John Mayer in Phoenix

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An evening with John Mayer

Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ, USA September 10, 2019

by Mary Andrews

John Mayer mesmerized a near crowd of 18,000 fans in Phoenix on September 10. Mayer has shifted gears as an entertainer since his career-defining first album, Room For Squares. He has moved from pop to blues, to country and Americana and has done all the genres very well. As a result, his fan base is multi-generational. The Phoenix show had something for everyone.

Mayer has gained fame for more than just his music since signing with Columbia records in 2000. There are his infamous romances with Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Jessica Simpson, and Jennifer Anniston to name a few. He has a reputation for his liberal use of social media and his interviews in Rolling Stone and other printed publications as being controversial. There was also his health scare with a nodule on his vocal cords that caused him to postpone recording and touring from 2010-2013.

Most importantly, one thing is very clear, Mayer is an exceptionally talented songwriter, singer, and axeman. It was apparent in 2000 when he performed live and even more apparent now in 2019. This show had a setlist that represented his entire career. The Grammy Award winner’s vocals seemed spot on and his guitar playing was extraordinary leaving the fans wanting much more.

Mayer introduced “Your Body is a Wonderland” as a song loved by the women in the crowd but he was afraid it was ‘cringe-worthy’ for the guys. He joked, “I promise a searing guitar solo” toward the end of the song for the guys. Mayer delivered on his promise. Mayer can noodle and rift with the best guitar players around today. That has and can be experienced with his band Dead & Company or with the upcoming Eric Clapton’s Guitar Music Festival.

The show didn’t have many gimmicks to visually stimulate the fans aside from a background overhead video screen that projected desert scenes and bursts of bright colors that blended at times with various angles of the performer. Mayer let the music do the talking and that was plenty for the intermittently screaming fans. The screaming was especially high when, Mayer brought out “Why, Georgia” from his songbook. Mayer performed his new release, “Carry Me Away.” He promised a new album release in 2020.

Mayer had a large backing band. The band included Pino Palladino on bass, David Ryan Harris on guitars, Isaiah Sharkey on guitars, Aaron Sterling on drums, Aaron Draper on percussion, Jamie Muhoberac on keyboards, Carlos Ricketts on vox, Tiffany Palmer on vox, and two background singers. The banter was kept at a minimum and the show was focused on singing and shredding through 25 songs during the two sets. Everyone’s performance was stellar.

Mayer could easily be called a musician’s musician. His shredding could have been elaborated more. The only criticism would be he could have done more blues or more deadhead music. The tall, handsome balladeer is a crowd-pleaser and carries a two-plus hour show incredibly well.

Photo Gallery of the night in Phoenix

Set list: