Gravity - John Mayer w/ Leroi Moore
9.6.07 - The Concert for Virginia Tech, Lane Stadium - Blacksburg VA

Last weekend I spent part of Saturday afternoon on the field of Lane Stadium playing football with my two year old son. It was the first time I had been on the field where the Virginia Tech Hokies play since The Concert for Virginia Tech. The Concert for Virginia Tech was an event free to students, faculty, and staff of Virginia Tech designed to bring the entire Virginia Tech community together after the tragic shootings five months earlier.

Virginia’s own Dave Matthews Band “hosted” the event, and played a full show after John Mayer, Phil Vassar, and Nas played 45 minute to hour long sets. Carter Beauford, drummer for Dave Matthews Band, spoke of the event, “We have a profound respect for the incredible resolve and unwavering sense of hope the university community has shown, and are honored to have the opportunity to share this evening with Virginia Tech”. As someone in the audience that night and an alumni of Virginia Tech, it was an honor to be there.

Time lapse video of Lane Stadium the day of The Concert for Virginia Tech

It was a beautiful September night in Blacksburg. September is the best month weather wise in Virginia - always sunny, low humidity, and typically in the 70s and low 80s. As far as I know, there has never been a concert at Lane Stadium, which is the largest stadium in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Even so, DMB is no stranger to Blacksburg. They’ve played countless frat houses at Virginia Tech and Dave + Tim have played Burruss Hall, the main concert hall on campus a couple times.

While I am not the biggest DMB fan, and I had no interest in seeing Nas and very little interest in seeing Phil Vassar or John Mayer, I wanted to attend the concert because of what it represented. The music did not really matter. True to that, Graham and I missed the Nas and Phil Vassar sets because we were too busy enjoying Shrimp & Grits, draft microbrews, and tequila shots on the roof deck of Boudreuax’s. We did make it in for John Mayer though.

While I worked at Musictoday from 2001-2005, John Mayer was one of the few artists I ever spoke to. That’s what happens when you work in IT for a company in the music biz. They just stick you in the basement away from all the stars. Anyhow, I was on a conference call with Mayer to discuss the design of his brand new online fan club, Local 83. I really didn’t get a good or bad impression from the experience. His project was just like any other I worked on at Musictoday, and I had the same average feelings about his music.

John Mayer’s performance at the Concert for Virginia Tech changed my perspective. He stole the show, in my humble opinion. I was really impressed with the performance, which triggered me to buy his last live double album. I will definitely see him again the next time he comes through town.

“Gravity” was the set closer. This was one of those sets that just got better and better after each and every song. “Gravity” was the pinnacle of the night with Leroi Moore adding to the mix. Enjoy.