Recap: Mayer Hawthorne "How Do You Do" World Tour (Indianapolis, 5/23/12)

Here is a recap and a few pictures from the Mayer Hawthorne concert at the Murat in Indianapolis last Wednesday. Pictures by TR, and a recap of the show by DJ Jay Diff.

This past Wednesday night, Mayer Hawthorne and the County performed at the Old National Murat Amber Room to a sold out, and interesting, crowd of fans. Most of them were late 30s to 40; something in age range. Not exactly what I expected at a Mayer Hawthorne show, but they obviously know good music.

Hawthorne hit the stage in a red tuxedo and some retro Jordan III’s, tying that classic motown look with a touch of todays essentials. His band, The County, consisting of a keyboardist, two gutarists, and a drummer, were all in black tux’s. That made the look complete. They started the show off with a few songs from “A Strange Arrangement” (i.e. “Your Easy Loving, Ain’t Pleasing Nothin” and “Out Of My Life”). The crowd was loving the set, and when Mayer had everyone’s attention, he said “one in the air for fun- and my man J. Dilla!” To no surprise, it kept the momentum going as he did a small jam session for Jay Dee. About midway through the performance, the keys player started a dope harmony in which all band members came into one by one. They ran through a few more tunes, had a photo opp for the fans to snap some quick pics, touched on some cuts from “How Do You Do”, and had a nice mash up of “Dreaming” into the Hall & Oatts classic “Make My Dreams Come True.”

Overall: This was a dope show, and the stage presence of Mayer Hawthorne and the County kept the audience singing and partying. Even the opening act, The StepKids, did a great job, and it was my first time hearing them. If anyone out of the crowd didn’t know who Dilla was I think they may know now thanks to MH and the County. Would definetly check them out again.

If you missed out on the show a couple days ago, here are a few pictures to recap the evening.