Mayer Hawthorne Lays Down the Law at Apogee Studios

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Silky smooth Mayer Hawthorne (aka the Mayor of Hawthorne, as he has been mistaken for) has been a station favorite since his 2009 debut album, A Strange Arrangement, and he has played for KCRW in numerous capacities, from performing live on Morning Becomes Eclectic to entertaining the crowds at the Fox Hills Mall.  But this was probably the most elegant setting yet for him and his band to play for us and a select group of guests, in the beautiful confines of legendary engineer & producer Bob Clearmountain’s Apogee Studios.  On the eve of the release of his new album, Man About Town, Mayer brought good vibes to the Westside, bringing out fans from across the city, including our own Anne Litt, who, despite just returning for the live music overload of SXSW, said of Mayer, “He’s a great time – super, super talented and he just totally made me happy!”

Mayer & Jason Bentley
Mayer & Jason Bentley (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Setting the Stage
Setting the Stage (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
About to Fly
About to Fly (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Classic Soul Pose
Classic Soul Pose (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
The Mayor of Hawthorne?
The Mayor of Hawthorne? (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
Mayer Joking Around
Mayer Joking Around (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)
How Do You Do?
How Do You Do? (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

(photos by Larry Hirshowitz)

Bringing the soul and the cool outfits (check out those shoes!), Mayer and his band serenaded the crowd and sent everyone home happy.  As Mayer himself said, “Everybody was classy, and I had a ball.”  You can experience the fun yourself, as the session will be broadcast on Morning Becomes Eclectic on Friday, April 8, when it will also be available for streaming as well.

KCRW’s Apogee Sessions featuring Mayer Hawthorne
hosted by Jason Bentley, Monday, March 21, 2016

Set list
Back Seat Lover
Love Like That
Designer Drug
No Strings
Cosmic Love
The Valley
Fancy Clothes
I Wish It Would Rain
Walk This Way
The Walk

Musicians
Mayer Hawthorne – vocals & guitar
Quentin Joseph – MD & drums
Christian Wunderlich – guitar
Joe Abrams – bass
Tyler Cash – keys
Jimi James – vocals