Jack Johnson and his buddies are having a jam sesh, and you’re invited. At least, that’s how it felt to watch Johnson live at the Greek Theatre on Sept. 30, the first day of his two-show stay at the venue. Johnson’s ability to make every last audience member feel like a close personal friend is the mellow magic that keeps fans coming back.
As the sun set on pastel skies, the gathering crowd bubbled with excitement. A sea of patchwork blankets spread across the green as the amphitheater filled below. Multicolored balloons reverberated above the pit as concertgoers shifted from foot to foot in anticipation.
Johnson took the stage wearing flip flops, a hoodie and a smile warm as summer. The set behind him undulated like the ocean, from blue to amber to green. The atmosphere he created began with the musicians who surrounded him — Johnson played alongside musicians G. Love, Zach Gill and other longtime friends and artistic collaborators. Watching the group onstage, the genuine friendship washed over the crowd akin to Pipeline waves crashing on Hawaii’s North Shore.
G. Love, opening for Johnson and joining him on stage throughout the show, goes way back with Johnson, all the way to 1998. The comfortability between the artists was made absolutely clear through their performance. During the show, G. Love even called Johnson and his wife “dear friends,” describing a track he played, “Still Hangin’ Around” as “apropos” to the friendship.
Performing alongside dorm-days friend Zach Gill, Jack reminisced on his college days at UCSB. The friend group he formed there would go on to travel the world together, surfing, camping and filmmaking. Johnson is a storyteller through his art, and much of his music describes those memories. “I started realizing, for a song, all I really had to do was take what I saw during the daytime and put it into a song to try and make my friends laugh at night,” he recalled.
Jack’s authenticity and easygoing humor showcased during the night was not only captivating to witness. For a current student, the experiences that have inspired his music don’t seem quite far off from the experiences being actively lived. He even described how “Slow Down Bruce” was written as a desperate attempt for a paper extension, performed originally in his professor’s office. In this lies a wonderful reminder — you never know what the future holds for you and your friends. Perhaps down the line you may hear your college memories sung by a crowd at a concert. Perhaps even you’ll be the one onstage, writing those memories into something bigger than yourself.
Jack Johnson may be a global hit, acclaimed by millions of fans around the world, but warm interactions with audience members melted away the pedestal of fame, drawing in the crowd like the tide. He attained this not only with his personal composure, but also through his wonderfully surprising and deeply engaging setlist. Johnson rang in night one with a lively rendition of “Mudfootball” and the nostalgic “Taylor.” The setlist further featured many of his most popular hits, as well as tracks featured in “SURFILMUSIC” — the Jack Johnson documentary released earlier this summer. As Johnson played the chorus of “Do You Remember,” audience voices rose like helium balloons as hundreds of concertgoers swayed back and forth.
Notably, Johnson’s performance featured several mash-ups of his own songs with those of other artists. In true jam session fashion, Johnson and his friends let the flow of their own music ebb into classics by musicians such as Tom Petty, The Cars and Steve Miller Band. Upon mixing his track “Banana Pancakes” with Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5,” Johnson’s tribute received a fervent audience reaction. “Upside Down” also morphed into a rendition of Sublime’s “Badfish.” Watching Johnson bounce between his own art and the music he loves made the concert feel all the more natural and inviting.
Inviting his band back onstage, Johnson closed his show fittingly with “Better Together.” The way in which Johnson’s performance felt so genuine, uplifting and personal allowed all to acquire a reinvigorated appreciation for everyday moments with friends and family. Johnson’s show reminds us of the limitless future possible when one is inspired by the people they love and the adventures they embark upon.