it only works if you talk back.

It’s easy to have expectations, even when you don’t mean to.

I had expectations tonight, I had grade 10 expectations, it’s hard to meet those expectations 7 years later.

Tonight I saw Jason Mraz live for the very first time, and he is no less talented than 7 years ago when I first listened to ‘Zero Percent.’ I never thought he’d make it to Edmonton, so I jumped at the chance to get tickets. That was a few months ago, and I was excited when I first purchased them, but as time neared I found myself less than ecstatic. I think in the end that was the best mindset to go in with (for myself). I had wonderful seats, and I settled in. All the while, in my mind, I had no expectations. I thought I’d be fine with whatever he played…

Bushwalla was great as an opener: energetic, quirky and fun. There was already one problem in my mind: there are too many instruments on stage… Despite my ‘lack of expectations’ I thought it was going to be a smaller band… I hadn’t done any research into the tour, to get a feel of what it was going to be like… Maybe I should have.

It’s not that the band isn’t great, it’s just that I wanted… less.

I had 2002 expectations for a 2009 show. I had semi-acoustic expectations for a full band show. I set myself up for a fall and didn’t even know it.

In my head were all the songs that I would have liked to hear live (in no particular order): Better, Dreamlife of Rand McNally (though I never expected this one for a minute), Anything off of the Em EP in F, Plane, 10,000 Motherf**kers, Zero Percent. I’m sure there was a bigger list, but that’s what was on it in short…

I was glad to hear ‘Unfold,’ I was glad to hear ‘Coyotes,’ I was glad to hear a new song ‘The Only Person You Can Save’… But in my opinion, Jason saved the best for first. I didn’t have the expectation to hear ‘Zero Percentt’ at all, so the 15 year old me was ecstatic to hear Jason, Toca, and the bass guy’s name who I can’t remember (all I can think of is how it isn’t Ian Sheridan), play the very first song I had ever listened to of Jason’s.

And it wasn’t gussied up, it was perfect, I knew all the words and I got to yell “foxy” even though not many others did… It was everything I hoped for in hearing it live… and it was all thanks to… some guy on twitter.

Apparently, someone on twitter had requested the song for the show tonight… I am very grateful to that individual. I don’t know who that person is, but I’m glad they did what they did, because it made all the difference in the show for me.

Would I say I am disappointed? A little. Is that in any way Jason’s fault? Absolutely not.

It would be impossible for Jason to please everyone, especially when the room is filled with people who probably weren’t familiar with him before ‘I’m Yours’ was played everywhere. (It’s sad, because I couldn’t even enjoy that song, which I loved 5 years ago…) I was expecting a living room concert filled with obscure songs, and I got a regular concert. I’m the one who disappointed myself.

So, thanks Jason. It was wonderful to finally see you live (you’re never going to read this, but who cares), and if you’re ever in the mood to play a living room concert filled with obscure songs in Edmonton, Alberta… Call me!

I’ve never purchased my own domain before… this is new, this is fun. This is awesome.