Jason Mraz @ The Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA
Photos courtesy of Carolyn Lederach | August 20th 2021
Before coming out to this show, I couldn’t help but think back on my own musical history of Jason Mraz. I distinctly remember the time back in 2002 when I asked my mom to take me to the mall so I could go to FYE and pick up a copy of Waiting for My Rocket to Come. I never thought some 19 years later I would be coming back from a pandemic and taking photos of Jason Mraz celebrating the release of his 7th album. Despite following Mr. A-Z’s music career for all this time, somehow this was the first live show I have attended and I’m kicking myself for waiting this long. Not only was it a fun time with his 12-piece band, but it was also fun to see a new spin to classic hits like “The Remedy (I Won’t Worry)”, and get to take in a couple of solo songs as well. It was all the good vibes we needed to come back from a drought of no-shows for over a year.
You really have to appreciate the career Jason Mraz has had, now on tour supporting the release of his 7th studio album Look For The Good. When his first album Waiting For My Rocket to Come was released it really opened up my 14-year-old mind to a clever new form of music, giving me a new appreciation for songwriting that I didn’t know I needed at the time. It wasn’t until Jason’s 3rd album, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things., that he really showed the world what he was made of with his biggest hits “I’m Yours” and “Lucky”. Since then he’s still been busy making the world a better place with his avocados (yes, Jason owns an avocado farm), various philanthropy efforts, and more beautiful songs. Lastly, an important note to highlight more of the good in Look For The Good…back on the album’s release in June, Mraz announced that all his earnings from sales and streams of the new LP would be going to numerous Black Lives Matter charities. More can be found on this in his official statement. Hopefully, your feet will find you back at a show soon enjoying life.