Irish music blog. Containing gig, live and concert reviews reviews; album reviews; setlists for recent Dublin shows; album news; and basically everything from the Irish music scene.
'Edge of Desire' is one of the standout tracks from John Mayer's recent album Battle Studies (Uncut gave it 4 stars, you know!) As a way of thanking all his fans for buying it (and sending it to #1 in the States), John has recorded a live version of the song in his apartment, complete with his phone going off in the background. It's a lovely version of the song, and can be downloaded from his blog, one forty plus.
This excellent recording and upload was provided by Miguel (Geckoman) of John Mayer at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in New York, from Monday night. (Yes, there's a bootleg out there already). Thanks so much to Miguel for this, and to Lenny for the oh-so-fantastic cover art.
John plays a lot of material from the new album Battle Studies, and you can download a sample mp3 of 'Who Says' live in NYC below, before downloading the full .zip file.
John Mayer Music Hall of Williamsburg Brooklyn, New York City, NY November 16, 2009
Waiting was cut off, I must have pressed the pause button but I resumed it towards the end. Missing the last minute (maybe less) of FLON
1. Heartbreak Warfare 2. Vultures 3. Crossroads* 4. I Dont' Trust Myself (With Loving You) 5. Perfectly Lonely 6. John talking 7. John talking 8. John talking 9. Why Georgia 10. Steve Jordan drumming > Waiting on the World to Change (cut) 11. end of Waiting 12. Comfortable > Free Fallin' 13. Edge of Desire 14. Belief 15. War of My Life 16. Half of My Heart 17. Bigger than My Body 18.. Gravity part 1 19. Gravity part 2 20. Who Says 21. John's "congregation" 22. Friends, Lovers Or Nothing (cut by 30 secs. to 1min)
These are both from Sunrise TV on Australian television, recorded over the weekend. Both songs are from new album Battle Studies. The first, 'Who Says' is the album's lead single. 'Crossroads' is a Robert Johnson cover. I've also read that the iTunes pre-order has a cover of Bruce Springsteen's 'I'm on Fire'. That could be good.
Amazon has exclusive 30 second clips of each of the eleven songs on the new John Mayer album Battle Studies, which is due out on November 17th.
Tracklist: 1. Heartbreak Warfare 2. All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye 3. Half of My Heart 4. Who Says 5. Perfectly Lonely 6. Assassin 7. Crossroads 8. War of My Life 9. Edge of Desire 10. Do You Know Me 11. Friends, Lovers or Nothing
John Mayer has launched the Augmented Reality section of his website. It's where you use your own webcam to appear in the video for 'Heartbreak Warfare' from upcoming album Battle Studies.
John sure does look cool on his new album cover, for Battle Studies, out November 17th. The picture is pretentious, but that's why it's good! As you'll see, the tracklist is also on the front of the album, so that's finally released too! 'Crossroads' is a Robert Johnson cover, and 'Half of My Heart' is a duet with I'mma Let You Finish, Taylor Swift. So John has teamed up with both Taylor and Kanye now. Who next?
Tracklist: 1. Heartbreak Warfare 2. All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye 3. Half of My Heart 4. Who Says 5. Perfectly Lonely 6. Assassin 7. Crossroads 8. War of My Life 9. Edge of Desire 10. Do You Know Me 11. Friends, Lovers or Nothing
'Who Says' is the lead single from John Mayer's upcoming album Battle Studies. The album will be released on November 17th, but 'Who Says' came out yesterday. Here's the accompanying music video:
'Who Says' is the first single from John Mayer's upcoming Battle Studies, and it's quite catchy. The guitar part reminds me of 'Stop this Train'. You can stream the single in full (complete with watermark) on John's own website. The album itself is due on November 17th.
John Mayer was one of Jay-Z's many guests on Friday at his "Answer the Call" concert. John was on stage for a medley of songs, including 'DOA', 'Dirt on Your Shoulder' and '03 Bonnie and Clyde'. Watch the full guest appearance below.
Caution: It's brilliant.
Watch:
Full show setlist: “Empire State of Mind” “Where I’m From” “Brooklyn Go Hard” (with Santigold) “PSA” “Heart of the City” “Already Home” (with Kid Cudi) “Diamonds Are Forever” “Jigga My N—-” “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” “Jigga What, Jigga Who” “U Don’t Know” (with John Mayer) John Mayer: Riff medley (”‘03 Bonnie & Clyde,” “Run This Town,” “Dirt Off Your Shoulder,” “D.O.A.”) “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)” (with John Mayer) “Run This Town” (with Rihanna and Kanye West) Kanye West: “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” Kanye West: “Good Life” “99 Problems” “Venus vs. Mars” Beyonce: “Diva” “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)” (with Pharrell) “On to the Next One” (with Swizz Beatz) “I Know” (with Pharrell) “Allure” (with Pharrell) “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” “Can’t Knock the Hustle” (with Mary J. Blige) Mary J. Blige: “The One” Medley: “Money Ain’t a Thing”/”Excuse me Miss”/”La La La”/”Feelin’ It”/”Fiesta” (remix)/”Lucifer” “Can I Get A…” “Big Pimpin’” “Hard Knock Life” Moment of silence “Young Forever” “Encore” (with Diddy and Kanye West)
Exlusive studio clip of one of the new songs from Battle Stations, 'Friends, Lovers, or Nothing'. (I put in the Oxford comma myself, as John Mayer should when the album release date comes around). Great to see Steve Jordan and Pino Palladino back.
Third video for John Mayer's upcoming TBA album Battle Studies. Will it be all about the break up between Jen and Vince Vaughan? Oh wait, that's a common lyric. Never mind.
Watch:
Also, here's his 'California Dreamin' cover from the Tonight Show:
John loves Taylor. He's mentioned her on twitter a few times. Why hasn't he mentioned my other pet project, twistories? That's what I want to know. This week I'm doing a choose your own adventure story. Should be fun.
Anyhow, John Mayer and Taylor Swift duetted on songs by each other, her 'White Horse' and his 'Your Body is a Wonderland' which you can watch below.
A second video from the studio for the new John Mayer album Battle Stations. That nice sounding song at the end is 'Heartbreak Warfare' which could be the album opener.
No release date, but small snippets of news, and a studio video preview thingy. Steve Jordan is to produce as well as play bass, and the other Trio member, Pino Palladino is back on bass. Good news indeed. But we do have a name, the new John Mayer record will be called Battle Studies!
Forget about BBC's Sound of 2009 (although that'll make for a great read next week), this is where it's all happening. These are the acts you need to hear in 2009. Well, this is what I think anyway... (they're in alphabetical order, so no-one is above another)
Broken Records Broken Records are a Scottish band that are miles better than Glasvegas, if only because they've a cello, violin, trombone and mandolin. Yet they remain a rock band. Oh and someone has called them the Scottish Arcade Fire. Not a bad comparison. Glorious. I cannot wait for their debut album, as new single 'Lies' and 'If The News Make You Sad, Don't Watch It' are both tremendous. New single 'Lies':
Fiction Family Punch Brothers were the must-hear Nickel Creek offshoot of 2008 led by Chris Thile, but 2009 will be the year of Sean Watkins. His band, formerly known as The Real Sean Jon release their debut record at the end of this month (the 20th) on Dave Matthews' ATO Records. Check out their new single 'When She's Near':
Florence and the Machine Florence and the Machine are going to be massive in 2009. You mark my words. Of all the people I list here, no-one else will probably rise so rapidly. It's amazing that you haven't heard of her already. Oh wait you have? And what song? Of course, the excellent 'Kiss With A Fist'
Mr Hudson Kanye West's latest protege will be just like Estelle, A-Track and John Legend - massive. This man knows music. Kanye knows more about music than most PR men. And he'll tell you so. Similarily, he'll tell you how brilliance Mr Hudson is. And every time he says something like that about someone other than himself, you just have to stand up and listen. 'Picture of You':
Mumford and Sons The best new live act I saw in 2008 wasn't even the full band. It was just band leader Marcus by himself, supporting Laura Marling at Whelan's, and he was fantastic. Forget about Noah and the Whale, this is the future of British pop-folk. 'White Blank Page': MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/mumfordandsons
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart 80s pop along the line of A Flock of Seagul..well, maybe not them. But the kind of music that used to be on the radio when it was good. They've a horrible name, but they make enchanting music. 'Everything with You':
Passion Pit This band are on every list. And it's no wonder why. They're fantastic. I've talked about them numerous times on this blog, and I'm not about to stop any time soon. Expect them to crop up on a lot of end-of-year lists too. 'Sleepyhead':
Jay Jay Pistolet It's not fair that people born much later than me are succesful. What will be fair, however, is the success of Jay Jay Pistolet. He's been around since 2007 and really should've released an album last year, so hopefully he'll finally do it in 2009. 'We Are Free':
Also be on the lookout for VV Brown, White Lies, and John Mayer.
Yes, that John Mayer. If he does release an album in 2009 (and I hope to God it does), he'll be huge. The publicity has already been done. He's probably the best young guitarist I've ever seen. His work with John Mayer Trio is impeccable. Just watch this, if you don't believe me:
As you all may have figured out, I really can't wait for the new Verve album. So, imagine my delight when one of my other favourite artists, John Mayer, teased their classic 'Bittersweet Symphony' during a recent performance at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Tinley Park, Illinois.
I unashamedly love John Mayer, I even had tickets for his cancelled Irish gig five years ago when he broke his arm or was sick, or whatever was the confounded reason for him not appearing. If you think he's just a pop singer or merely Rachel from Friends' fella, then you're severely mistaken. This man is so much more. Live, he is just fantastic, and live with the John Mayer Trio even better. Like a guitar God.
From his official blog: http://www.johnmayer.com/Blog
I want all my fans to know that it is with great humility and embarrassment that I have to inform you that I was arrested tonight. I hope that my forthrightness and honesty will help to ease some of your hurt. Here are the facts.
After my show in Mansfield, MA, I decided to try my hand at mixing the perfect watermelon margarita. Having served more than two dozen, and sipping from each drink as it was delivered, I became very inebriated. The rest makes me sick to my stomach, but here goes:
I thought in my impaired state that it would be a good idea to play Grand Theft Auto 4: Liberty City. It was not. As I left my cousin Roman's apartment with the afternoon to spare, the alcohol (and the loneliness) got to me. The combination of Patron, Triple Sec, Watermelon Pucker and my cousin Roman's misleading promise of the American Dream brought out the darkest side of me.
I decided to walk into traffic and stop a cab. When the driver came to a halt, I opened his door and ripped him from his seat. This is when I began to pummel him without mercy. When he fell to the ground covered in his own bright red blood, I slid into the driver's seat and drove through a busy park with reckless abandon.
I won't lie to you. I hit many, many people. While I can't say how many it was exactly, I garnered 4 white stars and a large police search canvas area. I know I should have surrendered, but I just don't know what got into me. While listening to my favorite hip-hop station, I led police on a three-mile chase through areas dense with innocent people. I was eventually shot, leading my vision to become monochromatic.
I want all my fans to know that I will do my best to redeem myself in your eyes. Though I came-to outside of the Liberty City Police Station two hours later after my arrest, I know that the damage has been done. I have decided from this point on to obey the plot's directive; to figure out just what the hell I'm supposed to do in this game while hitting fewer people and lampposts.
I hope those who hold tickets for the upcoming dates on my tour will still come to enjoy the shows to come.
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