Jason Mraz brings good vibes to KL, but leaves this fan wanting more

I was watching Ms Rachel with my children recently when her song “I Could Be Your Friend” caught my attention.

Its cheerful melody and uplifting lyrics sounded like something Jason Mraz might sing. I even wondered whether the American singer-songwriter had ever worked with the popular children’s YouTube presenter.

Then I thought about “Sesame Street”, where Canadian singer Feist famously turned her hit “1234” into a children’s counting song. Surely Mraz would be perfect for something similar?

A little digging revealed he had beaten me to it. Back in 2009, Mraz had joined Elmo and friends to sing “Outdoors”, a children’s version of his massive hit “I’m Yours”. So much for my brilliant idea.

But it made sense: few musicians have built a career around spreading happiness quite like Mraz, whose songs celebrate love, friendship and finding joy in the little things.

And that was precisely what he brought to the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday night, where some 8,000 fans gathered for his first Malaysian concert in seven years.

I brought my nine-year-old daughter, who was attending her first concert, wondering whether Mraz would be a suitable introduction to live music for someone her age. But those concerns quickly disappeared.

There was already something to marvel at before Mraz even appeared. A spectacular drone show lit up the sky for around 20 minutes, with hundreds of synchronised lights forming dazzling shapes overhead.

The weather, however, was less cooperative. Intermittent showers interrupted the first 30 to 45 minutes, but the rain soon passed.

Mraz took to the stage at 8.28pm, opening with “You and I Both”, followed by “Long Drive” and “Living in the Moment”. His voice was as smooth and reassuring as ever.

And here came another pleasant surprise. I’d arrived with my EarPods on, bracing myself for the pounding sound that usually leaves me with a headache. Perhaps it comes with being in your 40s.

Halfway through, I realised I did not need them. The volume felt just right, the vocals were clear and the instruments beautifully balanced. I removed my EarPods and enjoyed the rest of the concert headache-free.

Musically, there was much to enjoy. “Make It Mine”, from his 2008 album “We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.”, was one of the night’s highlights. Its infectious rhythm reminded me why I became such a fan.

“A Beautiful Mess”, another personal favourite, was equally satisfying, while a medley featuring “Look for the Good”, “Life Is Wonderful”, “Bella Luna” and “Lucky” showed how comfortably Mraz could move between different stages of his career.

His musicians were excellent, too. Molly Miller impressed on electric guitar, Chaska Potter added warmth and depth on vocals, particularly during “Lucky”, while drummer and percussionist Mona Tavakoli was a joy to watch.

One of the evening’s most touching moments came when Mraz spoke about his childhood friend Charlie Mingroni, whose battle with cancer inspired “The Remedy (I Won’t Worry)”. Mraz told of how Mingroni had faced his illness with courage and a determination not to spend his life worrying.

Happily, his friend is still alive. It gave new meaning to the song, which received a soulful treatment that night.

Behind its upbeat melody was a reminder that Mraz’s music is not simply about being happy, but about finding hope when life becomes difficult.

There was humour, too. Introducing “I Feel Like Dancing”, Mraz recalled writing it around 11 years ago, when dancing seemed like a wonderful idea. These days, he joked, he would rather sit or, better still, lie down.

For all the positive energy coming from the stage, the audience in my section was surprisingly reserved. A handful of enthusiastic fans stood up and danced, while many others remained seated, offering polite applause between songs.

Perhaps it was the premium seating, where the atmosphere occasionally felt more like a corporate dinner than a concert. Then again, this was an all-seated event, and Mraz’s music is hardly the sort that demands everyone jump to their feet.

A few favourites left behind

My bigger disappointment, however, was the setlist. “We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.” holds a special place in my music collection. I’d bought the double-CD edition years ago and loved practically every track.

Mraz certainly gave the album its due, performing several songs from it. But I had hoped for more of his playful side, particularly “Butterfly”. I would also have loved to hear “Curbside Prophet”, one of my favourites from his earlier days.

I particularly missed the chemistry of Mraz’s early performances with percussionist Toca Rivera, whom he once jokingly introduced as the “sixth member of the Jackson Five” during a live rendition of “Curbside Prophet”.

Of course, that is the limitation with attending a concert by an artiste whose music has been part of your life for so long. Everyone arrives with a different playlist in their head, and no performer can satisfy them all.

By the time Mraz closed the evening with “I’m Yours”, the audience had found its collective voice. It was the singalong everyone had been waiting for, and a fitting end to a thoroughly enjoyable performance.

Was it everything I had hoped for? Not completely. But between the wonderful musicians, heartfelt stories, familiar melodies and remarkably comfortable sound, Mraz delivered what he does best: music that makes the world feel a little kinder.

And perhaps that’s what made it such a fitting first concert for my daughter. I had gone in wondering whether she was ready for Jason Mraz. By the end, I realised his music was perfectly suited to the occasion.

As for her father, he left the stadium happy, headache-free, but still wishing Mraz had played “Butterfly”.

FMT Lifestyle attended the concert with complimentary tickets provided by Zeus Event Sdn Bhd.

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