Guest Wildbomb 4:20 Report post Posted August 24, 2003 I got home from, quite possibly, the most energetic live show I've been to. The John Mayer tour, supporting Room for Squares while also promoting his upcoming new album, along with the Counting Crows, rocked the hell out of the Tweeter Center in Mansfield, MA. The opening band was introduced by the Counting Crows as "their favorite band," Stu. Stu was interesting, to say the least. They have the ability, like Dave Matthews Band, to string out a jam and make it sound interesting for the entire time. However, some of their songs were out there. "Kingdom of Drink" was probably their worst song of the night. A good song came out as "Ken," where the doll of the same name is actually gay and hates being packaged with Barbie. The Counting Crows took the stage for their hour-long set (Mayer and the Crows split time, so you could call them dual headliners), and opened up with "Mr. Jones." They hit all their popular songs while in the set; "American Girl" and "A Long December" to name a few. We had a mini-crowd surfing attempt that was broken up by security. There was few talking in between songs, but that was explained by the Crows: "We fucked up last night and went on too long and couldn't come back for the encore, so we wanted to make sure we got everything in." Well said. They came back for a one-song encore (They almost were overtime again), and left to a resounding approval from the audience. They definitely won over fans who were there only for Mayer; the Crows CDs were sold out at the end of the concert. The Tweeter Center exploded when the first notes of "Why Georgia" were heard, and Mayer came out for his set. Working the crowd well, he also amazed me with great guitar instincts. I swear, he must have gotten some lessons from Santana, because the solos he was whipping out were amazing. "No Such Thing" and "Your Body is a Wonderland" came out much earlier in the set than expected. Some of his new songs were featured, although the names weren't explained. I'm sure I'll figure them out when the new CD drops on September 9th. "1983" closed out the standard set. The encore was simply amazing. Mayer put out a "Bartender"-esque 18-minute long song. He closed out the entire show with a resounding edition of "Neon" All in all, a fantastic show. Ratings: Stu: *** Counting Crows: ****1/2 John Mayer: **** 3/4 Overall (not an average): ****3/4 An amazing show that everybody within a 100-mile radius of Mansfield, MA should have gone to. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spaceman Spiff 0 Report post Posted August 24, 2003 I'm at a loss as to how John Mayer and Counting Crows could "rock the hell out of the Tweeter Center." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bored 0 Report post Posted August 24, 2003 My thoughts exactly. Did they hand out tampons at the show? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Baron 0 Report post Posted August 24, 2003 Well maybe this "rocked the house" but Lacuna Coil rocked a bar in T.O. a few days ago (damn me for not being born in 1984) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Wildbomb 4:20 Report post Posted August 25, 2003 To explain: The place literally exploded with noise as soon as either band took the stage. The Counting Crows took off the acoustic set and went for a more Live-esque sound, which made songs such as "Mr. Jones" sound extremely different than the studio edition. John Mayer played with a Fender Stratacoustic, and then a Stratacaster, for the entire night. He, too, went for a rock sound and not the acoustics heard on "Room for Squares." I think it was done to promote his new albulm "Heavier Things" coming out on 9/9. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted August 25, 2003 Well maybe this "rocked the house" but Lacuna Coil rocked a bar in T.O. a few days ago (damn me for not being born in 1984) I just saw Lacuna Coil. They opened for Type O and sounded really, really bad. The band was totally sleepwalking, despite both singers trying their asses off. I've got a special place in my heart for John Mayer, and that place is full of whirling shards of broken glass. He writes the most horribly saccharine shit on earth, and his voice makes me taste bile. Here's what he REALLY reminds me of, though..remember in Animal House, at the Toga Party, there's the guy on the stairs playing this really weak ballad for the girls, and Bluto smashes the fuck out of his guitar? That guy is John Mayer. Sorry. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Wildbomb 4:20 Report post Posted August 25, 2003 I've got a special place in my heart for John Mayer, and that place is full of whirling shards of broken glass. He writes the most horribly saccharine shit on earth, and his voice makes me taste bile. Here's what he REALLY reminds me of, though..remember in Animal House, at the Toga Party, there's the guy on the stairs playing this really weak ballad for the girls, and Bluto smashes the fuck out of his guitar? That guy is John Mayer. Sorry. Not to be an ass or anything, but what type of music do you listen to? Is it that you listen to a different style of music altogether and just don't like the artist? I mean, I listen to just about everything from Black Label Society, Ozzy (old Ozzy), Black Sabbath and such to the Counting Crows, Nirvana (favorite band EVER), to the acoustic stuff, to some punk (Dropkick Murphy's). I guess you had to be there to have understood what I meant. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Edwin MacPhisto 0 Report post Posted August 25, 2003 I listen to a lot of stuff, and I have a similar glassy heart for John Mayer. It's simple, unbridled hate for his snivelly, saccharine work. I do have a soft spot for the first Counting Crows album, but 10 years of poor follow-up and a lot of weight gained between all the members hasn't done a lot for them in my eyes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Wildbomb 4:20 Report post Posted August 25, 2003 I guess I just have a soft spot for an occassional CD of "saccharine" work. Although I'll say this: at least give his new CD a tryout listen at an FYE or Best Buy (not the single, but the CD) to see if it sparks any interest. Sounded pretty good live. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted August 25, 2003 I can assure you that I was speaking about his music objectively, except where I said I hated his music..that part was subjective. Also, due to the mircale of working with fat bitches that listen to crap, I've had the pleasure of hearing the whole thing, and found it to be equally disagreeable from beginning to end. What do I listen to? Well. Glancing at the cds surrounding me..the first five I notice are.. Black Sabbath-Master of Reality Primus-Rhinoplasty King Crimson-Lizard Jefferson Airplane-Crown of Creation Robin Trower-Bridge of Sighs Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nl5xsk1 0 Report post Posted August 25, 2003 Regardless of the band that's playing there, I have a question about the "new" Tweeter Center ... what do you all think of the seats that they put over the lawn? It's surreal to see how it looks out there now, compared to how it looked when I first started to going to Great Woods (early '90s). With the new additions, it's fucking IMPOSSIBLE to sneak in now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Wildbomb 4:20 Report post Posted August 25, 2003 To address Agent of Oblivion: Sounds like you have a good musical knowledge. Your opinion, while differing from mine, is backed by your tastes in music. And the way the Tweeter Center looks now is crazy. With sections 9-16 where the lawn used to come down, there is no way in HELL of getting in. The lawn is maybe 30 feet wide now...although they were VERY smart to put in the concession stand in the middle of it. I was indoors (section 3, row AA) and it looked like the place was packed. No empty seats anywhere, and the lawn didn't have walking room. Almost as packed as it was for Lollapalooza and Ozzfest. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smell the ratings!!! Report post Posted August 25, 2003 I have to ask: how many Tweeter Centers are there, exactly? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted August 25, 2003 To address Agent of Oblivion: Sounds like you have a good musical knowledge. It's like an obelisk. Yeah, that's right. An Obelisk. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spaceman Spiff 0 Report post Posted August 25, 2003 I have to ask: how many Tweeter Centers are there, exactly? There's probably a bunch all over. There's one in Camden, NJ (across the river from Philly). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Wildbomb 4:20 Report post Posted August 25, 2003 As far as I know, there are four: the one in Mansfield (known with the longest name: Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts), New Jersey, Tinley IL, and I think that they are currently trying to pick up the Darian Lake facility in New York. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted August 31, 2003 I have to ask: how many Tweeter Centers are there, exactly? Tinley Park, IL has a Tweeter Center as well. And here I thought it was the only one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
