Peter Mayer‘s Crossroads: Spiritually-minded Guitarist Literally has a Crisis on his hands

Aug. 25, 2004

There are a lot of Mayers -- every city has one -- oh yeah, those are spelled with an O. Musically, there is John Mayer the Grammy-winning 25-year-old who is selling out major arenas and then there is Peter Mayer 1 & 2. There is Peter Mayer lead-guitarist for Jimmy Buffet who also heads his own band, the Peter Mayer Group who sometimes tours with Buffet. Then there is another Peter Mayer from Minnesota who is a singer/songwriter and guitar player who has built a steady following in the folk circuit over the past 10 years.
Now this Mayer, the one from Stillwater, Minnesota is coming to Northern Michigan for several shows beginning Thursday, August 26 at Rhonda’s Wharfside in Frankfort and finishing Sunday night at Union Street Station in Traverse City with shows inbetween at Kejara’s Bridge in Lake Leelanau and the Aten Place in Boyne Falls.

FOLK LEGEND NOD
Okay, those other Mayers sound intriguing but so does this one from Minnesota. After all, folk legend Janis Ian had this to say:
“I am a huge Peter Mayer fan, but only when I don’t feel like killing him for being so good. I love Peter’s work, though it irritates me that he plays so much better than I do. If I rocked as hard as Peter does, I’d own the world by now.”
Ian was referring to Peter Mayer from Minnesota, not the one from Buffet’s band. So don’t get confused if you’re a Parrothead but don’t let that stop you from coming out to see this Mayer.
“I know when people at my show have shown up for the other Peter Mayer,” said Mayer. “They have Hawaiian shirts on. The other Peter Mayer is a great musician and we have met. People still get us confused; our pictures have shown up in the other’s articles and when I had long hair we looked very similar. Another similarity is we both play Lowden acoustic guitars (other famed Lowden players include Bob Dylan, U2’s The Edge and Eric Clapton).”
So after ten years the confusion continues. Any chance of you guys touring together?
“We have joked about doing the Peter Mayers Tour someday,” said Mayer. “We both have links to each other sites and we asked visitors to our sites ‘if they have the right Peter Mayer,’ so the confusion is diminishing.”

NO SILLY LOVE SONGS
Stylistically there is no confusion as the Peter Mayer coming to Northern Michigan doesn’t do love songs.
“I purposely made it a mission of mine not to do love songs and rather explore other aspects of life with my lyrics,” said Mayer.
Mayer has released six CDs over the past 11 years and his collection of songs looks at the human journey of life. Majoring in theology and entering the Jesuit seminary, he has always taken a contemplative approach to his songwriting. Mayer looks at each moment of a particular situation and asks, “Where do we go from here?”
“I guess I have always looked at life on how to work with the cards you are dealt,” said Mayer. “I am curious about exploring where we are going. I like to ask questions and seek out the answers.”
Mayer is at one of those points in his own life. He has been diagnosed with chronic tendonitis and actually made his last public appearance playing the guitar last November at the Back Roads Concert Series in Alpena.
“I am at that point in my own life right now that I have been signing and writing about all these years and it is where do I go from here,” said Mayer. “At this point it doesn’t look good that I will be able to play the guitar publicly again, but instead of self-pity I realize that I have it pretty darn good. Having something like this happen to you gives you a new appreciation for the plight of others.”

HELPING HANDS
As for guitar-playing duties for the Northern Michigan tour Mayer has enlisted Dan Schwartz, an accomplished guitar player in his own right. Schwartz was one of only six students to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Performance in American finger-style guitar from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (the only university in the world that has offered such a degree).
So for those who venture out, it will be two shows in one. Mayer and Schwartz have teamed up for several shows this year and audience response and critic’s reviews have all been positive.
Now for some of you who might feel cheated because Mayer is on injured reserve, just think back to 1988. It’s the bottom of the ninth of the World Series and an injured Kirk Gibson comes off the bench, hobbles to plate with his team trailing by a run. You get the point. Mayer may be hurt but he can still hit.
Anyway, Mayer is more than just an acoustic guitar player. That is evident in his vocals and songwriting talents. His songs find hope and joy in everyday life experiences and challenges; they explore the simplicities and complexities of the world in which we live.

SPIRITUAL UNDERTONES
On his current release, “Earth Town Square,” released in 2002, the song “Awake” is a typical explorative and contemplative approach Mayer takes in his songwriting. He discovers through the eyes of a child what it means to be “awake,” by taking in “all the splendors of creation.” Many of Mayer’s songs have spiritual undertones to them.
“I was the music director at a Catholic school for eight years,” said Mayer.
During that period Mayer worked part-time for the Church and would do gigs during the week at area colleges honing his songwriting and guitar playing craft. He began playing the guitar in high school and is the case with many young Catholic boys, he was pointed in the direction of priesthood.
“I earned my theology degree and moved onto the seminary,” said Mayer. “I ended up leaving because of the celibacy issue. I eventually left the Catholic Church and now am a Unitarian.”
He even wrote a song about his spiritual transition titled “Holy Now,” that appears on his 1999 release “Million Year Mind.”
As for new releases Mayer is challenged there as well. His inability to play the guitar has prevented him from recording. He had hoped to release a new album by now but the project is on hold.
“Another challenge is songwriting,” said Mayer. “I find it hard to write songs without being able to play the guitar.”

CROSSROADS
So where does Mayer go from here?
“Well that is a good question. I am 40 and I guess I imagined myself being a performer for many years,” said Mayer. “I am at this crossroads of deciding where I should go and facing the reality of doing something else with my life.”
Mayer has started giving guitar and songwriting lessons at his home studio. He is even considering building a recording studio as a way to produce income and continue his passion to create music.
Peter Mayer is one of those guys whosmiles no matter what cards have been dealt to him. His songs reflect a person who sees life for what it is, not what it isn’t. For Northern Michiganders this might be the last time to see this Peter Mayer performs and then maybe not. But why take the chance.

For show times and ticket prices contact the venue of your choice. For Thursday night at Rhonda’s in Frankfort call (231) 352-5300. On Friday at Kejara’s Bridge Coffeehouse in Lake Leelanau, (231) 256-7720. And Saturday at The Aten Place in Boyne Falls (231) 549-2076. His final performance will be Sunday at Union Street Station in Traverse City as part of The Early Show Series. Call (231) 941-1930.