Jason Mraz Brings His Live Prophecy To Your Living Room

Playing guitar outside is a bit presumptuous. Unwilling passersby, even if going at a fair pace, have their ears assaulted by your plaintive plucking and crappy crooning as you serenade strangers.

Sure, there's something wonderfully bohemian about the starving artist street musician, and of course, many talented musicians just can't get their one big break. Hell, all you need is a guitar, three chords and the truth.

Jason Mraz knows a bit more than three chords and since the release of his Elektra debut Waiting For My Rocket To Come, the streets of New York have been a little quieter.

Well, that's a bit dramatic, but the Curbside Prophet, with his blend of folk, pop, hip-hop and roots rock is ready to make some of his own noise with the impending release of a two-disc CD/DVD live collection. Slated for an August 24 release, Tonight, Not Again: Jason Mraz Live At The Eagles Ballroom will have Mraz performing tracks from his debut release along with five previously unreleased songs.

Joined onstage by his backing band, the Take It Easy Buddies, the charismatic singer-songwriter is also accompanied by a number of special guest artists. Blues Traveler's John Popper and the Chicago Storm/Ohio Players Horns accompanied Mraz for a set list that included some of Mraz's biggest hits, like "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)," "You And I" and "Curbside Prophet."

The show was recorded and filmed last October at Milwaukee's Eagles Ballroom by director Nigel Dick (GN'R, R.E.M. and Oasis). Aside from the live performance, the DVD will have some bonus footage of Mraz backstage and on the road during tours of the U.S., Europe and Japan.

Another DVD extra will be Mraz's solo acoustic version of Elton John's "Rocket Man." Now the former New York busker is (sort of) returning to his roots with a solo tour dubbed The Tour Of The Curbside Prophets. Joining him on the tour will be singer/guitarist Raul Midon, Hawaiian slack-key guitarist Makana and DJ Bob Necksnapp. The only Canadian date for the tour is in Vancouver on June 10.