From Mraz's Concert

For those who have been waiting ... here a bit story about Jason Mraz's concert in the first day of 2009 Java Jazz Festival, March 6th. If you want to know about the detail of the concert, please don't expect much, since this story is mostly about me. This took days to be written because I didn't want to over-expose my ecstasy here.

The concert would be begun at 0645 pm, so I took an ojek in a hurry as soon as the clock ticking at five sharp. Traffic jam made me spending approximately an hour by motorcycle from Pecenongan to Jakarta Convention Center, Senayan (and IDR50.000 from my pocket.)

I thought I could get a good spot inside the concert hall, but ... there I stood in a line. And it was a long line. I waited for half an hour till I reached the entrance (mini) gate.

Then, my usual problem popped up. I didn't know the direction, even though it wasn't my first time being inside the JCC. "Ah, where to go?" But the question only stayed seconds in my mind because I saw a man with fedora on his head. I challenged myself to follow this unidentified man, and I did it. From the opposite direction, another fedora went to the same direction with the first man. "Ah, this must be the right one," I ensured myself.

How could be? Because one of Mraz’s characteristic is often wearing fedora. (Fans don't have a personal identity, do they? That's why Beckham's jersey is always on the top sales.)

When I entered the Convention Hall B, I was surprised. I saw thousands people. Kompas wrote in the next day, the concert was attended by around 8000 people. Wow! For someone who is recognized here just by his last album, that is freaking awesome!

While the MC saying crap on the stage (OK, it wasn't crap, but ... I didn't hear any word), I struggled to go to the front. And when Mike Indonesian Idol (ooh ... I thought he didn't exist anymore!) was singing Indonesia Raya, I gave up trying to reach the avant garde. (Indonesia Raya? Two thumps up for the committee!)

Considering my position, my only 5'1" height, and the fact that I was surrounded by taller people, I couldn't see even Mraz's fedora when he sang the first song that evening (Make it Mine from his latest album). Right after he started singing Remedy, I remembered the reason why I was there: listening to him singing live and jamming with his super band. The teenagers' screaming just ruined Mraz's song inside my head.

When he inserted Oasis' Wonderwall to Remedy, I was on my way climbing to an around 1,7m height mini stage where a cameraman and some photographers are about. And, when Remedy is finished, I was sitting comfortably, happily, and arrogantly on that mini stage. I could see Mraz clearly, no teenagers screamed right to my ears or jumped around, and I got enough oxygen since my feet were parallel with the audience's heads. Yup, I got a great spot! :D

I enjoyed the one hour concert. There was a choice of not going to the concert, but I knew that I would never considered other option as an option since the first time I watched U and I Both in JakTV, back in early 2005. Linkin Park held a live concert at Ancol when I was in my highest phase of idolizing them. Backstreet Boys, whom I love since my teen, came here for the 2nd time. But, for both of them, I chose the "not go" option, simply because I considered it as an option.

About Mraz ... I idolize him for being a great singer and motivator. Instead of admiring his appearance (a characteristic of boysband lovers like myself – and not that his is bad), I praise his musical and composing quality. And to think that others usually agree with me, I bet I have done my job objectively.

Besides being directed by fedoras, I also had other two laughable experiences.

Mraz is famous in Indonesia since his third album became a hit, started from I'm Yours, continued by Lucky and Make it Mine. So, I smiled a lot when just a few sang along with songs from his old albums, such as Belle Luna and No Stopping Us. More than a half sang Remedy and U and I Both (perhaps due to the fact that each has a video clip). And everyone sang almost every song from the latest one. Ouh, I bet you would have a big grin when hearing the teenage fans' jealousy screaming when Mraz hugged Dira, the replacement singer of Colbie Caillat for Lucky. :D

The second is the light from every camera, whether handy or cell. One of my friends said that it's the difference between eastern and western audience: Westerns enjoy watching the performances while Easterns enjoy recording them. :))

The best moment is when Mraz repeated the "You are the best" part from The Dynamo of Volition and took time to point every part of the audiences. Perhaps my only disappointment is that he didn't sing all of his songs. Yeah, I am a greedy fan.

And here is the best picture I could get. “See, I’ve told you about the fedoras, videos, and my position!” :D