No backing band. No backing tracks. Just John Mayer and his instruments. That’s how near 20,000 Chicagoans spent their Friday night at the John Mayer Solo tour as it made its way through the midwest.
Embarking on his first truly solo tour, which has just announced new dates for the fall, Mayer showed just how talented he is without any theatrics or help from other musicians. Switching between various acoustic guitars, the piano, and a harmonica, John Mayer commanded the crowd for nearly 2 hours, playing some of his more well known hits, such as “Your Body Is A Wonderland,” and “New Light,” while also touching on classics and covers, such as “Heartbreak Warefare,” and the Grateful Dead’s “Friend of the Devil.”
Mayer often talked to the crowd between each song, sharing stories of how each song was created or where he was in life at that moment, as well as engaging with what concertgoers were shouting at him. Notably when Mayer heard someone repeatedly shouting for him to play “Vultures,” a John Mayer Trio song, he decided he was going to take a stab at playing it to show the person why that song doesn’t work acoustically and isn’t on the setlist. The result was a thrilling rendition that saw Mayer do a little bit of beatboxing, as well as on the spot transposing to guitar for all the instruments involved, and the crowd absolutely loved it. Mayer said that he’d would work on it as a result.
As the night went on, Mayer continued to impress. Finger picking on a double neck guitar and showing an excess of emotions while giving every song his all—the crowd was entranced for every single minute. Mayer ended his set on a high note, with an energized rendition of Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin,” which had every person in the room singing every word back to him.
JOY OLADOKUN
The John Mayer Solo Tour continues through the fall. This is a tour that shouldn’t be missed.
