John Mayer

Critically acclaimed singer, songwriter and guitarist John Mayer hits the area Wednesday night for an all-ages show at the Verizon Center. The Grammy award-winning artist is known for such hit songs as "Your Body is a Wonderland," "Daughters" and "Waiting On the World to Change." The show starts at 7 p.m. at Verizon Center, 601 F St. N.W., Washington. Tickets are $49.50 and $59.50. Information: 410-547-SEAT or ticketmaster. com.

Aniston helps sometime boyfriend Mayer mark his 31st birthday John Mayer and his not-quite-on-again girlfriend, Jennifer Aniston, were among those celebrating his 31st birthday Wednesday night, according to Us magazine, as posted on its Web site. The relaxed pair hung out on a private outdoor patio for several hours late in the evening. Mayer, at one point, affectionately stroked Aniston's hair. Aniston, 39, and Mayer split in August after dating four months. It's not clear where things stand.

It was clear that he had nothing to hide, that he was just a regular, unadorned guy. On the Grammy telecast in February, John Mayer, looking like a college student in a T-shirt and sneakers, fluidly plucked his guitar and soulfully sang his breakout hit, "Your Body Is a Wonderland." After his performance, the 26-year-old singer-songwriter picked up the award for best male pop vocal, beating such widely respected veterans as Sting, James Taylor and Elton John. Since then, Mayer, who performs at the 1st Mariner Arena tomorrow night, has become one of the biggest names in pop, a promising artist whose confessional, melancholic lyrics center on personal insecurities, love and its dizzying twists.

Television 1. America's Got Talent, NBC 2. Wipeout, ABC 3. The Bachelorette Special, ABC 4. CSI, CBS 5. The Bachelorette, ABC FILM 1. Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Universal 2. Hancock, Sony 3. Journal to the Center of the Earth , New Line 4. WALL-E, Pixar 5. Wanted, Universal SINGLES 1. "I Kissed a Girl," Katy Perry 2. "Take a Bow," Rihanna 3. "Lollipop," Lil Wayne 4. "Bleeding Love," Leona Lewis 5. "Viva La Vida," Coldplay...

Television 1. America's Got Talent, NBC 2. Wipeout, ABC 3. The Bachelorette Special, ABC 4. CSI, CBS 5. The Bachelorette, ABC FILM 1. Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Universal 2. Hancock, Sony 3. Journal to the Center of the Earth , New Line 4. WALL-E, Pixar 5. Wanted, Universal SINGLES 1. "I Kissed a Girl," Katy Perry 2. "Take a Bow," Rihanna 3. "Lollipop," Lil Wayne 4. "Bleeding Love," Leona Lewis 5. "Viva La Vida," Coldplay...

Formed in 1999, Soulive is the funky soul creation of brothers Alan and Neal Evans along with Eric Krasno. Having just completed its sixth studio album, No Place Like Soul, the band will perform at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on Sunday. With diverse musical inspirations, Soulive has toured with the likes of the Rolling Stones, the Roots and John Mayer. A chance to meet the artists will the follow the event. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $7-$30. The center is at University Boulevard and Stadium Drive in College Park.

Third Eye Blind / Recher Theatre Alternative rockers Third Eye Blind scorch through the Recher Theatre Tuesday night at 7. This show is sold out. The band also plays the 9:30 Club in Washington Nov. 27 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $35 and are available by visiting www.930.com. John Mayer / 1st Mariner With a Grammy under his belt and multiplatinum sales, John Mayer is a bona fide superstar these days. His mature approach reaches satisfying heights on his latest album, Heavier Things, one of the strongest pop albums out right now. He and the Thorns play 1st Mariner Arena Wednesday night at 7:30.

McDonogh's Laurie Schwoy, The Sun's girls soccer Player of the Year the past two seasons, was named the NSCAA/Umbro National High School Girls Player of the Year yesterday.A panel of 6,800 scholastic soccer experts chose Schwoy, who scored 42 goals and had 20 assists this past season in leading the Eagles to a 17-3-2 record. Schwoy, a three-time All-America set to enroll at North Carolina in September, will receive the award at a Jan. 20 banquet in Philadelphia."We looked at the girls who were number one in their respective states," said John Mayer, the All-America committee chairman, "and the fact that she was All-America three times really stood out."

Alot of guys start playing guitar to get girls, but no one's as obvious about it as John Mayer. He's an outstanding guitar player, though there's scant evidence of that on his albums. There's just no room for fiery solos on Mayer's soft-focus seduction pieces, aimed at loosening the inhibitions of post-Justin college girls - kind of like beer, but without the morning-after headache. His crooning voice and blurry-edged ballads combine to convey a single straightforward message: "I love you, and I'll always respect you because I'm sensitive, and your body is a wonderland.

John Mayer isn't hurting for hits. But even the multiplatinum pop and blues singer/songwriter doesn't have enough singles to fill a whole show. Instead of digging through deep album cuts to round out his Sunday night concert at Merriweather Post Pavilion, he strung together a pretty tight set of his own hits and put his stamp on some classic cover songs. The show, which clocked in at about an hour and 15 minutes, was brisk but worthwhile. A steady, heavy rain drenched outdoor concertgoers as Mayer plucked notes to the first tune, "Vultures."

John Mayer isn't hurting for hits. But even the multiplatinum pop and blues singer/songwriter doesn't have enough singles to fill a whole show. Instead of digging through deep album cuts to round out his Sunday night concert at Merriweather Post Pavilion, he strung together a pretty tight set of his own hits and put his stamp on some classic cover songs. The show, which clocked in at about an hour and 15 minutes, was brisk but worthwhile. A steady, heavy rain drenched outdoor concertgoers as Mayer plucked notes to the first tune, "Vultures."

Erika Richardson has been one of the most consistent players on the surprising Patterson Mill tennis team this spring. Richardson plays doubles for the first-year school. The Huskies have led the Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference's Susquehanna Division most of the season, and were unbeaten in the division through the middle of last week. She enjoys playing tennis with members of her family, including cousins Megan and Garrett Lange, who play for Bel Air. Richardson, a freshman, is a honor roll student and tutors middle-school students.

Formed in 1999, Soulive is the funky soul creation of brothers Alan and Neal Evans along with Eric Krasno. Having just completed its sixth studio album, No Place Like Soul, the band will perform at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on Sunday. With diverse musical inspirations, Soulive has toured with the likes of the Rolling Stones, the Roots and John Mayer. A chance to meet the artists will the follow the event. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $7-$30. The center is at University Boulevard and Stadium Drive in College Park.

Critically acclaimed singer, songwriter and guitarist John Mayer hits the area Wednesday night for an all-ages show at the Verizon Center. The Grammy award-winning artist is known for such hit songs as "Your Body is a Wonderland," "Daughters" and "Waiting On the World to Change." The show starts at 7 p.m. at Verizon Center, 601 F St. N.W., Washington. Tickets are $49.50 and $59.50. Information: 410-547-SEAT or ticketmaster. com.

John Mayer Trio Try [Columbia/Aware] *** (3 stars) The blues are meant to be toyed with. In the right hands, they can be a source of inspiration, the root of an artist's discovery of a unique sound and vision. Or they can be a dead end. For John Mayer, the blues are a welcome escape, a side trip from his career as easy-listening pop star and wiseguy troubadour. Turns out he just wants to be Stevie Ray Vaughan. "You all ready to get down?" he asks early on this live album, leading his new blues trio - Mayer, bassist Pino Palladino and the accomplished Steve Jordan on drums.

Herbie Hancock, forever the chameleonic musician, is still restless. And that's a good thing. As he talks about the art of making music and his just-released album, Possibilities, he's as analytical as a professor -- breaking down some of his ideas literally note for note. A palpable enthusiasm bubbles through all the talk of chord changes and melody and rhythm embellishments. Calling from his Los Angeles office, Hancock puts me on hold from time to time to give instructions to his assistant.

Herbie Hancock, forever the chameleonic musician, is still restless. And that's a good thing. As he talks about the art of making music and his just-released album, Possibilities, he's as analytical as a professor -- breaking down some of his ideas literally note for note. A palpable enthusiasm bubbles through all the talk of chord changes and melody and rhythm embellishments. Calling from his Los Angeles office, Hancock puts me on hold from time to time to give instructions to his assistant.

The 47th Grammy Awards nominations better reflect what kinds of music people actually listened to than in years past. That's a good thing; it proves that the members of the Recording Academy have a pulse. Although Kanye West's impressive debut, College Dropout, didn't get a lot of air play, it refreshed hip-hop and became a double-platinum hit, appearing on numerous best-of-2004 lists. All eyes will be on the Chicago rapper-producer, who leads the pack with 10 nominations. Although predicting winners is always tricky, here are my favorites in this year's major award categories.

Steel Pulse / 9:30 Club With its spirited new album, African Holocaust, reggae group Steel Pulse just might ignite a much-needed revolution -- at least musically. The band plays the 9:30 Club, 815 V. St. N.W. in Washington, tonight at 7:30. Tickets are $25. For more information, visit www.930.com. Gomez / Recher Theatre Bluesy British rock band Gomez fires it up at Recher Theatre, 512 York Road in Towson, tonight at 7. Tickets are $20 and are available through Ticketmaster. John Mayer / Nissan Pavilion His solid, sincere musicianship and vocal approach -- not to mention his handsome face -- have made John Mayer a superstar.