Rock’n Me 14: Talking About Western Music - John Mayer

Hello, this is Joshua, who loves talking about Western music. In the 14th episode, I'll be discussing John Mayer. To put it simply, John is "pop but with an intense love for blues, an incredible guitarist, used to have too many flings, and ever since his throat illness, he’s been living a more disciplined life."

Recently, John Mayer was featured on the cover of Guitar Magazine, solidifying his major status, and his Paul Reed Smith (PRS) signature model guitar, Blue Sky, has become a classic. Therefore, there are likely many people who know more about him than I do. In this column, however, I will reflect on my personal concert experiences. I’ve attended John’s concerts seven times in total. The first four times were on the East Coast of the United States (with the fourth being under the John Mayer Trio name), and I’ve seen him three times in Japan (once at JCB Hall and twice at Nippon Budokan). What stands out most to me are the first three concerts, as he was virtually unknown in Japan at that time, so I’ll report on what it was like back then.

□ August 15, 2003 (Bristow, Virginia, Nissan Pavilion)

Actually, I had no intention of seeing John Mayer at this concert. At the time, I had just moved to the Washington, D.C. suburbs, and my knowledge of John was limited to the fact that he was a newcomer with a pop debut album that was a huge hit.

■ John Mayer – 'No Such Thing'

When I found out that Counting Crows, a band I had liked for a long time, would be touring with John Mayer, I bought a ticket without giving it much thought. The ticket I received had Counting Crows’ name written in large letters, so I assumed that John—who had only released one album at the time (though he had also put out an indie album and a live album)—was likely the opening act." Let me know if you need any adjustments!

However, when I drove to the venue in the suburbs of Washington, DC (with a capacity of about 25,000 people) on the day of the concert, I was surprised to find that Counting Crows were performing as the opening act. It was surprising to see a mid-level band with many hit songs opening for a newcomer artist, highlighting the harsh "survival of the fittest" nature of the industry. Their performance wasn’t bad, but it didn’t quite live up to the high expectations I had set. Thinking, “Well, I’ve already paid for this, so I’ll just enjoy John’s set,” I relaxed and prepared to watch. However, as soon as the performance began, all those casual thoughts vanished in an instant, and I understood why John was the headliner. He was in his late 20s at the time, but his meticulously crafted songs, his voice, and his guitar skills were extraordinary. Many of the songs were performed on acoustic guitar, but when he switched to electric, he completely transformed, playing soulful, heartfelt solos with the maturity of a seasoned player. In that moment, I was convinced: "This man is the next Eric Clapton," and I decided to become a John Mayer fan. Below is the setlist for that day.

August 15, 2003 Nissan Pavilion Concert Ticket and Setlist

No Such Thing > My Stupid Mouth > Something's Missing > 3x5 > Bigger Than My Body > 83 > Come Back to Bed > Your Body Is a Wonderland > Why Georgia
Encore：Back to You

□ November 26, 2003 (Baltimore, 1st Mariner Arena, Maryland)

Right after my first John Mayer concert experience, his second major album Heavier Things was released in September. Unlike his debut album, which had an acoustic guitar-centered sound, this new album featured a stronger emphasis on electric guitar and incorporated more blues influences. Soon after, I learned that John was performing in Baltimore, a neighboring city to Washington, DC (with a venue capacity of 14,000). This time, there was no hesitation—I immediately got tickets with the sole purpose of seeing John perform.

The opening act was The Thorns, a group made up of three singer-songwriters: Matthew Sweet, Shawn Mullins, and Pete Droge. This band released only one album before disbanding, so hearing their beautiful harmonies now feels like a rare and special experience. However, when John Mayer took the stage, the lingering effect of their performance quickly faded, and I was immediately drawn into John’s world. Like on his album, he amped up the electric elements in his performance, delivering guitar solos that evolved from the styles of Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan. I was utterly captivated by his playing. The setlist was also significantly different from the last time. (I later learned that he changes his setlist regularly.)

□ August 21, 2004 (Bristow, Virginia, Nissan Pavilion)

The following summer, I learned that John Mayer would be performing at the same venue as his first concert, and I eagerly entered the ticket battle in hopes of getting a good seat. I ended up being about 20 rows from the front, which was a strong showing for a large American venue. The opening act that day was Maroon 5, which, in hindsight, was a spectacularly impressive lineup. Maroon 5 had already become a big name by then, but at that time, they were promoting their debut album Songs About Jane, and it was an exciting time as they were on the rise, with great potential for future success.

Maroon 5's performance was quite good, but when John Mayer took the stage, he immediately demonstrated the difference in presence. While the concept of his previous concert was blues, this time it was blues + soul. With a band setup that included a horn section, he showcased soulful vocals and guitar. He generously included covers like Freddie King's "I’m Tore Down," Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues," and Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)," revealing his musical depth and showing that he was not just a "blues guy."

August 21, 2004 Nissan Pavilion Concert Ticket and Setlist

Bigger Than My Body > No Such Thing > Only Heart > My Stupid Mouth > 3x5 > Daughters > New Deep > I'm Tore Down > Come Back to Bed > Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) > Your Body Is a Wonderland > Why Georgia > Clarity
Encore：Wheel > Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) > Back to You

And then, Continuum was released in 2006. Personally, I believe it is his greatest masterpiece. Around this time, his fame was slowly starting to spread in Japan as well.

■ John Mayer - "Belief" (Live version from Continuum)

Meanwhile, with his rising fame, John began to be linked with actresses and singers, including Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Aniston, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, and many other women who seemed to pass through his life. The earnest, music-loving young man he was at the start of his career gave way to tabloid gossip about him as a "bad boy." Stories of his relationships became a hot topic, and he became a target for American comedy shows. During his time with Jessica Simpson, a skit poked fun at their only common trait: "The two sit awkwardly on a date. The dressed-up Jessica only talks about drama and beauty, while John, holding his guitar, tries to discuss blues, but the conversation doesn't flow. However, when John asks, 'Shall we...?' Jessica immediately replies, 'Yes,' and they hold hands and go to the back room..." As predicted by the skit (?), their relationship lasted only a few months.

■ Saturday Night Live “The Intimate Moment with John Mayer and Jessica Simpson”

Those days of reckless behavior are now a thing of the past. After suffering from a throat illness, he was forced to take a break from his career. As part of his recovery, he moved from the temptations of Los Angeles to the mountain town of Paradise Valley in Montana. Following throat surgery, he has dedicated himself to his musical activities. His new album, Sob Rock, has made a strong comeback, and personally, it was my favorite album of 2021. The single "Last Train Home" has a sound reminiscent of TOTO and Eric Clapton, and the music video, along with the song itself, is something that fans of the 1980s MTV era will definitely enjoy. Of course, even if you're not from that generation, this is an album that can be fully appreciated, so for those who aren't familiar with him, I highly recommend giving it a listen.

■ John Mayer - "Last Train Home"

The “sound & person” column is made up of contributions from you.
For details about contributing, click here.