John Mayer is many things—an incredible guitarist, an accomplished songwriter and a famed heartthrob with admirers all over the globe.
One thing he is not: a bartender.
“I was making watermelon margaritas last night because I had a perfect one in Boston, and the bartender gave me the recipe,” Mayer told The Denver Post last weekend. “It was after the show, and I was bartending on a fold-up card table, estimating how to make each drink. But each time I handed a drink to somebody, I would sample it — and that’s not a good idea. Then I started trading drinks with people, and before I knew it, I had my shirt off and I was trying dipping tobacco for the first time, and I threw a chair into the woods.”
Asked if he was celebrating anything in particular, Mayer slyly said: “It was a Saturday night.”
Mayer, co-headlining the Mile High Music Festival this weekend, is one of those perennially cool-yet- uncool musicians who dodges absolute quantification.
His hit songs are on the vanilla side. But his album tracks, and live shows, display his status as one of his generation’s most skilled guitarists. While most hipsters wouldn’t be caught dead listening to his records, they’d all be his best friend because he’s just that kind of a guy.
“I’m writing my own kind of cool now,” Mayer said. “Everybody should be writing their own kind of cool. Have we learned nothing from John Hughes movies?
“I admire people who don’t look left or right. They refuse to get information on what they’re supposed to do. It’s not about what my car says about me. It’s about being better at choosing the pursuits in life that make you most interested. You have to be around people with their own pursuits.
“What’s the directionality of cool or uncool? You’re either free or not free. I’m wearing a Mickey Mouse shirt and Reebok Pumps right now, and I think that’s pretty cool. My shoes are covered in triple sec.”
Mayer is enjoying an adventurous time in his career. Festivals such as this weekend’s festivities have allowed Mayer to reach out to new fans. The evolution of his fan base allows him to give audiences a very different show each night.
“Right now I’m experimenting with putting everything into the show,” Mayer said. “I’m putting new songs into the set all the time. Last night, I played ‘I’m on Fire,’ by Bruce Springsteen, and ‘Where Will I Be,’ by Emmylou Harris.”
Mayer is touring with an unusual rig that includes a teleprompter — something that allows him to hear a song on the drive into town, make the call for the band to learn the music and have one of his techs upload the lyrics into the device.
“I’m taking on the role of show producer,” he said. “The set lists have always rotated on a Lazy Susan, but now these are different each and every night.”
Mayer lives between his two homes in New York and Los Angeles. He draws inspiration from both locales, spending autumns in New York and summers in L.A.
“I definitely borrow from both,” he said. “It all depends on what direction my inspiration is pointed. They made L.A. out of heartbreak and glitter and the Eagles, and they put some of Stevie Nicks’ lace in there, too. Then they put it in a centrifuge and dumped it all over the Sunset Strip — and then they made Land Rovers.
“Everyone in New York is a cog in the wheel. Everybody living there makes that city go. It’s so hands-on. The idea is all about waking up and hitting the ground running and going to work — that city is all about work.”
Work is something Mayer is all too familiar with. The singer-songwriter is famous for his busy slate of recording, touring and collaborating. And that’s part of the reason Mayer is looking to spend part of his time off in the wild.
“I wanna do some camping, learn how to live in the wilderness,” Mayer said. “I want to get past the idea of relying on 21st-century accommodations. There are certain things in your body, and you’ve always known how to rely on them, but you haven’t had to rely on them because of the amenities of the modern world.
“I want to know how to build all the different types of shelter in the woods. All the books I’m reading right now are about survival and looking after myself. It’s almost like I’m telling myself, ‘This is too much, Mayer. Let’s get out of here.’ I’m good about leaving places before the opportunity for trouble arises.
“It’s like last night. When I realized I had just thrown a chair into the woods, I turned to my tour manager and told him, ‘I’m ready to go.’ ”
Catch these acts— you’ll be glad you did
You own every Dave Matthews record, and you’ve seen Tom Petty 10 times. But have you heard Josh Ritter’s epic last album, or have you ever witnessed the subtle majesty of Rodrigo y Gabriela live?
Here are five smaller acts not to be missed this weekend.
Josh Ritter. With one of the best records of ’07, “The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter,” this songwriter is on his way to cult superstar status. His music is lovely, and his lyrics will leave you speechless. (3 p.m. Saturday, Elk Tent Stage)
Andrew Bird. Sure, Spoon is playing the fest. But that indie group is one of the worst live bands in the genre. Make sure you catch the ever-charming Bird and his innovative, looping-based live show. (4:15 p.m. Saturday, Bison Tent Stage)
Lupe Fiasco. He employs the hot production, sure, but Chicago- based Fiasco is also known for his potent flow. Want proof? Check out his instantly diggable “Paris Tokyo.” (7:30 p.m. Saturday, Elk Tent Stage)
Ingrid Michaelson. Her charm is obvious. “The Way I Am” is a likable single, and it was enough to attract the attention of one Dave Matthews. After this weekend’s festival, Michaelson will open five arena shows for Matthews and his band. (1:30 p.m. Sunday, Bison Tent Stage)
Rodrigo y Gabriela. It’s easy to appreciate ex-metalheads who later found themselves as a folk duo. Their stateside popularity is very real, and their energy is infectious. (4 p.m. Sunday, SanDisk Main Stage)
Ricardo Baca
Mile High Music Fest: Our blogs and photo essays
Denver Post pop music critic Ricardo Baca’s thoughts on Day 1
Denver Post pop music critic John Wenzel’s thoughts on Day 2
Denver Post theater critic (and former music reporter) John Moore’s fear-and-loathing look at the fest as a whole. . In addition, he’s posted separate slide shows from both days at the fest, plus short video samples from Andrew Bird and Colbie Caillat.
And in the coming days, check out
often for many more blogs and photo essays from the festival to come, by a variety of Denver Post contributors. Bookmark it: That’s where you’ll find our thoughts on as many as 15 live shows per week in the area.
