
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
simulated sex with a potted palm tree." Before The Sun, he was a reporter at the Miami New Times. He's also written for Miami magazine, the Orlando Sentinel, the Sarasota Herald Tribune and the Gainesville Sun. Got tips? Gripes? Pitches? He's reachable at
erik.maza@baltsun.com. Click
here to keep up with the dumb music he's listening to.
Midnight Sun covers Baltimore music, live entertainment, and nightlife news. On the blog, you'll find, among other things, concert announcements, breaking news, bars closings and openings, up-to-date coverage of crime in nightlife, new music, round-the-clock coverage of Virgin Mobile FreeFest, handy guides on bars staying open past 2 a.m. on New Year's Eve and those that carry Natty Boh on draft. Recurring features include seven-day nightlife guides, Concert News, guest reviews of bars and concerts, Wednesday Corkboard, and photo galleries, as well as reader-submitted photos. Thanks for reading.
Comments
No, but I saw Weird Al on Friday night and Brad Paisley/Jewel/Julianne Hough on Saturday night.
Posted by: JD 3K | July 14, 2008 9:46 AM
Yes. Great show if you weren't on the lawn.
Posted by: AGG | July 14, 2008 10:26 AM
I was on the lawn before it started pouring and the "ticket fairy" as she calls herself came over to my best friend and I and upgraded our lawn seats to the FRONT ROW! it was a miracle! Then later John Mayer took MY camera from me on stage and took two pictures. Well, he tried. Sad part is my camera was already dead I think. But the concert was amazing nonetheless!
Posted by: Kristen | July 14, 2008 10:56 AM
Really a great show! John Mayer is an amazing guitar player. He is not only fast, but has an unique style. He added guitar riffs to his "pop" songs that made the show enjoyable. His renditions of Robert Johnson's Crossroads (made popular by Cream), Duffy's "Mercy" and Van Halen's "Panama" were awesome.
His songs reminded me of seeing Stevie Ray Vaughn at the Famous Ballroom and other local venues before making it "big"
We had pavillion seats, we really felt bad for the lawn folks especially during the lightning and thunder.
Posted by: Nattyboh | July 14, 2008 11:03 AM
It was a great show from the lawn - IF you "invested" in the 2/$10 saran wrap ponchos sold by industrious young men in the parking lot. They were not fashion forward but they did the trick.
My 10 yr. old daughter was ready to leave during the opening act because of the weather. Funny how when JM hit the stage she no longer noticed the rain as she sung and danced, and laughed with her cousin. I don't think that my 14 yr. old, with seats in the Pavillion, will remember this concert like we will. Clothes and blanket will dry, the memories will remain.
I have to admit that I thought JM was kind of a Streisand prior to this concert because of his popular songs. After seeing him play, I now understand why Dave Chappelle included him in a skit on his show - the guy kicks ***. He is an awesome guitar player, has great stage presence, and really brings new perspective and energy to well known songs. Best of all, he actually sounds BETTER live.
Definitely look forward to seeing him again. Hopefully, soon.
Posted by: TRA | July 14, 2008 11:29 AM
I bartend at Merriweather. This was the one of the worst tipping crowds in all the years I've worked there. Soaked or not, you still gotta show your bartenders some love! Oh yeah, before anyone says it, the $8 you pay for beer doesn't go to your bartender!
Posted by: Anonymous | July 14, 2008 11:40 AM
Missed the show. Was he making his usual funny faces while jamming out?
Posted by: The Beav | July 14, 2008 11:46 AM
Absolutely made the faces. Hilarious
Posted by: TRA | July 14, 2008 11:57 AM
My fingers are still pruny thanks to our lawn seats but the show was good. I don't know if it was good enough to justify how drenched we were (there were no ponchos on the mall side), but it was my 4th JM show and I don't think it was the best of the 4. I'd see him again, but I'm done with lawn seats forever.
Posted by: Summer | July 14, 2008 12:35 PM
Crazy Amazing. I had third row in the pit and excusing the wild groundhog who was running around down there before the show (a blues fan, no doubt), it was flawless. I've seen JM five years in a row, and he never disappoints!
Posted by: mayerfan40 | July 14, 2008 2:12 PM
pruny fingers AND toes -check
obnoxious teens mudwrestling - check
tip bartender three times - check
lightning heart attacks - check
John Mayer and band kicking major butt - check
what more can you ask for? the rain made it more fun - who wants to be trapped and clausterphobic in the reserves? I'm 38 yrs. old and I'll take the lawn seats with the kids no matter what the weather - part of the unique MPP experience.
Posted by: Libby | July 14, 2008 4:19 PM
I was soooo disappointed with the John Mayer show last night! He is my #1 musician and he was not nearly as good as I had anticipated!! So disappointing!!! We had more fun getting wet than watching him play!
Posted by: So disappointed! | July 14, 2008 6:15 PM