To check out our slideshow from Friday’s concert, click here!

Jason Mraz said the concerts he plays sometimes remind him of an amusement park ride.

“Because sometimes it can be a little rickety and rockety, like I don’t know what’s happening, and other times it can be quite psychedelic and joyous,” he said.

But his performance Friday at Lantz Arena on Eastern’s campus went smoothly.

“As far as I know, nobody got hurt, and we ended it on time, we started on time; people seemed to clap along,” he said.

Mraz was the headliner of University Board’s Spring Concert.

He said he derives inspiration for his music from a number of sources, one of whom is his cat, Holmes.

Holmes often contributes to inspiration for Mraz’s songs as well as helps him wash the dishes, vacuum the living room and bring in firewood, Mraz said.

“I get my inspiration from friends, family members, real people. I use real stories, real relationships,” he said.

Mraz has been playing music since he was young, but he started performing publicly when he went to coffee shops and open mic nights. Mraz described himself as a ham and a clown when he was younger.

“I was in musical theater and drama and chorus,” he said.

Mraz went to high school in Mechanicsville, Va.

After high school, he went to college for eight weeks as an undecided major.

“I declared California as my new major and my new adventure,” Mraz said.

Mraz got his big break five years ago when he was 23 years old with his single “The Remedy.”

In “The Remedy” music video, Mraz is seen walking around town wearing bunny slippers.

“Back in those days, I was always sort of living in a dream world,; I guess I still am,” Mraz said.

Brooke Watson, a junior mass communications major at South Western Oklahoma State University, drove 10 hours to go to the concert. Watson said the drive was worth it. “Well, he’s pretty easy on the eyes, and he’s got a really great voice, and he has really witty lyrics,” she said.

Watson said her friends thought she was crazy for driving because their school has finals this week.

“I’m just going to show them the pictures of us with him and just let them eat their hearts out,” she said.

Rachel Galligan, a junior communications studies major, has been listening to Mraz for a few years and said the concert was an engaging experience.

“You could tell everyone was up, dancing, you know, clapping their hands. Everyone was really engaged into the music,” Galligan said.

Megan Edwards, a junior family consumer sciences major, came to the concert with Galligan. She said her favorite song by Mraz is “You and I Both.”

“I just like the lyrics. It’s just a friendly song that a bunch of our roommates like to sing to us. It’s fun,” she said.

Anne Schnura, a freshman recreation administration major, said she enjoyed her time at the concert as well.

“You never knew what song was coming, they were really into the crowd,” Schnura said. “They were excited to be here.”

Sam Sottosanto can be reached at 581-7942 or at slsottosanto@eiu.edu.