Review: Jason Mraz slays sold-out show in Salt Lake City

I’ve been a fan of Jason Mraz for about 11 years now.

When my fandom began, Mraz only had one album out. Everyone has that friend with good taste, who subconsciously influences your music listening for the rest of your life. Joelle — the previously mentioned friend, who still has fantastic taste — pointed me to the treasure that was his acoustic stuff. I was instantly hooked.

Picture you are a die-hard fan of a musician renowned for live performances. Then said artist doesn’t come to tour near you for over a decade. You can imagine my turmoil.

My years of waiting finally ended last Friday at Abravenel Hall.

Quite a bit happened in Mraz’s life during those 11 years. He released four more studio albums, two live albums and several EPs. He finally won his, in my opinion, much-deserved Grammy awards. He became so philanthropic that he created the Jason Mraz Foundation, which touches base on issues of social equality, education and the environment — as stated much more eloquently on his website.

Most of all, he became known to most as that-guy-in-the-fedora-who-wrote-“I’m Yours,” the ear worm of summer 2008. I’m sure he gained a genuine following from that success, but there is much more to Mraz than a wholesome singer-songwriter persona. He has crazy talent and charm and is warmhearted.

As for the concert itself, it’s safe to say I adored it. My boyfriend, who came with me, said I was grinning like an idiot and looked like I was about to cry the entire time.

Mraz had two opening acts. The first was Cody Lovaas, a 16-year-old singer-songwriter who Mraz took under his wing for touring experience. Lovaas has enormous talent hidden under his mop of curly hair.

Raining Jane performed next. The two acts, who met at a music festival, discovered their chemistry when writing the song “A Beautiful Mess” together. The latter group went on to write and perform on the entirety of Mraz’s latest album, “Yes!,” touring with him and establishing a steadfast friendship that shines on stage. Raining Jane was dubbed as “the girl group I’ve always wanted to be a part of” by Mraz.

As expected, most of the songs performed were from “Yes!” Mraz’s commercial hits, “I’m Yours,” “I Won’t Give Up” and “The Remedy,” were set list staples. I was delighted, however, when Mraz brought out gems from previous albums. This included a performance of “Mr. Curiosity” with an operatic voice so unreal, it caused the person behind me to exclaim, “Is that really him?”

A Mraz concert isn’t complete without a few snarky quips. One of my favorites was when he dubbed himself and Raining Jane as “Girls to Man,” complete with posing with their instruments.

If Mraz ever comes back for another tour, saying I highly recommend attending would be an understatement. Just keep a look out for the girl grinning from ear-to-ear near the front. It’s probably me.

— Whitney Howard is an English major, who will someday marry Jason Mraz and have 10,000 of his babies — Hey, a girl can dream. Send addresses for wedding invitations to whitney.howard@aggiemail.usu.edu.