Mraz keeps things mild, uncomplicated

Jason Mraz is this year’s Hootie. Or, if he’s very lucky, this decade’s Dave Matthews. Or maybe John Mayer. The common thread is a feel-good approach to folk-rock, uncomplicated and mildly charismatic, with any and all rough edges buffed safely away.

Mraz was the quirky, sensitive boy Thursday at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, but not too sensitive and not quirky enough to make any sort of distinctive statement.

It was easy listening for acoustic guitar.

Songs from his album, “Waiting for My Rocket to Come,” benefited somewhat from the live setting of the sold-out concert, performed by Mraz and his four-man band. He sometimes even raised his voice. The performers’ adrenaline jumped during the quasi-rap talkin’ blues of “Curbside Prophet,” with some light hip-hop elements of the Barenaked Ladies variety.

Mraz also dropped a verse of Bob Marley’s “One Love” into his “I’ll Do Anything,” which otherwise drifted from pop to reggae and back.

Singer and band fully came together into something powerful only near the end of the show, joined by a saxophone for “Sleep All Day.”

Mraz seemed to mean what he was saying and singing. It just didn’t mean enough.