ROYAL OAK – Jason Mraz referred to his legions of college-aged fans on May 18 at Royal Oak's Music Theatre as "peeps," "bitches," and perhaps most endearing, "f–ckers."
But with his boyish looks – shaggy hair, a simple white T-shirt with knee-holed blue jeans – the fans didn't seem bothered. In fact, the sold out crowd raucously expressed their love for the clean-cut Cali rocker/latin sultriest/balladeer/suave lyricist not only by shouting "I love you, Jason," but also by tossing sequined panties on stage.
Mraz's live performances echo something his albums can't: his charismatic flavor, ripping humor and superb acoustic and electric guitar playing. Also, the way he pranced on the stage and spiced up Big Rock City's mediocre opening act and began his one-hour and 45-minute set by nonchalantly snapping Polaroids of the audience, himself and his band, and then tossing them out into the audience.
Mraz opened with the acoustic ditty "The Boy Is Gone" and performed tunes from "Waiting For My Rocket To Come" and "Mr. A-Z," all with ease, flair and originality. During his biggest radio smash "Remedy (I Won't Worry)," Mraz broke out in French during the second verse and on the catchy, bittersweet "You and I Both" he had the crowd offer their vocal abilities, for better or worse.
Mraz's poetic lyrics, dashed with goofiness and truth, are all about the "Wordplay." And though that single didn't make the set list, several other familiar cuts, including the hip-hop flavored "Geek In Pink" and poppy "Did You Get My Message?" made the bill.
Before Mraz concluded his "shift" he offered some wise, and humorous words, telling his fans to bring their enthusiasm at his shows into their own lives. He closed the show with the stirring "A Song For A Friend," a stripped-down tune that ended on an upbeat, soulful note. Before sauntering off stage, he chucked more snapshots, along with guitar picks and a towel, into the enamored audience.
In a dead-on British accent, Mraz told the audience this show would be his last before trekking to other countries. With audiences jumpin' and jivin' during the show and five young women parading around with the letters of Mraz's first name printed on each of their pink T-shirts, the "geek" will clearly be missed.
Mraz rocks Royal Oak
Read More
How David Archuleta Left Behind the Mormon Church and Is Now Flourishing As An Openly Queer Person
When David Archuleta returned to the “American Idol” stage on Monday night, he knew that singing his latest single, “Hell Together,” [...]
Stand Up Against Book Banning, See the 'Reality Gays' Podcast Tour, Attend a Gender-Affirming Beauty Workshop
It's time for some spring cleaning. Whether that means weeding out the negative Nancys clogging up your social media feed, literally cleaning up your homestead [...]
Everything You Need to Know About the New Queer Bar Coming to Ann Arbor
The rumors are true — there’s a new queer bar coming to Ann Arbor later this year, and Pride Source sat down with co-founder Saharsh Hajela to [...]
Why a Local Academic Is Fostering Queer Discussion and Community Through an Old-Fashioned Book Club
Queer books on public library shelves have come under fire across the country in recent years, but you wouldn’t know it at the Ypsilanti District Library [...]
Kathy Griffin Keeps on Surviving: Comedian Talks Tour, Longtime LGBTQ+ Allyship and Support From 'Civilian Gays'
Kathy Griffin has been through even more than you probably know. She lost a lung to cancer, lost her mother and lost many of her close friends. In 2020, the [...]
‘Queer Drunk Punk’ Author Zehava Frieman on How Growing Up in Grosse Pointe Park Inspired Her Debut Novel
When Zehava Frieman finally sat down to write “Queer Drunk Punk” in 2021 on the tail end of decades of what she describes as “creative [...]
