Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz brought a burst of color to an otherwise cloudy Saturday night at the Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston, as part of The Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride, joined on tour by Ripe.
The weather cooperated and the threats of rain went away, allowing fans to comfortably make their way towards Boston’s seaport. A steady line filled with colorful outfits and summer vibes went around the corner, as Ripe started their high energy set. It had been 3 years now since Mraz’s last visit, so fans were eager to see the lively singer.
As the lights came down, Jason Mraz’s The Superband started taking the stage, with the singer joining shortly after. Covered in a calming shade of blue, Mraz kicked the show off with the aptly named “Getting Started”, getting everyone up on their feet right away. With his usual charisma, he’d treat the Boston crowd to a rendition of the classic Cheers theme song, before moving into “Living In The Moment”. The atmosphere certainly felt like it, both on and off the stage: from a bubbly dance break during “Be Where Your Feet Are” to couples in the crowd dancing to “A Beautiful Mess”, everybody was truly present.
On a heartwarming note, Mraz shared the story behind his first hit, “The Remedy (I Won’t Worry)”, and how it was inspired by his close friend dealing with cancer treatment at a young age. Despite being one of his most popular songs, and a live staple from the beginning, Mraz performs it with an entirely different arrangement, bringing both his powerful vocals and compelling words to the forefront. He moved on to a few more favorites off his 2008 album We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things: after jokingly announcing singer Colbie Caillat would… not be joining him for the evening, he went on to perform their duet “Lucky”. “Make It Mine” would follow shortly after, as well as the raunchy “Butterfly”.
The energy in the air was effervescent, from the outstanding solos coming from the band, to the love emanating from the crowd towards all the performers, the show felt like a celebration. Jason Mraz’s charm was as endearing as it was calming, in the most literal sense: as the show was approaching its end, a humorous breathing exercise blasted through the speakers, leaving everyone in the room holding their breath until they were invited to smile. “I’m Yours” and the upbeat “I Feel Like Dancing” brought the set to a close, sending the fans off down the street smiling and well, dancing. The show is the epitome of a feel good party, and Jason Mraz leads the festivities proudly.
Photos and words by Maria Alejandra Mata
