Previous Story
JASON MRAZ Performs Secret Show At Royce Hall On UCLA Campus .
Posted On 07 Jun 2014
Comment: 0
Tag: 3 Things, 93, Atlantic Records, Atlantic/RRP, Back To Earth, Beautiful Mess, Becky Gebhardt, Browntown, Bruins, Chaska Potter, Everywhere, Good Ole Daze, Hello, I Won't Give Up, I'm Yours, Jason Mraz, Live From The Artists Den, Long Drive, Love Someone, Monkia Tavakoli, Mr. Rogers, Only Human, Raining Jane, Royce Hall, The Artists Den, The Woman I Love, UCLA, Yes
On Wednesday, June 4th, Atlantic/RRP recording artist Jason Mraz and his band performed for an hour and a half for an enthusiastic crowd at Royce Hall on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles.
Mraz kicked off the show seated on the edge of the stage where he performed a solo acoustic version of his song “Good Old Daze,” followed a familiar tune that was instantly recognized by the audience as the “Mr. Rogers” theme song (which Jason mentioned that he learned while watching PBS).
The show was incredible and was so intimate that it felt as though we were sitting with a group of friends, enjoying good music and good company. Perhaps the greatest moment of the show was when Jason brought up a fan (who had flown from Boston) up to the stage with him. He sat her down next to him and together, they sang along to his new song, “Long Drive“, sharing sweet moments and giving her a night she would never forget. It’s this type of realness and the humanity Jason possesses that makes him instantly lovable.
He was then joined by his backing band Raining Jane, which is an all-female group of musicians from Los Angeles who joined him for a previous tour and eventually began collaborating with Mraz’ in 2007 co-writing the hit “A Beautiful Mess.” Raining Jane also contributed to Mraz’ forthcoming fifth studio album entitled “Yes!” (scheduled for release on July 15th) and we were treated to many of these new songs last night.
It was a perfect mix of new songs with a similar vibe and reworking his previous material to fit its hippie vibe. The former smart-aleck singer/songwriter who once traded in broad sex jokes..I mean, come on, he called his first album “Waiting for My Rocket to Come,” now croons songs about how love is wonderful, sunshine is nice and how it’s good to care for the Earth.
The set list also included: “Hello,” “Lucky,” “Long Drive,” “Browntown,”
“93,” “Only Human,” “Love Someone,” “The Woman I Love,” “3 Things,” “Back To Earth,” “Everywhere,” and “I Won’t Give Up,” followed by an encore that included the hits “Beautiful Mess,” and “I’m Yours.”
During several points in the set, drummer/vocalist Monika Tavakoli stole the show with her unique drumming style on cajon, drums, and various other percussion instruments. At one point, Tavakoli, guitar/mandolin/ukulele player Chaska Potter, and bassist Becky Gebhardt (all alumni) broke into a Bruins fight song which obviously got the UCLA crowd fired up.
By the time Mraz got to his happy little hippie song, “I’m Yours,” he had the crowd gently swaying back and forth, mouthing the words, leaving everyone on a dreamy high note.
To find out more about Jason Mraz, including Summer of YES! Tour Dates visit him here
