Aspiring singer-songwriter Jason Mraz is performing at 7 p.m. in the Union Ballroom on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old Virginian spent the past two years of his life in the sunny streets of San Diego playing regular gigs at coffeehouses until the day he was signed to Elektra Records.
Mraz has since been touring in support of his major-label debut, "Waiting For My Rocket To Come," which was released Oct. 15.
Sounding a little like David Gray and Howie Day, with the lyrical content of Ani DiFranco, Mraz's album features the infectious "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)," the reggae inspired riffs of "I'll Do Anything" and amusing lyrical rapping of "Curbside Prophet."
"His music is said to be a lot better live than it is recorded," said advertising sophomore Kristen Jaskulski, a college representative for Elektra Records.
"His music is pretty much about dreams - he's just a dreamer, and he writes and sings about them. It's a mix between acoustic and folk rock, his tunes are catchy, and they get stuck in your head," she said. "It should be an inspirational experience, and I'm sure that's worth a lot more than $3."
Mraz's has been steadily rising in popularity since his debut release, and will open for Dave Matthews Band from Dec. 10-13.
"He's probably one of the most promising singer-songwriters we've had in a while," said Tommy Andres, music director of WDBM (88.9-FM).
"He's got amazing rhyme schemes; they're just phenomenal, like nothing I've ever heard before," he said. "I know a lot of students around here are always interested in finding the next big thing, and this guy's got the potential to be it."
Mraz's visit is sponsored by student-run organization Pop Entertainment. Funded by the ASMSU Programming Board, Pop has been around since 1968 and has brought numerous live acts to MSU, including Guster, Ben Harper and Dave Matthews.
"We try to bring bands that have just been signed to record labels because our funding is pretty low," said Rob Ashmore, assistant director of the organization.
"We heard about Mraz through Elektra Records, called his booking agent and he said he usually goes between one and three thousand (dollars), so we just offered him a grand.
"It was pretty easy to get him to play on a campus that has 40,000 people since he's definitely trying to spread his music," Ashmore said. "Any fan of Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Howie Day will definitely like this guy."
Special guest Jesse Young of Pushing 33 will open for Mraz.
Tickets can be purchased at CD Warehouse, 228 Abbott Road, and Flat, Black & Circular, 541 E. Grand River. Tickets bought in advance are $3 with a valid student ID and $5 for the general public. At the show, tickets are $5 and $7.
For more information, call (517)355-7733, or visit \"www.jasonmraz.com\".
