By Flo Jean

July 26, 2007 8:48 AM | Link to this

I was a fan of the B52’s since Rock Lobster. I saw them perform at Toad’s Place in New Haven and a month or so later “Love Shack” became a big hit. Always a fun show…I look forward to the concert next week.

By Romeo Cologne

July 26, 2007 9:20 AM | Link to this

Before becoming Atlanta’s favorite DJ, I lived in Athens and played drums in several bands (With Michael Stipe and also Matthew Sweet) I saw the B-52s’ first club gig at a club called The Last Resort. An epic performance! They created an inspiration to push my performance to a higher level, and thus you have-Romeo Cologne. They taught me about embracing the music of the past, about conceptualization, and connecting to the audience by cult of personality. In Athens, the B-52s were my Shao-lin monks of The Funk!

By Stan Lester

July 26, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this

I worked with John Mayer and Clay Cook for a year or so at American Sound & Video. They both loaded video tape and ran the video machines. My daughter was maybe 15 and John invited us to see him play at small coffee shop/bookstore in Vinings one night. I was amazed that, though he had just put out a CD on his own, that people, along with my daughter knew all the lyrics. I also have a CD of John and Clay from their dorm room at Berklee doing 3 or 4 songs. I cherish it, but I think my daughter has it. And yes, we also saw him at Eddies twice.

Thanks, Stan Lester

By Pat

July 28, 2007 1:13 PM | Link to this

I watched the B52’s play at the student center at the University of Georgia and at 40 Watt in Athens. I knew then they would make it big. Fabulous!

By Saxman

July 28, 2007 2:08 PM | Link to this

I saw him at the Borders in Vinings (maybe the same night as Stan). Since I’d checked out many acoustic guitar player singer/songwriters over the years, and not been very wowed by many (I did see Amy Ray solo, pre-fame days, and loved her, also Carol Elliot & Michelle Malone), but Mayer impressed me from his first song.

I could tell he was head & hands above everyone at the time. He was an excellent player, singer, and his songs were definitely above the banal level, so much of contemporary writing has succumbed to…

However, I must say, when I later saw him out there as a “pop star”, I NEVER would have had a clue it was the same person I saw that night, playing to about 30 people! It appeared the label decided to present/package him a certain way (theirs), and IMHO, I was surprised (altho not really, I guess) it worked.

Which is why I give him many props for breaking free of the “star maker machinery”, and doing his own thing. Taking a three piece blues band on the road, as a reigning pop star is a very courageous move, as I’m sure his label fought him tooth & nail about. Hope to see him keep growing, and make some really great & mature music in the coming years…

By Tom

July 28, 2007 8:12 PM | Link to this

Did not see either the B-52’s or John Mayer, of course I predate them a little. Did attend a Steppenwolf concert in ‘69 or ‘70 in Savannah(Wow, man! Groovy light show!! wink wink) and was at an Allman Brothers concert in South Georgia before they were recognized nationally (and, they were AWESOME). Never really cared for the B-52’s and just can’t recall Mayer’s music (tho, I’d probably recognize it if someone pointed it out).

By Robert

July 29, 2007 4:00 PM | Link to this

I saw the B’s at the Coke Room at Emory (and have the hand-lettered flyer), at Piedmont Park (have super 8 film), and at CBGB in New York when things got rolling. God I’m old. But the B’s rock.

By Swervin

July 31, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this

I was at the Borders bookstore as well. A friend of mine introduced me to him at Eddies. That same friend first saw him in a band called “Low fye Masters” no sure about the spelling of that. When you first saw him play and hear him sing back then you new that this guy was going to hit it big. At Borders I sware there were only like 6 people there.

By spongerot

August 1, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this

I saw the B52’s in 1981 at Chapel Hill in the old Carmichael facility on the UNC campus, and it was a blast. I am seeing them this saturday at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville and can’t wait.

By Carnivore 69

August 1, 2007 3:19 PM | Link to this

Who is John Mayer?

By sportsmommy

August 1, 2007 4:56 PM | Link to this

I never saw him before he broke big, but I’ve seen him four times in the last 2 years. He puts on an awesome show and is so worth the money. I’m going to miss this one, {shame on me} but I know he’ll be around again!

By Kristen

August 1, 2007 5:51 PM | Link to this

I was fortunate to see John Mayer before he was famous in small venues in Athens, like 40 Watt. I was also able to be present at his No Such Thing video, shot at the Georgia Theatre. I prefer the more intimate shows, but he rocks Philips arena too.

By woodie

August 3, 2007 1:02 AM | Link to this

Mayer is not really “from” GA. He landed here from Connecticut after he quit college so we saw him first. But he moved on quickly. So I’m not too sure we can stake a claim to his success. But his style is suited to small clubs. He put Eddie’s Attic on the map though. That’s something.

By Rhiannon

August 3, 2007 6:19 AM | Link to this

I saw John open for Michelle Malone at the 40 Watt nine years ago this September. (It was my 21st birthday, and being the nerd I am, I didn’t drink much, so I remember it!) I believe he had first come to Georgia. I remember being wowwed by his performance and guitar skills, but disappointed a few years later when I picked up his “Room for Squares” CD.

By purplek

August 3, 2007 8:07 AM | Link to this

Actually, Indigo Girls, Michelle Malone, and Shawn Mullin (among several others) put Eddie’s Attic on the map long before John Mayer did.

By Choad

August 3, 2007 8:44 AM | Link to this

It was 2002 or something like that, just as “Room for Squares” was being released. I was a 2nd year @ UGA, and me and my friends were hanging out at Boar’s Head Lounge in Athens that night. Some typical acoustic guitar guy was playing that night downstairs. It was crowded, as it usually was on a Friday/Saturday, and all of a sudden John Mayer showed up at the bar. We bought the guy shots and everything…not 20 minutes into his arrival, he decided to convince the hack playing that night to let him borrow his guitar and play a set. He played for a good 30-45 minutes…by the time he was done, you couldn’t move in the bar. It was nuts.

By TC

August 3, 2007 3:06 PM | Link to this

That’s not really John Mayer playing concerts anymore. He’s dead. I mean just look at him.

By Ryan

August 3, 2007 5:50 PM | Link to this

Mayer sucks. Dave Matthews rip off wanna be. Boring!!!

By Geore Jempty

August 6, 2007 1:30 PM | Link to this

anybody go to the b52s show at Chastain? I saw them Saturday night in Asheville and it was a little disappointing: http://www.concertfan.com/ge/338934.html

By JB

August 8, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this

John Mayer is an incredibly talented guitarist and songwriter and it’s too bad that we don’t get to hear as much of that from him as we used to. Yes, I saw him at Eddie’s several times, and Kristen, I was also there for the video taping at Georgia Theater - I actually made it in!