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| Jason Mraz @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
“This is the bestest, singest crowd on the tour,” Jason Mraz proclaimed to an adoring audience at Berkeley’s Greek Theatre on Wednesday night. “Always the best here. I hope wherever you go tomorrow, you get to experience 5,000 people cheering for you like this!” Mraz, touring in support of his new album Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride, had his feel-positive attitude flag flying high on this night and the crowd enjoyed every positive affirmation.
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| Jason Mraz @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Taking the stage with a band that at times numbered twelve players on stage and saw many different configurations of musicians taking on various instruments, Mraz began with two songs off the new album. “Getting Started” was delivered like a drumroll – building the anticipation of the crowd at the outset before unleashing the full energy with “Feel Good Too” which saw Mraz and his band roaming all over the stage to connect with the crowd and each other. And Mraz has a devoted crowd. Some wore pancake hats and t-shirts in honor of his new song “Pancakes and Butter” (played late in the set). Others wore bright outfits in keeping with Mraz’s every-color-goes approach. A super fan dead center on the rail told me that she had lined up at 10:30am for the 7:30pm show to get her spot and showed me the hand she had painted to be able to flash a greeting to Mraz from the front row.
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| A Jason Mraz super-fan @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
After opening with two off his latest album, Mraz went to the hits with “The Remedy (I Won’t Worry)" and the dancing theme of the night continued with band members crossing the stage and trading places. Mraz’s band is a kaleidoscope of talented musicians of all genders and backgrounds with much of his support coming from the members of “Raining Jane” who after being touring companions a decade ago have become the core of his backing “Superband.”
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| Mona Tavakoli @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Percussionist Mona Tavakoli, multi-instrumentalist / singer Chaska Potter, cellist / singer Mai Bloomfield and multi-instrumentalist Becky Gebhardt shared frequently in the center spotlight of the night, along with Mraz’ lead guitarist Molly Miller. Tavakoli, a percussive force who brings so much energy to the performances and music, was met with “Mona” screams by the faithful fans down front when she took the stage after the initial number. The large band was attired in what a look that might be titled “Morning Aloha” – colorful, roomy outfits reminiscent of pajamas (except for the horn section that wore solid black).
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| Jason Mraz & band @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
“Living your dream is hard work” Mraz told the crowd as he followed with “Good Old Daze” and “3 Things.” The three things that Mraz preached to turn the negative into a positive:
- Cry your eyes out
- Say thank you
- Try again
“And if that doesn’t work, go on a long drive” Mraz added as the band began the song of the same name. Watching and listening to Mraz live was a lot like eating great ice cream – at the outset, it seemed too sweet to possibly digest the whole thing, but by the end, everyone was smiling and wishing we had a bit more. He is the master of feel-good rock and spent the night sharing positive wisdom and showing gratitude to his crowd.
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| Jason Mraz @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
“We’re going to take a trip to Sad Chord Island,” Mraz told the Greek “I could play about 100 of my songs with these chords. I often write the same songs over and over again and they are usually pick-me-up songs.” He did a brief dip into “Look for the Good”, before beginning an acoustic intro to mega-hit “Lucky” before feigning a guest appearance with “Ladies and gentlemen, Colbie Caillat (pause for audience gasp and cheers) could not be here. But we have the equally beautiful and talented Chaska Potter!” And Potter was more than up for the challenge, singing along tenderly with Mraz at the song’s beginning before the whole band kicked in for a full version featuring gorgeous cello, guitar, keyboard and sitar solos.
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| Chaska Potter @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
“You Might Like It” led into a full-fledged sing-a-long of “Make it Mine” with the horn section coming to the front and lights up on the crowd who sang along at full volume. “Butterfly” and the previously mentioned “Pancakes & Butter” were enthusiastically presented with Potter liberally leaning into her wah pedal to add a sexy funk and Miller delivering a brief, but spectacular solo. Mraz doubled down on the new album’s dance vibe with “Disco Sun” as he hopped and danced around the stage over an hour into the show.
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| Jason Mraz @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Mraz finished out the set with a newcomer proceeded by four of his biggest hits in a row. A sweet and stripped down take on “93 Million Miles” saw Mraz accompanied by Potter’s beautiful work on the lap steel, along with cello and sitar support. Horns added a lovely element before the entire band kicked the song into a full blowout before Mraz once again returned to ending the song a cappella. "Let’s all take a deep breath together,” Mraz told the audience, as he took a pause before “Have It All” brought its unabashed feeling that there is so much right with the world. The tender ballad “I Won’t Give Up” saw the Greek lit up with phones and lighters and Miller shattered the now chilly air with a blistering solo that received one of the largest ovations of the night. Mraz reeled the song back by leaning on his cellist and repeating the mantra “Still Looking Up” as spotlights from the stage rose repeatedly to the top of the trees above the back of The Greek.
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| Jason Mraz @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
“I’m Yours” once again saw the crowd singing along full-throated at the intro, but the majority of them kept going and sang lead as the lights stayed up on the audience throughout the song in recognition and encouragement of their lusty vocals. The song concluded with Mraz leading the crowd as though he was an orchestra conductor. 2023’s “I Feel Like Dancing” concluded the main set paying loving tribute to the disco genre and Mraz embracing his dancingest self and the crowd on the floor and many on the stone steps standing and dancing along bathed in yellow light. For the encore, Mraz went back to the early days of the 1990’s with “Common Pleasure” highlighting his early rap style to end the night.
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| Celisse @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Earlier in the evening, East Bay native Celisse (aka Celisse Henderson) delivered a triumphant homecoming set as Mraz’ opener. She continually displayed her top-notch guitar playing and charismatic, fun presence in a set that balanced her originals and covers. “You are part of my dream come true!” she told the audience on playing center stage at The Greek. “When you see me tonight, tell me I did a good job. My family is here so I wanna feel good you guys!” Celisse’s most powerful moment actually came when she shed her guitar and delivered a strong song about her father accompanied only by her bassist with dozens of family and friends present.
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