Show Review: John Mayer’s Solo Tour In Denver.
Intimacy between performer and audience is a feeling usually reserved for small rooms. Small smokey venues where a musician is no more than a few arms lengths from the crowd. To create a feeling of closeness and intimacy in a 20,000 seat arena is rarely obtainable. Oxymoron or not John Mayer achieved these feelings, connecting with a sold out crowd at Denver’s ball arena on April 3rd. Just one man and a guitar (and briefly a piano) connecting with each individual in the massive sports arena.
Mayer was joined by Joy Oladokun. The Nashville singer-songwriter opening the night with kind charisma, chatting with the crowd about her love of sneakers and religious trauma between the songs on her short setlist. Fans were treated to a beautiful rendition of ‘Rocket Man’ as well as their first taste of the guitar maetsro himself as John Mayer joined Oladokun on stage to riff through Sweet Symphony alongside her.
Following Joy’s beautiful performance the feeling of intimacy was instantly obtained as John walked on the dark stage silently, grabbing his acoustic guitar without addressing the crowd and strumming into one of his most vulnerable heart-wrenching songs ‘Slow Dancing In a Burning Room’. Following into ‘Heartbreak Warfare’ Mayer had the crowd in the palm of his hand.
Mayer’s setlist was the perfect blend of songs new, old, covers, and variations on classics. A few songs into his set, fans were treated to a throw back video of a young Mayer. Mayer at the time around the release of 2002’s ‘Room For Squares’ asking fans to join him along on his journey. A heartfelt moment as you look back just how expansive that journey has been for the past 20+ years. As the video ended John started plucking into ‘Neon’.
A few songs later Mayer made his way to the piano on the left of the stage. Joking as he sat in front of the keys, noting that he’s nothing more than “a rudimentary piano player” before playing a short stripped down version of ‘New Light’. The tone shifted as Mayer keyed into ‘You’re Gonna Live Forever In Me’. A chill inducing moment as it felt that the entire arena crowd was singing softly along with Mayer.
The nightly curated setlist bounced around more as John continued through the set. His charismatic energy radiating without falter. That charisma leading John to add loving anecdotes to songs that he’s surely tired of playing after so many years on the stage, such as ‘Your Body Is A Wonderland’. Liking the song to a bad but charming tattoo.
The last third of his set maintained the charming feel and strong showmanship that the Mayer has captivated fans with for the span of his 25 year career. Capping the night off with his rendition of Tom Petty’s ‘Free Falling’
John Mayer’s Solo Tour has truly been a treat. You could sense that John is doing exactly what he wants and playing exactly what he wants. No two nights setlist the same. The only expectation from the crowd that they are about to witness one of the greatest singers, songwriters, and guitar players of our generation. The three embodied in one man.
The Solo Tour continues on this fall. Returning on October 3rd in NYC and stretching across the US before wrapping up in LA on November 10th. You don’t want to miss out on seeing Mayer alone, and doing everything that he does best.
