When Jason Mraz was last here, I was amazed at how far he had come as a live artist in the years that I`d known him.
The first time Jason toured Australia, it was for the Chuggi’s Blues Fest at Jeff’s Shed (well, it’s Brack’s shack now).Jason had the worst time-slot anyone could ever have been given. While he was performing on a stage inside the Melbourne Convention Centre, the guy performing on the big stage outside was Ray Charles.
There were a few dozen people inside checking him out. I poked my head in the door. It was the least I could do. The night before we all had dinner over at Warner Music. It was a BBQ. Jason and band-mate Toca Rivera were flipping the burgers for us. Over a sausage sanger and beer or ten later they played a few tunes. How’s that for a dinner party!.
Jason has never forgotten that day. Neither have I.
I’ve seen him perform ever chance I could whenever he toured Australia if I was around. Jason Mraz is one act who just keeps getting better.
In fact, he was so good last time that I stated on the record that we will never see him in such a small venue again. He played The Forum in Melbourne when last he was here.
I guess I was right. This time he has been upgraded to stadiums. He has sold out a Palais and now has a Festival Hall in Melbourne on sale. You can tick off The Hordern in Sydney as a sell-out. The Brisbane Convention Centre is another big gig. There are tickets left for that. Then there is the Blues Fest at Byron Bay, the West Coast Blues & Roots Festival in Fremantle and a pretty cool gig, Music in the Park with Missy Higgins in Adelaide.
There is not a lot to dislike about a Jason Mraz show although I do suspect that a lot of young guys buy the tickets because they know that the audience is mainly under 30 and female.
Jason Mraz, he sings, he dances, he steals things. Go just for fun.
Jason Mraz tour dates to hit still are:
April 14, 2009 - Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
April 17, 2009 - Music In The Park, Adelaide (with Missy Higgins)
April 21, 2009 - Festival Hall, Melbourne
