Concert Review: Maroon 5

Pop group Maroon 5 made the last stop of its U.S. tour in support of the multiplatinum record "Songs About Jane" at the Puyallup Fair Wednesday night and delivered a soulful and versatile set ranging in style from rhythm and blues to funk to rock.

The album is a collection of songs that the group's singer, Adam Levine, wrote about an ex-girlfriend. It is currently No. 8 on the Billboard charts thanks to Levine's smooth voice accompanied by guitarist James Valentine and a funkadelic rhythm section.

"There will be no rain at the Maroon 5 concert," Levine said midway through the set, waving his hands toward the sky as if he were performing a Jedi mind trick on Mother Nature.

Although it stopped raining an hour before Maroon 5 taking the stage, the likable Levine checked to make sure everyone was dry after singing "This Love," one of the group's many hits. And while he might have tried to use The Force to influence the weather, Levine didn't need to resort to a hokey religion to win over the crowd. He had them the minute he walked on stage.

Loud screams and shrieks from the women and young girls in the audience made it difficult to understand the singer throughout the group's performance. Cheers commenced each time Levine moved toward the crowd. When he sang "Tap on my window, knock on my door, I want to make you feel beautiful," during "She Will Be Loved," the mostly female audience reacted as if he was singing to each crowd member individually.

But the members of Maroon 5 cannot be faulted for having a handsome lead singer who soulfully wears his heart on his sleeve each time he takes the stage. His voice conjures up comparisons to Stevie Wonder, and his charming stage presence helps make the band one of pop music's brightest acts.

At worst, Levine's good looks detract from the musicians who back him, but when given the chance to shine, the skills of Valentine and company excel in the spotlight. Such was the case during extended versions of "Shiver" and "Harder to Breathe."

Bellingham-based band The Pale started things off with a set that included material from its excellent album "Gravity Gets Things Done" as well as a cover of The Police's "Walking on the Moon." The Pale received a warm response from the hometown crowd.

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