Jason Mraz Live In Malaysia

[uptowndragon]

Jason Mraz Live In Malaysia - Press Conference @ Delicious Dua Residency


Here he is!!! In the flesh in Malaysia, appearing for the first time to the media in Malaysia at the Press Conference at Delicious Restaurant @ Dua Residency in KL.

Full story coming up, but enjoy some of the pics first.




Here he comes!!! 100% in the flesh in Malaysia.


With event host Serena C from Mix FM.










Jason says he likes girls who are au naturale.


Signing a memento for the organisers Macrtensia who made it possible for Jason to be here.














More on Jason Mraz from our editor Anas & writer Martin very soon. Stay tuned.

[mart]

Martin Arul’s Review: Jason Mraz Live in Malaysia 2009


Everyone was hyped up about Jason Mraz’s tour in Malaysia. Organized by Marctensia Entertainment Ltd, it was all set for the 4th day of March 2009. Mraz’s Asian Tour kicked off at the Olympic Hall in Seoul, Korea, and has circulated Tokyo, Osaka, Hong Kong and Taipei before making it’s way to Kuala Lumpur.

Tickets selling fast and just days before the show, last minute purchasers were left with limited options of seating based on price listing.

It was a beautiful Wednesday, although towards mid afternoon, dark clouds threatened to spoil the day, but by late evening, it had cleared, promising us all good weather. We certainly did hope the concert was going to be a good one too.

We (Dragon and myself) were there by 6.30pm and were greeted by a host of fans crowding the stadium, some anxiously waiting to get their tickets from the Axcess Tickets counter, or others just simply being there early to get good seating at the free seating and standing zones. I was prepared to see many people, to be precise, die-hard fans of Mraz dressed up in vests and a hats and boy, did I see them all over. For those who did not come dressed like fans, there were stalls selling Tee-shirts and merchandises of Mraz at every corner of the stadium.

After registering, and taking more pictures, it was time for us to go into the stadium. As I entered the stadium, a stage, with dim blue throw lights greeted me. By 7.30pm, the stadium was already half full. with legions of fans continuing to throng the entrance of the stadium, waiting to get in.

Three minutes to 8pm, the final sound checks were done for Mraz’s guitars. Fans who purchased the Free Standing Rock Zone and The Pitt tickets, made themselves comfortable on the ground. It is only reasonable that you should sit when you can. Once the show starts, there is no sitting down, or at least we hope.

Finally…, the lights were dimmed at 8.25pm. The crowd went wild. The blue lights that lit the stage turned into a mild, but wild, purple. From where I was seated, it looked gorgeous. The fans installed below me blew mists into the air, with the throw of the purple lights, combined with the screaming crowd, oh heavenly. By now it was full-house. The man himself appeared on stage, with a handy cam in his hands recording the crowd that went wilder upon his appearance. Yes, I am there now.. living that exact moment. All I can say is... WOW!!!

Mraz got his guitar on, and kick started the show with "Make It Mine". Another dose of screams from the wild crowd filled the air. Accompanied by his highly acclaimed band, they belted "Remedy", "You and I" and "If it Kills Me". The participative crowd sang along.

However, somewhere midway through the show, the crowd seemed to have lost interest in the songs he was doing, not because it was boring, but probably because they just did not know it. And I speak for myself definitely. He certainly did loose me towards the middle of the show, and got me back with his "Thank You". Did I also mention that he said thank you in many languages, including Bahasa Malaysia. I think that was a great touch to show us that he did take the effort to know the way we say thank you and use it on us.

I have to give him credit for being a great performer. Though simple, he connects with the crowd and gets them involved with his singing. Although sometimes he can be in a world of his own, or seem like it, when one looks closely, you will be able to feel the song. I am all about the feel of the song. Good singers, to me, are those who live the song on stage and deliver it to you, and you as a viewer, feel the song and the interpretation of it. Mraz does it pretty well, I’d say.

Naturally the crowd went wild, yet again, to "I'm Yours". I was all excited and was ready for the song, because I had a song list provided, so I knew the line up (haha!). It was an exciting song, and Mraz didn’t fail to impress all of his fans in the stadium that night. Mraz has a style of his own when it comes to ad libs. He is very creative and does spontaneous things on stage. Some of it were really funny, to me, who sees the humor in things. For instance, for those of you who were there, when he was asking the girls and the guys to sing low and high tones, respectively, the lowest key for the girl was a lip-sync when the percussionist sang it for him. It was cute, entertaining, and made everyone roar in laughter. That is entertaining.

Back to the show, after I’m Yours, he disappeared into darkness, up to the changing room. The crowd started chanting “We Want More”. The crowd however, was quick to see him coming down the staircase towards the stage and went wild, again.

Mraz appeared on stage with a sleeveless I *heart* KL tee-shirt. It was so cliché. It was probably forced unto him by the sponsors or maybe he just wanted to wear it, I don’t know. But it definitely made the girls go gaga seeing his bare arms and his muscles (now covered in sweat) which also resulted in more screams.

Also because I had the song list, I knew what was coming up next. Another of my favorite from Mraz, "Lucky" ft Colbie Caillat (the original). So he was all prepared on stage, everyone was waiting, he gave a short speech, and invited his duet partner, and I quote Mraz, “Where is she? If she comes we will be blessed, if she doesn’t then you guys sing it ok”. Expecting her not to be there, we were all wondering where she was. And who is “she’? Mraz, however, did not let the crowd wait any longer, and started off the song. I was a bit puzzled there, wondering what happened to “her”. Mraz sings his first part, and then comes Colbie’s verse, and “she” was not there!! I was…shocked. Upon earlier instructions, the crowd was more than obliged to help him out. So when the song entered the chorus, and was halfway through it, there appears Penny Tai, a Malaysian born (Johor to be exact), Taiwan based singer. Naturally, she starts singing the second verse onwards, but the fact that she was LATE kept ringing on my head. And then she starts singing. I don’t know how to describe it, it was just bad. She did a very kind gesture of making Colbie a fantastic singer. Hey, not many singers would do that. This is my issue :

1. She was LATE. (No honey, you don’t come late for an INTERNATIONAL concert, it affects your reputation and the country’s as a whole)
2. She was singing in a very flat monotonous way, and it was a cold voice. There was no warmth to her voice.
3. The last key she held when the song ended was terribly out of key. That was a wrong key. I am no music maestro, but I have attended music classes before and I can judge basic family of notes.
4. There was just no connection between her and Mraz. I felt that there would be more feel to the song, should a minus one of Colbie be played at that point.

It was just a huge mistake I would say, to pick Penny as his duet partner, when he could have selected a better one from the hundreds of good singers we have in he industry. She totally ruined my favorite song.

(Editor's note: Jason did not pick Penny, the organisers did, and Jason was not aware of her until concert day)

Mraz then belted "No Stopping Us" during which he introduced the band line up. What was new and a brilliant idea, I would say, is that he took Polaroid (instant camera) shots of the band members and randomly threw them into the crowd. Brilliant!!! After introducing the band members, he put the camera on the drums platform and took a shot of himself against the audience. Accompanied by a drum roll, he flipped the picture up and into the crowd, as I watched it fly and fall amongst the crowd in the Rock Zone (free standing), helplessly watching as a small hole opened up, as a few bent down to catch it. I wished I was there. Catching it. And its mine. I would frame it up and hang it on my door! I envy the person who caught it, I really do.

Mraz closed the show with "Butterfly", which to me, didn’t have much of a bang. Finale’s are usually meant to be strong and "bham!" In your face. It was an average performance, to me, but it was still good.

Mraz undeniably, has very good vocals, and no one can say that Mraz cannot sing. If you think so, please get your ears checked. He is an awesome singer. The fact that he connected and interacted with the audience is definitely a plus point. He knows how to grab the attention of the audience and keep them with him throughout.

For those of you who missed it, it was a fantastic show throughout, and I’m sure those who were there would agree with me. Everybody went home satisfied and content I’m sure. I know I did. As you read this, Mraz continues his tour in Indonesia at the Java Jazz Festival.

Ps. I was informed the crowd was a whooping total of NINE THOUSAND. Impressive.

My rating of the show : 4.75 out of 5 stars!

Thank you for reading! You will see more of me pretty soon!

-Mart-


Pictureswill be coming up shortly! Stay tuned!!