GRAMMY U Presents HAPPY TO PLEASE, MAROON 5 SERVES UP CATALOG CLASSICS BY JENNIFER BOYER Continued from Main Page
With their third full-length album Hands All Over out and about, I expected Maroon 5 to perform more than three new songs when the band stopped through town last month. The five-piece is on the road promoting Hands All Over, and what‟s better than a concert to serve as the perfect opportunity to be introduced to the record‟s pop radio-ready compositions. Latest hit single “Misery” kicked off the night, which piqued my curiousity about the remaining unheard tunes. “Give A Little More” and “Stutter” followed as featured choice pieces sampling the Robert “Mutt” Lange produced Hands All Over.
“The Sun” had Maroon 5 frontman and sex symbol Adam Levine showing off shockingly serious guitar skills as he stole the limelight away from lead guitarist James Valentine. Without witnessing the band perform their music live, you really have no idea just how technically adept Levine and his bandmates are at playing their instruments. Levine may be labeled the band‟s rhythm guitarist along with Jesse Carmichael, but when he turns his back to the audience, walks toward Matt Flynn‟s drum kit, and picks up an electric guitar...jaws drop. Eyes bulge. Rhythm guitarist? I think not. Levine could handle being the group‟s lead guitarist any day of the week. Only his sultry and tantalizing singing style would most likely suffer, and we wouldn‟t want that to happen.
“We still get to do this for a living and it‟s all thanks to you,” Levine modestly exclaimed. “We love it.” An intimate setting including a grand piano (Carmichael), keyboard (PJ Morton), bass (Mickey Madden), and acoustic guitar (Valentine) was positioned front, center and tight together as Levine serenaded fans with “Won‟t Go Home Without You.” The tune‟s arrangement featured an impressive performance given by Carmichael, who may be self-taught but effortlessly runs his fingers up and down the black and white keys like any classically trained pianist. “This next song is by one of our favorite people,” Levine addressed an adoring audience. “If I Ain‟t Got You” took the place of an original Maroon 5 song, causing frustration to bubble up inside of me as the guys could have used that time in their set to play a new track. “We love that song,” Levine said. “Alicia Keys!” Yes, well I love Alicia Keys, too. Who doesn‟t?
“Secret” had the quintet mixing in a brief medley of Tina Turner‟s “What‟s Love Got To Do With It?” Another cover?! “Are you enjoying the show so far? What a trip man, this is amazing. Turn the lights on,” Levine remarked. “Can‟t say you guys are sexy, but you are sexy. Sexy ladies and real cool guys.” Levine reconsidered his comment. “Not gonna work. F****** awesome dudes!” Levine ran through the crowd while his bandmates provided an extended acoustic introduction for “She Will Be Loved,” sans percussion. Flynn was nowhere to be seen as Levine made his way to the front of house mix. “This is really scary!” Levine shouted. “I wanna be in the middle of you guys!” Once safe and sound standing next to Maroon 5‟s sound engineer, Levine lead fans in a massive sing along. Running right past me, the lead vocalist got back on stage to sing “Wake Up Call” and resume his microphone stand grabbing, complete with signature leaning and posing.
“Shiver” gave the boys a chance to blow people‟s minds as they worked in a jam session at the end of the tune, thus reminding listeners that they can actually play instruments and play them extremely well. This improvisational moment had all participants in Maroon 5 rocking out and head banging like the best eighties hair metal bands. “I love seeing pretty boys get dirty,” my friend Amy disclosed to me while watching the preppy clean-cut Maroon 5 members living out their teenage rock „n roll dreams. Concluding the “Shiver” jam, a bra was thrown on stage and Levine removed his shirt to reveal a skin-tight black tank top and plenty of bad boy tattoos. “You guys wanna hear a new song?” Levine asked the crowd. “Stutter” came next, followed by megahit “This Love.”
A gigantic disco ball appeared above the stage for the band‟s two-song encore, causing thousands of reflected light fragments to spin around the UIC Pavilion. The mirrored sphere set the mood perfectly for “Makes Me Wonder,” a song that had the preteen girls behind me singing the lyric Did I ever give a f*** about you? as their clueless parents sang along next to them. “What‟s up Chicago? You feeling good?” asked Levine. A deafening reply reverberated through the nearly sold out arena as female fans screamed at the top of their lungs. “Sunday Morning” closed out a 15-song set that was much too short for a band of Maroon 5‟s status.
*Author’s Note: Immediately after previewing Hands All Over via iTunes, I have reached the decision that “Never Gonna Leave This Bed” is absolutely my new favorite Maroon 5 tune. If only the band had included the track in the show’s set...
Jennifer Boyer is a longtime GRAMMY U member who recently graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a degree in Arts & Entertainment Management.