John Maus

John Maus comes on stage alone and with nigh on exactly the same set-up as an X-Factor semi-finalist’s lunchtime PA in a shopping centre: vocal mic, backing tracks at the touch of a button and, err.., that’s it. However this basic staging is enough to stimulate a near riot of wild bouncing abandon, the Maus mania at one point seeing one young lady crawling across the stage for the chance to paw at her hero. Perhaps she was inspired to offer a comforting shoulder given how much Maus stage behaviour often comes close to cathartic self-flagellation. He beats his chest like a silverback gorilla trying to chase away a safari tour group. He soaks his vocals in reverb suggesting Ian Curtis fronting The Normal inside an echo chamber. He bangs his head like there’s a rubber room somewhere with his name on the door. He bellows repeatedly in the ‘instrumental’ breaks with what I can only describe as triumphant anguish. Some will look at all this with bafflement but there is no denying that Maus can light a fire in a room. He might deliver man-and-mic karaoke but the secret to its allure is in the vigour, and violence, of the performance.

i'm hitting 40 next year and have seen some incredible artists along the way. was i in for a show .from start john and his band came on and took my breath away, john gives out such an energy its hard not be infected by his songs ,i mean look at the skill level behind his songs and words there great , there not wishy washy 3.5 min wonders that get lost , every song that i never liked really from some of john's work , well the gig took all that away . i left the gig that night wanting more , id go and see john maus every night for the rest of my life . because he is that good. im very critical when it comes to music but i do not have a bad word to say about john maus.

john maus is a perfect musician. the real deal, as authentic as they come. I discovered him in the fall of 2018 (late to the game, I know).. instantly fell in love with his sound (last time that happened was in 1992). saw that he would be in LA December 8 (coincidentally my favorite hockey player's birthday). he exceeded any/all expectations-- his performance leaves one completely awestruck and inspired. I believe for anyone to connect with him deeply they'd have to do so solely through great art, russian literature, or music.

What an awesome show. John Maus is an eccentric and quirky guy. That being said, he is a true and intense performance artist and musician. You can see it when he’s on stage and through his music. The venue was very nice and the crowd was full of really cool and chill people.