For over twenty years, the singer-songwriter John Mayer has treated fans to a variety of different songs and guitar riffs that always lead to a standing ovation. The musician from Fairfield, Conn., has continued this melodic form run with his “Solo” tour that started early in 2023.
As the title of the tour would suggest, the solo concert series features Mayer out on stage in front of twenty thousand fans, with just a variety of guitars and a piano. Mayer, in a recent interview with late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon, stated, “This is an opportunity to play some songs from my career, tell stories around them, and read sign requests from fans to try and see if they can stump me on an older song.”
This is certainly not his first tour or time opening up to an audience, but something about this experience was different. The best way to describe this show is Mayer making a sold-out arena filled with thousands of people who feel like he is playing for you in his living room. There is no flashy lighting, pyrotechnics, or fancy production, but just one of the most talented musicians of the 21st century giving the audience a night that they will remember for a lifetime.
This is a unique experience that even someone who has gone to 15 John Mayer shows has never seen before, which was just the “Gravity” singer and his guitar. In a music field that is showered with overdone production and autotune, there is something magical about the pure talent of one man.
Have no fear though Mayer fans, he is still playing all the classics and hits from his extensive catalog of music. The fan favorites from the shows have been his two trademark songs “Your Body is Wonderland” and “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room.” These songs had the entire audience on their feet and singing every single word back to him as if there were 20,000 screaming fans in Mayer’s living room.
With the recording industry nowadays being filled with one-hit wonders and short-term success, there is something refreshing and inspiring about a two-decade run from an artist who continues to develop and evolve. The tour’s setlist has changed every single show, with a variety of songs that span from Mayer’s debut record “Room for Squares,” released in 2001, all the way to his most recent album “Sob Rock,” which came out in 2021. The age of the crowd at these shows spans from 15 to 70, and even though the age gap is large, it feels like everyone in the audience is sharing one heartbeat during the 2-hour performance.
The main highlight from this tour is Mayer picking out a fan-made sign from the audience and playing that song suggestion on the spot. He is not prepared for what song is coming, but within 30 seconds of reading the suggestion, he breaks out into one of the performances of a lifetime. The 46-year-old seems to be aging like a fine wine, and only getting better with age, but who says he’s stopping now?
