Live review: Maroon 5 at the Greek Theatre
“I want all of Los Angeles to hear this!” Adam Levine exclaimed Friday night at the Greek Theatre, where his band, Maroon 5, played the first of two hometown shows over the weekend. Levine was urging the audience to sing along — and loudly — to “This Love,” one of Maroon 5's earliest hits, but his request served also as an indicator of the L.A. group's demographic ambition: At a moment when many musicians view stylistic specialization as a way to reach listeners overloaded with options, here's an act deeply devoted to the big-tent approach.
Levine and his bandmates used their 90-minute set Friday to showcase the various facets of Maroon 5's sound. In “Wake Up Call” and “Stutter” — the latter from the group's third studio album, “Hands All Over,” released last month — they were hard-rock road warriors, bashing out muscular riffs over stomping beats. “If I Never See Your Face Again” and “Give a Little More” were lighter and funkier, with guitarist James Valentine channeling Nile Rodgers of Chic; a glittering disco ball descended during “Give a Little More,” emphasizing the music's hot-stuff heritage.