Half of my Heart

Just watching some YouTube videos and found this one, and thought I'd share.

 

Sometimes...

This song is one of my favorites on the new album. The words are speaking to me today.

My favorite human being talking about my favorite show

Years ago, I read an interview with John Mayer where he said something like this: If you watch "The Bachelor" you should slap a blind person across the face, because you are wasting your eyesight.

At the time, I totally agreed with him. But as the years have gone by, I have succumbed to the appeal of "The Bachelor" and have become a bit obsessed with it, at times. I admit there was a teeny tiny part of me that felt ashamed that if JM ever knew, he'd be disappointed. (I know that it's insane that I think this way, but I can't help it.)

I was so happy to stumble across this video of JM talking about how he now gets it.

Things I love about this clip:
(1) air quotes around "Brad's season,"
(2) his impression of Ben saying "Courtney,"
(3) picturing a producer telling Ben to stand shirtless on the balcony.

the latest

I think these picture show that someone is taking a roadtrip. Maybe he's visiting my parents. And that he's trying to be Neil Young.

an update

I've been hinting to people that I would be visiting them this fall because a new JM album would be released in October and a tour would follow. If you are saying to yourself, "Hmm... it's almost October and I haven't heard anything about this tour," finally, we all have some answers.

The Heart of Life

came across this video that someone made. Of course, NYC is often featured in movies and on TV but rarely do I feel that it captures what it's like to live in the city for me. This little video does that. Plus... John Mayer. Enough said.

Grammys 2011

Here's my boyfriend performing at the Grammys this year. I love this song (but I sing "Maureen, Maureen, Maureen, Maureen" to my neice, but leave out the part about her taking my man).

Opening number

The Culmination

The highlight of my big day was 2 + hours with my boyfriend. As usual, he put on a great show. Here are Anne Lise and me waiting for the show to start. We got there a full hour before the opening act (Owl City) so I got a new t-shirt and a poster to remember my big day.

Because I got tickets through the fan club, we got GREAT seats. We were in the sixth row, over to the right side.

Yes, I did bring a sign, made by my cute sister, Valerie, but he didn't see it. Some people had the fantasy for me that he would see the sign, think I'm awesome, and bring me up on stage. But since I would probably pass out and die, I didn't really want that to happen.

On the way home, we got In N Out Burgers and shakes. PERFECT birthday.

Happy Birthday to me!!

I realized that if I pushed a bit, I could actually see my 40th John Mayer show on my 40th birthday. I know I said that when I went to see JM in Seattle back in March, that it was my 30th show (if you're keeping score), so I didn't actually see 10 more shows after that. What I did was I figured in shows I hadn't counted before, like the Today show and Live Earth. I figured those didn't count because he only played 3 or 4 songs, but I changed my mind and now they do count. (I still didn't count the times I saw Letterman because those shows are only 1 song. I have to draw the line someplace.)



1. November 23, 2002 -- Amherst, MA
2. August 25, 2003 -- Jones Beach, NY
3. August 29, 2003 -- PNC Bank Arts Center, NJ
4. November 1, 2003 -- Atlanta, GA
5. November 24, 2003 -- Madison Square Garden, NYC
6. February 14, 2004 -- Vancouver, Canada
7. February 2004 -- Crossroads w/ Brad Paisley at Hammerstein Ballroom NYC
8. April 30, 2004 -- Today Show
9. March 20, 2004 -- Providence, RI
10. August 18, 2004 -- Jones Beach NY
11. September 18, 2005 -- Denver, CO
12. October 6, 2005 -- Beacon Theater, NYC
13. November 22, 2005 Tower Records, NYC
14. November 23, 2005 Bowery Ballroom, NYC
15. August 25, 2006 -- Today Show
16. August 25, 2006 -- Saratoga Springs, NY
17. August 30, 2006 -- Jones Beach, NY
18. September 22, 2006 -- Vancouver Canada
19. September 23, 2006 -- Auburn, WA
20. September 24, 2006 -- Ridgefield, WA
21. October 13, 2006 -- Atlanta, GA
22. February 5, 2007 -- Huntsville, AL
23. February 28, 2007 --MSG NYC
24. July 7, 2007 -- Live Earth, Giants Stadium
25. July 20, 2007 -- Good Morning America
26. July 24, 2007 -- PNC Bank Arts Center, NJ
27. July 9, 2008 -- Jones Beach NY
28. July 15, 2008 -- PNC Bank Arts Center, NJ
29. August 23, 2008 -- Hartford, CT
30. November 17, 2009 -- Beacon Theater NYC
31. November 19, 2009 -- Ed Sullivan Theater NYC
32. February, 19, 2010 -- Mohegan Sun, CT
33. February 25, 2010 -- MSG NYC
34. February 26, 2010 -- MSG NYC
35. March 31, 2010 -- Seattle, WA
36. July 21, 2010 -- Jones Beach NY
37. July 23, 2010 -- Today Show
38. August 3, 2010 -- PNC Bank Arts Center, NJ
39. August 7, 2010 -- Hartford, CT
40. August 25, 2010 -- Chula Vista, CA

Hartford

My latest JM adventure was a lot like one from a few years ago. He was performing in Hartford, so I rented a car and drove up for the day. I talked one friend into going with me (it wasn't hard, actually) and she mentioned it to another friend who wanted to go, so there were three of us.

We got there early enough that we could tour the Harriet Beecher Stowe house this time, and we went to the Mark Twain house again.

You know I love Lego's!

Here's JM acknowledging the people and their signs in the crowd, and then making up a song for one couple who got engaged.

Boys of Summer

JM has been doing a few covers in each show during this tour. This was a good one, featuring the singer from opening act Train...

PNC

For JM's current tour, I decided that I had to limit my ticket purchases. After all, I'm not made of money and I'm saving for India. So I decided that I was only going to see him at Jones Beach and in San Diego on my birthday. Two shows! Could I do it?? After all, Leolani was going to NINE New Kids on the Block shows this spring/summer, how could I only do two? Then some things happened in my personal life that bummed me out. My roommate of nearly three years told me she was moving to Atlanta and I seriously entertained the thought of living alone. I thought of the scenarios that would make it possible, but in the end, decided that if I wanted to do things I enjoy most, I would have to find someone to move in to my spare bedroom. Luckily, someone fell into my lap and I didn't have to work at all to find someone and she's not a performer (a rarity among people looking for rooms to rent in NYC), so it all worked out.

But that meant that I was going to go to as many JM shows as I want, dammit!! The downside of making the decision at this late date is that my seats are not as good as what I'm used to. I got tickets for the NJ show (one of my favorite venues, although a pain in the butt to get to) and to the Hartford show. Jill agreed to go with me to the NJ show, which is awesome since she lives only about 30 minutes away. I also invited my new bro-in-law and he told me John Mayer is a TOOL?!? Now that he's family, he is over being on his best behavior, I guess.


This was my favorite number from the show. It's not one of my favorites from the new album, but was great live. Love the addition of the harmonica!

More from the show

JM posted on FB and twitter and his blog and whatever else that he was doing a backstage tour of the Jones Beach theater a few hours before the show and we could watch it online. I was at work, but my weird computer filters actually let me watch the tour live. So, he walked around, introduced us to his guitars and his friends. Then he went out to the stands and there was a little stage set up and he said something like, "There might be a tall guy playing guitar here a little later." So I was, of course, psyched, but was even more pysched when I got to the venue and saw our seats were pretty close to that little stage.

He didn't make an appearance there until the encore... and then I realized I couldn't see anything!! We were actually pretty close, but it wasn't up high enough that we could see from our seats. Then people started standing up on the seats, which drove all the ushers insane, but made it worse for us. He did this song, which I've never heard live before and which I love. Obviously, this person had better seats than we did!

John at Jones Beach

It. Was. Awesome.

I know you can't see really well, but I set up a poll. What do you think of the pants?

Here's a little vid. He pulled a kid out of the audience to dance with him. I couldn't help but think that this kid is my nephew's age. Great! Now I have to figure out a way to get my nephew to a show and dance so crazy that JM sees him and wants to pull him on stage. It may not be as hard as I thought.

Jersey Core

New Jersey gets a bad rap a lot of times, which does not make any sense to those of us that are actually from there. In the past year, my beloved home state has taken even more of a hit after Jersey Shore and The Real Housewives of NJ came on the air.

Well, here's a positive connection that comes out of the negative. At least from my point of view. This new class at my gym is called Jersey Core and it's all about getting great abs. I'll admit, I don't have great abs, but I'm happy to hear that maybe people might connect the two. (Even though I'd like to set the record straight that "The Situation" is not actually from NJ.)

Here's the difference between Jersey Shore and Connecticut boys.

John Mayer & Keith Urban

Keith Urban

More CMT Music

More CMT Music Videos

and here's one of JM's songs.

Thirty!!

Last night was my 30th John Mayer show, and my sixth of this tour. I was not expecting a lot, since my other shows were all in NYC and CT, but I actually think it was the best of the tour (despite the boring Seattle audience). I was so hoping that he would play some of my favorites that he has not done in the past few shows I've attended. Song #2 was "Belief" and I literally almost pushed Esther over when I heard those initial notes because I was pretty surprised. Part way through the show, the band left the stage and it was just my boy John and his guitar. He did "The Heart of Life," "Dreaming with a Broken Heart," and then my super favorite, "Clarity" which included a bit of "Human Nature" and which I am posting here for your enjoyment.



Since I was going to the show with Esther, who has accompanied me to seven concerts previously, and Paul, who has only been to one show before, we had lots to talk about. Esther made the comment that she thinks he is trying to tone down the crazy facial expressions because of his growing fame. But just as if he had heard her and wanted to prove her wrong, he treated us to a few, like this one here.

JM said he was in a really good mood, and it showed because he really put on a great show. I left feeling so happy that I decided to fly out. Paul enjoyed it so much that he talked about going again this summer, if JM did a summer tour. Although this sent Esther over the edge, considering she'll have a tiny baby this summer and won't be able to go and therefore neither can he, I got excited thinking about the possibility. And when I checked johnmayer.com this morning, I found that he has announced some summer tour dates and there are plenty for me to look forward to! Including a show in southern California on my birthday that I will be dragging Anne Lise to for her first JM live experience. No dates in the Seattle area, so I guess Paul is off the hook.

MSG x2

I saw JM on Thursday and Friday at Madison Sq. Garden this week. And in case you are wondering, they were totally different shows and both were awesome.

I always bring my camera and take a few photos, but usually think they come out terrible and I'd rather just watch the show and let someone else do the work and I reap the benefits on You Tube later. But then I'm always stunned when I see that people actually bother to upload videos like this. Seriously, why? Why? WHY??



OKay, moving on...

Here's another shaky, blurry video from the encore of "Who Says." Basically, I think this is a silly song and when I think of the brilliance of "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room" or " I Don't Trust Myself with Loving You," I just don't get it. But clearly the crowd likes it and the live version is not bad including name checks of New York City, Brooklyn, & New Jersey (I claim all three) and then sings part of "Empire State of Mind."