It was 7 p.m. on a cold but otherwise beautiful night in Raleigh, NC and the doors to the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts had just opened for one of the most pronounced and incredible singer-songwriters in the music industry — Jason Mraz.

Guests poured in through the front doors, anxious and excited to witness Jason Mraz’ “Good Vibes” tour opening night. As I sat back and watched the faces of people from all age groups, young and elderly, walk in I could feel the energy charging the air. Attendees were buzzing, reminiscing about their favorite songs like the classic “I’m Yours” bop that took over the world for a brief period of time and sleeper hit “The Remedy.”

As showtime grew closer people quickly grabbed their beverages and rushed to their seats. I gazed throughout the massive arena where I was not able to spot a single empty seat. Over 2,300 people were anxiously staring at the empty stool under a single spotlight at the front of the stage. As the house lights dimmed, a silence engulfed the area.

This was it — the moment everyone was waiting for, the moment they had been telling their friends and family about all week. With a guitar in one hand, waving with his other and a huge grin on his face, out he came. Jason Mraz stood front and center and received one of the loudest standing ovations I have ever experienced. Wearing a badass fedora, blue sweatshirt, and a pair of jeans, Mraz looked extremely comfortable being on stage and began with a few jokes to break the ice.

Gallery • 5 Photos

Mraz on stage. Courtesy of Nolan Stelzner.

This show was unique to the point where I was almost mesmerized at how talented this man really was. While Mraz’s voice is angelic and unique, his personality and way with words blew me out of the water. His performance was a perfect mixture of storytelling, music, and comedy. It was a show I was not expecting but would not have wanted any other way. The man is pure talent.

Mraz would introduce every song with a few jokes and a purposeful narrative. Some songs were incredibly funny and satirical where Jason would just play the guitar and mumble, joking around and saying he “just like[s] to play music.” Others were beautifully crafted in a way that captures and holds your attention until the last note. The performance was so diverse and flowed so seamlessly, I left the show with a monumental increase in my expectations for all future shows I go to. As the show came to a close, Mraz received yet another standing ovation, this one louder than the first. I watched the crowd trickle from the building and didn’t see a single look of unhappiness or dissatisfaction.

Well done, Jason Mraz. You managed to put on a flawless performance that heaps of fans will never forget.