Customer Reviews

Where The Light Is:John Mayer Live In Los Angeles

5 star:		(80)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I saw this on the big screen at a theater where I live, and nothing beat hearing it in Dolby Digital Sound somewhere like that (except for seeing the man live in concert, which I'll be doing later this month). It was your standard rocumentary in that it contained his philosophical moments, mixed in with a lot of amazing live footage from the Nokia Theater performance. What made it one of the most impressive concert videos I've seen as of late though is the format he used for the performance. It was all his various incarnations on one stage for one night: acoustic, the blues team he assembled for Trio, and his full band. It's as if he opened up for himself all night, and it really gave you a great perspective on his incredible range as a young musician and how much he's grown since Room for Squares. At times, the guitar solos seemed clearly to be meditative moments for him, and you could really see how much this dude loves The Music. It will be very interesting to see where his talent takes him in coming years, because he has come so far already.

I have never seen John Mayer perform live. This two disc set is the next best thing to watching him play live in the Nokia theater. He performs most of his hits here. I love the acoustic versions of "Daughters", "Neon" and a lesser known track entitled "Stop This Train". Mayer's cover of Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'" John can jam on the guitar like no musician I've seen this decade. I love his performances of the bluesy track "Vultures" and the fast pace of the track "Who Did You Think I Was" My other favorite tracks are "Waiting On The World To Change" and "Why Georgia". This are such happy songs that John performs with his band. I also love the song "Gravity". It is a slow paced track in which John displays his vocal skills. I love the music of John Mayer.

I really love it when artists give you your money's worth (as opposed to overpriced "double albums" or throwing in an extra DVD and charging more money for it, etc.). Here, we have an excellent 2-CD live album for 10 bucks (I paid 12 at a store, but close enough). I love the presentation of this CD---you get an acoustic set, an awesome blues set from Mayer's trio, and then an entire disc of his full-band stuff. The sound is great (I wish Rush would mix one of their live albums like this) and Mayer plays his butt off, especially with the trio. There's a gorgeous version of Free Fallin' which I think would make Tom Petty proud, and overall the musicmanship on here is at a high level. Not really much criticism to offer for this disc, other than there were a few songs I would have like to have heard here, but overall...100% worth your ten bucks.

Although I continue to enjoy all of John Mayer's recordings... I much prefer his recent blues work... on "Continuum" and now this live set. I have had the good fortune to see John in concert, and each of his live recordings has done an exceptional job of capturing both the energy and intimacy of his shows.

I have to disagree with a previous reviewer who hears flashes of B.B. King and Eric Clapton. John Mayer's guitar talent is clearly influenced by the great Stevie Ray Vaughan's Texas-style blues... and equally so by the legendary Chicago blues genius Buddy Guy.

Modern blues fans must add this set to their collection, along with "Continuum" and the John Mayer Trio set.

I happen to be a relatively new Mayer fan. Saw him in concert 18 months ago and was blown away. This CD is amazing and brought tears to my eyes several times and chills up and down my spine. He is a musical genius and no where is it captured better then on this CD. (Except seeing him live) His blues set with the trio is the best sequence for me but it is all amazing! Looking forward to more great things from the legend himself.

Ummm...when you say that we get nothing new on this CD, I assume that you mean other than different amazing live performances of the songs that are from previous albums, AND the first recording of "I Don't Think I'm Gonna Go To LA Anymore"? Which, incidentally, is the best track on the album.

Buy this album immediately - you will not be disappointed!

I have been a Mayer fan since 2000, when we heard him on a little acoustic set on the radio one day. I have been hooked ever since and he never ceases to amaze me. Too many people do not realize how incredible an artist he is. They assume he's just another pop star among the hundreds. That could not be farther from the truth. This album proves that 1000 times over. He is such a versatile musician and through the three different sets consisting of an acoustic solo set (you'll love "In Your Atmosphere" and the "Free Fallin'" Petty cover), a bluesy set with John Mayer Trio which mirrors greats such as SRV and BB King, and then his full band set with Gravity and all the hits, he performs each beautifully and with the talent and professionalism of a legend. He has a great personality too that shows in his live concerts (and on his blog)and an amazing mind that can be seen in his lyrics. Not to mention many jaw dropping moments on that guitar as well! Well, all that to say if you were never a fan, buy this album and let him impress you! If you are a fan, you have it already!

I just picked up a copy of "Where the Light Is" and was extremely impressed. This is hands down John Mayer's best album. This isn't a live Mayer rehash like the second disc of Continuum (which was good, but nothing compared to this.) Every song on this album is the best version out there of that song. The new songs are top notch. "In Your Atmosphere" is a great song that brings us back to the Inside Wants Out era.
If there's one Mayer album to get, this is it.

Pros:
-"Daughters"... acoustic!
-"In Your Atmosphere"... great new song!
-Very good price.
-Contains almost all of Continuum's songs.
-Three albums in one: Acoustic Set, Trio Set, and Band Set.
-The Trio fixes a few of the weaker songs on Try and electrifies them.
-Seven thousand people go nuts at the start of a slow blues song in the year 2007. "All is not lost."
-Mayer's guitar is on fire.

Cons:
-Cheesy monologue breaks up "Bold as Love."

I purchased this CD only knowing a few of John Mayer's songs. This album is filled with amazing songs and the best guitar playing I have heard in years. It is very refreshing to hear an artist that actually has talent. The fact that it is live only makes it ten times better, the music is almost better sounding than the studio recordings on his other albums.

Personal favorite on the album: Out Of My Mind! great blues riffs and great lyrics

This album worth the money!

I got this cd because I love John Mayer's live performances and was not disappointed with this excellent 2 cd set. In fact, he is one of the few artists who really excels in the transition from the studio to the stage. As for the overview on this cd, there are three sub-sets to the performance beginning with the acoustic set. Many times artists bore me with acoustic sets but I found myself listening intently on this cd as Mayer's guitar work is quite good...the cover of Tom Petty's "Free Fallen" is a nice addition. The trio set is almost all blues which again has the tendency to wear on me after awhile but every song is done so well it makes for great listening.
The band set is an excellent collection of his more popular songs with only "Why Georgia" being repeated from Any Given Thursday. "Gravity" is great in the live version and "Belief" is a real standout (although I thought the song was cut a little short). As good as this cd is though, A.G.T is a much better live cd (one of the best out there) and has much better live versions of his earlier stuff. It doesn't have the acoustic and blues material that this one does though, so really both live cd's compliment each other very well. Highly recommend.