John Mayer visits Idaho Falls music shop

 EMMILIE BUCHANAN Standard Journal
 Jun 16, 2012

SUGAR CITY, Idaho (AP) — When Sugar City resident Jim Sevy went to work the morning of March 31, the last person he expected to show a 1953 Goya classical guitar to was a Billboard, chart-topping blues singer.

But when a film crew and a producer walked into MusiCare, a music shop in Idaho Falls, Sevy not only put his music expertise to the test, but also made an appearance in John Mayer’s new music video “Shadow Days.”

Sevy said the film crew was stopping to “stretch their legs” on the way to filming in Jackson when they became intrigued with the look of the shop from the outside.

“They saw the authenticity of the shop and started going wild,” he said.

MusiCare specializes in instrument repair and custom modifications for such instruments as guitars and accordions among others.

The producer of the film crew approached Sevy and asked him to be a part of a documentary featuring John Mayer. Sevy said he suspected it was a music video, but wasn’t positive.

Once John Mayer was on set, the crew filmed a conversation between him and Sevy, wanting to capture the reality of their interaction.

“I handed him some guitars to play, and he recognized that they were exceptional.”

Mayer was intrigued with the 1953 Goya classical guitar.

Sevy said this particular guitar is unique because it was made by Hagstom, a renowned guitar manufacturer in Sweden. In general, most classical guitars of note are made in Spain.

During what Sevy calls their “geek fest,” Mayer held up the guitar and said, “I deem that there are songs awaited to be discovered in this instrument.”

Sevy described Mayer as an exceptional musician who recognized and appreciated the authenticity of the shop.

Now, since the visit from the Grammy-award winning artist, and the April release of the video “Shadow Days,” the lead single from his newest album “Born and Raised,” more people are making a connection with the music shop.

“People are picking up on the fact that (the video) is filmed in Idaho Falls immediately,” Sevy said.

The Tuesday after filming, two girls and their parents were outside MusiCare waiting for it to open to have their picture taken in the chair that John Mayer sat in.

Sevy said he get phone calls of people wanting to know if the guitar, the 1953 Goya, that Mayer played is for sale.

The $3,500 instrument hasn’t sold yet, but Sevy said he suspects that when Mayer gets some free time, he may be in to purchase the guitar himself.

“You get attached to instruments like that. We want to find good homes for them,” he said.

A musician like John Mayer just might not be a bad choice.

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Information from: Standard Journal, http://www.rexburgstandardjournal.com/