7 Bits About Why I Like Peter Mayer Concerts

I’ve been attending Peter Mayer concerts for more than a decade. Peter, a member of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band, tours with his own people whenever he’s not busy with Buffett. He usually comes to my town at Christmastime for his Stars & Promises shows, but recently, he played an intimate concert in the Bayfront Sheraton ballroom in Erie, PA. Only four musicians made up the group that evening: Peter, his son Brendan Mayer on guitar, Zeb Briskovich on bass, and Chris Walters on keyboards. We missed the usual percussionist and violinist, but it was a fabulous performance anyhow.

Here are seven bits about why I like Peter Mayer concerts:

1. Audience participation: No percussionist? No problem. Have the audience snap their fingers. Also, to liven things up a bit, encourage them to get up and form a conga line.
2. Transparency: When the recording software malfunctioned, affecting the production of the for-purchase, take-home CD, Peter let the audience in on the glitch. He suggested command prompts for this son to troubleshoot the software issue. He had the audience re-enact the chorus of the first song that didn’t record, so they’d be able to hear themselves on the CD.
3. Father-son bonding: Peter Mayer’s son, Brendan, tours with him. The pride and admiration of his talented son shows on Peter’s face, but you know what else? The feeling is obviously mutual. It’s nice to see.
4. Masterful instrumentation: One dimensional these musicians are not. Their fingers fly across the strings and keys. Chris Walters even busts out his accordion occasionally, which adds a surprisingly nice touch.
5. Liquid harmonies: Father, son, and the rest of the band wash their harmonies over the audience like a warm bath. It’s like bathing in butter.
6. Mad tribal rhythms: Again, no percussionist? No problem. Peter often pauses his play to tap out an intricate beat on the body of his guitar.
7. Acoustics: There’s nothing better than having the band step off the stage and do an acoustic set. This might not work in some venues, but if the space is right, it feels like you’re all sitting around in a living room with friends, enjoying a jam session.

There you have it. Seven bits about why I like Peter Mayer concerts. I can hardly wait for Christmas.

Ann Silverthorn writes about a wide variety of topics in numerous genres. She’s currently working on a biography of William E. Dimorier (1871-1951), a nearly forgotten poet and educator, who dedicated his life to the betterment of young people.