I have very few rules when it comes to sharing my life here in this little space of mine. They aren’t brain-busters… but simple, logical, don’t scare your readers away or get fired rules.First, I don’t discuss work unless it’s fun and harmless. Next, I don’t name names when I’m upset and ranting even when I want to scream and point, “That’s the big, fat, meanie-head!!! They’re the ones that made me cry! Go poke them in the eye if you love me…” (Discreet and private finger-pointing is why email and texting were created.) Finally, I try to keep my love stalking obsession appreciation of John Mayer to a minimum. That, my friends, is what message boards, Local-83, Mayer-loving friends, and 15gbs of hard drive space are for. (Don’t judge. I’m sure you have deep, dark secrets. *cough* Taylor Swift *cough*)

But, today I plan on breaking rule #3. Please don’t think that I’m going to be gushing about ‘that pansy boy who’s written crappy songs like Your Body Is A Wonderland and Daughters and stop reading. Please? You might actually enjoy JM if you give him a chance and get past the fact you think he’s not your cup of tea (or your pissed that he’s dated Jessica Simpson and you haven’t). Anyway, back in December Mayer held his 1st Annual Holiday Charity Revue where he played music from his three musical incarnations: the bluesy John Mayer Trio, his ‘apr’ acoustic work, and jams with his full band. It was promised at the time that that night’s show would eventually make it to a dvd, and that simple fact took a way a bit of the pain I experienced when I decided not to sell my soul and take a road trip to LA to hear him play as John, John Mayer Trio, and John Mayer live.

Mayer released his first dvd Any Given Thursday back in the spring of 2003, and I distinctly remember watching it in wonder for the first time. This was back before Austin City Limits, Crossroads with Brad Paisley, Saturday Night Live, and the millions of youtube videos available today. I had a few live shows in digital format and hundreds of mp3s yet had never watched him play before. The AGT dvd began with standard Mayer acoustic songs like Back To You, 3×5, and City Love, but as track #5 started, I knew this was something new. “I’m not alone but I wish I was. Cause then I’d know I was down because I didn’t have a friend around to love me like they do right now.” I must have rewound that first phrase of Something’s Missing six times before I let the dvd play on. He continued with a cover of The Police’s Message In A Bottle, Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Lenny, a new intro to Why Georgia, and his typically quirky between song banter. Just when he’d lulled me into a groove of familiar songs, he started Covered In Rain.

As I think back on it, I realize that as I heard CIR for the first time it wasn’t the song itself that captured me but watching him perform it. I didn’t pick up on the raw reactions to a post-911 NYC in the lyrics or the continuation of City Love‘s story of Lydia in this first listen. Yet, ‘the second (about 2.5 mins in) the guitar solo began, this song demanded my attention and admiration. I grew up listening to my dad’s idea of guitar gods, but to me, this was different. Somehow in that 5 minute guitar solo a story was told… and the emotions caused by ‘the world getting colder’ found their canvas. CIR still ranks at the top of my favorite John Mayer songs, and the chance I had to watch him play it live is something I’ll never forget.

Needless to say, when his newest dvd (and 2-disc set!), Where The Light Is, is finally released on July 1st, there will be a copy in my hands as soon as possible. (Some of you may even be forced into watching it with me, and it won’t kill you. Call it your late birthday present to me. I promise not to sing too loud or squeal to much.) Seriously though, part of me is worried that my expectations are so high that I may ended up disappointed with the final product of that night back in December, but I just don’t see how that’s possible. He played Free Fallin and In Your Atmosphere… Steve Jordan, Pino Palladino… the band!!! How can that not be amazing?!?! Until then, I’ll wait patiently watching Any Given Thursday for the 92nd time (with the commentary on) and hope that when I finally get my hands on it, you’ll forgive me if that’s all I want to listen to (and talk about) for a while.

Any Given Thursday’s Covered In Rain

Where The Light Is trailer