records, like "Soulstice" produced by Brendan O'Brien, and containing a good deal of tuneful, radio-ready pop with great vocals and guitar (a la Mayer)
OR
If you dig angular power pop, try Brand New Immortals, with Johnny Colt from the Black Crowes. I'm amazed this band didn't make more waves.

Also, when I was younger, we (all of us in Atlanta bands) used to think highly of Follow For Now, and thought he'd be famous one day.

Sorry to hijack, but somebody other than Mayer needs to recognize how great this guy is.

Carry on.
I appreciate what you are trying to say but am afraid that it doesn't work like that. Do you really think that there would be a gazillion threads on Clapton, Hendrix, Page, Green, Beck, Gilmour, Knopfler, Allman, Gibbons, Mayer et al if they hadn't sold millions of records and even more millions of tickets to live shows. DR Harris and a lot more besides may be every bit as good as people say theu are but the mainstream disagree for whatever reason. It's a shame but that is the way it works.http://www.thegearpage.net/board/images/icons/icon14.gif

[todd richman]

He has great tone, technique and a way cool Bradshaw rig, not to mention that black Strat.

[Tomo]

I absolutely agree with you Tomo, I am a big fan of John. I wasn't critiscising him it was the guy back in the thread who originally posted the $10k amp comment I meant.http://www.thegearpage.net/board/images/icons/icon14.gif

Thank you. Yes I aware that. Thanks for pointing out. I say things in general not toward individual person. No offense, no personal.

It's blues and passion! Guitar is just so much fun! It makes my life so happy!

Tomo

[Tomo]

He has great tone, technique and a way cool Bradshaw rig, not to mention that black Strat.
That was really cool strat!
http://tryjm.blogspot.com/2008/10/berklee-photo-collection.html

Tomo

[jpastras]

<quote>
Quote:
Originally Posted by jpastras http://img.thegearpage.net/board/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?p=5444365#post5444365)
Props to David Ryan Harris, who was John Mayer ( and a whole lot more) before John Mayer.

He's a fantastic singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and deserves way more attention than he gets.

Find some of his records, like "Soulstice" produced by Brendan O'Brien, and containing a good deal of tuneful, radio-ready pop with great vocals and guitar (a la Mayer)
OR
If you dig angular power pop, try Brand New Immortals, with Johnny Colt from the Black Crowes. I'm amazed this band didn't make more waves.

Also, when I was younger, we (all of us in Atlanta bands) used to think highly of Follow For Now, and thought he'd be famous one day.

Sorry to hijack, but somebody other than Mayer needs to recognize how great this guy is.

Carry on.

I appreciate what you are trying to say but am afraid that it doesn't work like that. Do you really think that there would be a gazillion threads on Clapton, Hendrix, Page, Green, Beck, Gilmour, Knopfler, Allman, Gibbons, Mayer et al if they hadn't sold millions of records and even more millions of tickets to live shows. DR Harris and a lot more besides may be every bit as good as people say theu are but the mainstream disagree for whatever reason. It's a shame but that is the way it works.http://www.thegearpage.net/board/images/icons/icon14.gif

</quote>



Thank you for enlightening me. I didn't realize that was the way commerce and popularity worked.

Richard Thompson, Elvis Costello, Richard Lloyd, Nick Lowe, and many others clearly should quit making music and become janitors.

I was merely noting others' interest in DRH to point out that he is a solo artist himself, with a catalogue of somewhat available material, and is well worth checking out. Evidently, there were executives in the record industry that agreed with me at one time or another.

John Mayer is a very talented guy, and his fine guitar playing makes up for his brazen shirtlessness in the youtube clip linked above.

[todd richman]

Tomo, there is a great looking replica built one available now that I have my eyes on. Any idea what year Jon's is?

[Tomo]

Tomo, there is a great looking replica built one available now that I have my eyes on. Any idea what year Jon's is?

which one? John's Black strat?

I love that strat's tone! I enjoyed playing that... I almost brought it home!

Tomo

[CharAznable]

Props to David Ryan Harris, who was John Mayer ( and a whole lot more) before John Mayer.

He's a fantastic singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and deserves way more attention than he gets.

Find some of his records, like "Soulstice" produced by Brendan O'Brien, and containing a good deal of tuneful, radio-ready pop with great vocals and guitar (a la Mayer)
OR
If you dig angular power pop, try Brand New Immortals, with Johnny Colt from the Black Crowes. I'm amazed this band didn't make more waves.

Also, when I was younger, we (all of us in Atlanta bands) used to think highly of Follow For Now, and thought he'd be famous one day.

Sorry to hijack, but somebody other than Mayer needs to recognize how great this guy is.

Carry on.

Follow For Now.. that's a name I haven't heard in a long, long time

[aeolian]

I dug this song since I first heard it on Try. But I like the evolution. The middle solo on the studio cut is just about perfect. But I really like the addition to the ending he uses on Crossroads. Adding that movement up to the C with the gospel vocals, gives him (and me once we started coping that song) more to work with.

[plectric]

Thanks for sharing.

I never got the animosity toward this guy - take rabid success out of the equation, he's just a real good songwriter and a real good player. What's not to like about this performance?

[ToddK]

Another SRV wanna be. He rips off just about every riff from SRV's Tin Pan Alley.

Good, but there's tons of guys that do the SRV thing to a tee. Not impressive really. His lead tone doesnt sound very open considering
he's using super expensive gear. He's a great player, but there are players just
as good in my neighborhood. He would get his head cut in Nashville in a half second.

Why are people so taken in by the wierd face making, and jumping up and down like he's in church??
You can be still, and keep a straight face, and still play with plenty of feel.
T

[plectric]

just to illustrate the point - most recent youtube comment on this vid:

"and how is that song "in the spirit of crossroads"? it's just vague bullsh*t. what song WOULDN'T be "in the spirit of crossroads"? radiohead's "fitter happier"? an*l c*nt's "conor clapton committed suicide because his dad sucks"?"

I mean, if I felt that way, I wouldn't be watching the vid in the first place. I bet it's his Berklee buddies. Seems personal. (no I'm not a groupie, and no I'm not 12 :D)

[Tomo]

I dug this song since I first heard it on Try. But I like the evolution. The middle solo on the studio cut is just about perfect. But I really like the addition to the ending he uses on Crossroads. Adding that movement up to the C with the gospel vocals, gives him (and me once we started coping that song) more to work with.

He came to Berklee... and a couple years later... Saw him in NY... he was only 21! He got a recording deal! Very impressive! Many many people have similar dreams.. work on original music... only a few.. will continue to make.

Very cool!

Tomo

[blhm84]

Isn't Mayer rumored to be a member on TGP?

[CharAznable]

Isn't Mayer rumored to be a member on TGP?

It's not a rumor, it's a fact, and it has been acknowledged by the mods.

[Serious Poo]

Awesome musician. IMHO, he gets it.

[ignatius]

the guy can sure dial in great tone thats for sure

[Teleplayer]

Dug JM's tone/feel/playing on the 2007 Crossroads version of that tune since the first time I heard it.

[DickensCPA]

I was so-so on JM until I saw the CMT/Crossroads thing with Brad Paisley. It was then I thought well he can actually play. Then he was on my 2007 Crossroads DVD and I really got interested. Picked up the double CD "Where the Light is - Live LA" and blown away. Can't take either CD out of rotation. LOVE his take on two Hendrix tunes.

The only complaint I have is that it all couldn't fit on one CD so I wouldn't have to switch back and forth while driving.

Paisley is my main guit slingin' hero and I have found out since I bought the JM CD that the same CD is on BP's ipod in heavy rotation. Some of the riffs he plays while singing are pretty doggone good. His riffs and rhythm are a SRV'ish but to me, his leads are more Claptonish. I know I like the mix.

Now "Body is a Wonderland" will always get turned off if it comes on the radio and "Run in the Halls in High School" too, but both were missing on the CD. I'm a HUGE Clapton fan from beginning to present and all in between, but he had a few tunes in the mix that get skipped on my player too.

I can't even please myself all the time so I can't expect someone to please me 100% all the time either.

[PedalFreak]

Was 20' from the stage at Crossroads 07 for all 11.5 hours of it. Many great performances that day, Mayer playing Gravity was one of the Top 10.