Grammy Award winning singer songwriter Jason Mraz and California quartet Raining Jane performed atAustin’s Bass Concert Hall on September 7, 2014. The three hour concert began with Jason Mrazintroducing Raining Jane attired in yoga pants, a cape and a baseball cap. Following a 20 minute opening set by the quartet, Mraz reappeared donning a fedora, jeans and a black t-shirt, and performed with the members of Raining Jane for the rest of the evening. The acoustic tone of the evening was significantly heightened by the groups’ skillful playing of guitars, drums, cello, sitar, pedal steel guitar, glockenspiel, mandolin, and more.
The set list featured eight songs from his latest release, rearranged hits, and old fan favorites like ‘Lucky’ and ‘I’m Yours.’ In between songs, Mraz entertained the audience with humor, personal stories, heartfelt wishes to act against global warming, and personal video clips from a trip he and Mona, the drummer fromRaining Jane, took to Antarctica with Al Gore as part of a global warming summit. His stage presence exudes positive energy. Raining Jane accompanied him throughout the evening and the collaboration between them is amazing. The Bass Concert stage was simply filled with joy and left no doubts thatRaining Jane and Jason Mraz should certainly work together again on future projects.
For those familiar with the G Love, some of the tracks Jason Mraz performed shared a similarity in terms of tongue twisting funky lyrics and wordplay. The visual presentation was such that the screen behind the performers glowed with a mixture of peaceful fields, mountains, outer space, and an array of kaleidoscopic images.
Jason Mraz closed out the night with ‘I’m Yours’ which got everyone on their feet singing and raising their hands. With such infectious positive energy, it would be impossible to leave this concert feeling anything but happy.
Austin Set List:
• Opposite of Blue
• The Dynamo of Volition
• Lucky
• If It Kills Me
• Quiet
• You Can Rely on Me
• Butterfly
• The Woman I Love
• I Won’t Give Up
• Mr. Curiosity
• Rise
• Love Someone
• Long Drive
• Only Human
• 93 Million Miles
• Details in the Fabric
• Bottom of the Sea
• Life Is Wonderful
• 3 Things
• Shine
• I’m Yours