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Folk Singer/Songwriter Guitarist Peter Mayer's joke telling ability induces cringes ("Sven and Olie died and went to hell but the devil was furious that they enjoyed the heat"). That's the least of his worries, though. He recently lost use of his superb guitar playing ability. Just two weeks before launching a tour this March, his left hand developed tendonitis. A huge conundrum lay ahead. Who would play his intricate guitar arrangements on such short notice? This disabled strummer enlisted the aid of his talented buddy, guitarist Dan Schwartz. Giving him just two weeks to learn Mayer's song itinerary, the results last Sunday night (3/21) at St. Joan's proved victorious.
In concert, Peter Mayer with Dan Chouinard, sold out quickly, amassing loyal Mayer die-hards and new found fans alike. A native of Minnesota with a background in theology, Mayer's heartfelt music addresses spiritual growth and the beauty of nature. A master poet, his skilled song writing taps into the wonders of ecology and science with keen observation.
Mayer opened the evening singing "Birthday Party" from his 1997 album 'Bountiful.' With references to Jesus and Buddha, this song imagines the possibilities of connection with all faiths. The piece featured nice vocal harmony between Mayer and Schwartz. "Fall," a nifty ditty from 1999's 'Million Year Mind' followed offering plenty of catchy plucking from Schwartz. Mayer observes the simplest elements of life that we often take for granted like our massive oceans and our fertile grounds. The old 1800's Roland Pritchard hymn "Blue Boat Home" richly explores these issues with loving reference.
Mayer gently sang the title tune from his latest album 'Earth Town Square' that looks at that special place where communities gather to hang out—whether the interactions prove good, bad or ugly—it's at least a physical exchange as opposed to internet instant messaging. Without the use of his guitar, this songster kept finding inventive ways to keep his hands busy playing various percussion instruments—conga, tambourine, kibosso and even the shaking of a pair of long brown pods—anything to keep his hands occupied.
Revealing plans to release a Christmas recording about the winter solstice, Mayer performed "My Soul," a gorgeous ballad ripe with rich poetic imagery ("We are snow flakes in a universe of snow. Ah, but how much bigger is our soul"). The song benefited from Schwartz's expert strumming, this time playing an unusual 1800's style instrument—a harp guitar—a rare combination built by Charles Hoffman. With our warm first-day-of-spring climate this evening, winter themes seem anachronistic, but, forewarning, like the Prince song says of Minnesota—"Sometimes It Snows In April."
"Magical World" transported us to a warm romantic French place aided by the beautiful playing of both Chouinard's accordion and Schwartz's mandolin. "Stables", a haunting a capella vocal standout for Mayer powerfully addressed the ugliness of war in the West Bank where "love is the only lesson to learn." "Blessed Disease" packs a punch with the words "I wish everyone would get amnesia so they'd forget why they don't like each other." Wordplay got playfully fun in "John's Garden," Mayer's wacky ode to chatty pumpkins and their destiny of becoming jack-o-lanterns. An infectious sing-along to be sure.
The mighty poetry of Mayer's ballads sometimes goes only so far for some in concert; the lack of tonal variation can become monotonous. Pacing stalls. Back to back quiet tunes did induce some undesirable soporific results—yikes! audible sounds of snoring! To Mayer's credit, he did pick the pace up with upbeat material like the catchy "Yukon Sally" about a mountain climber eschewing modern technology, the whimsical "Straw House Down" about a pig who journals his fears and obvious desperation and the nutty "Driving With My Knees" the hilarious ode to multi-tasking.
A common theme in much of Mayer's repertory is simply to appreciate the good in this world. Giving thanks can profoundly impact our well being. His paean "Holy Now" resonates deep in the well of my heart. Every time I hear it, I tear up. My cheeks feel flushed hearing the prophetic lyrics "the challenge is not to look for miracles but find where there isn't one." This song might not affect you if you haven't looked death directly in the eye or if you haven't held a new born in your arms. It's one of the few songs that I know that has so joyously boggled my senses.
A special surprise treat bookends the two acts. Neal & Leandra coupling with Mayer produced splendid vocal blend on Stacy Earle's "It Must Be Love" at the end of the first act. For the encore, Schwartz took his turn at the mike igniting muscular vocal pulp at the start of the classic "Will the Circle Be Unbroken". All joined in for a fantastic finish to the complete satisfaction of the audience.
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