New Delhi: In the 21st century, grunge music was slowly falling out of favour, while rap and electronic music were on the rise. The guitar heroes were no less, but there was a subtle lack of new faces. So when a boy with a curly block of hair, a sweet Martin guitar and a baritone voice first took to the world, it was like rediscovering the Motown blues whilst also venturing towards newer lands. John Mayer was a revelation to many in terms of both how guitar music was and what could be done with it.

He brought with him the elements of BB King, Albert King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Eric Clapton, and managed to blend them into their style of music. Lyrically, Mayer was always quite mature, and songs like ‘Who says’ and ‘Neon’ stand the test of time in both the way their lyrics and music effused.

Which means, as one of his ardent fans, it was a no-brainer to me that I would go to our boy’s concert, in the Mahalaxmi race ground. This was going to be an extension of his acoustic tour in Asia, which was another reason to be thrilled. John Mayer, on electric guitar, is a treat to listen to, but his acoustic game is just no less, and very few can use scales for lead guitar as well as Mr Mayer.

John Mayer playing live in Mumbai (Photo credits: Roheen @TV9)

As I was driving to the concert, I wondered when the last time I was this excited for a concert was, of course, U2 coming to Mumbai. Since this was an acoustic setlist, for me, Mayer playing Who says was going to be kind of the highlight because that was the song I first discovered him through. Then there was Neon, which, with that slap, double thumb and syncopating technique, is impossible to master, and I have really given up on learning.

Enter the Mahalakshmi complex, and after going through all the ridiculous complexities brought to you by the show organisers, Abdon Mech and Tejas were warming up the venue. The setlist from both these artists was just amazing and kept you pumped for what was coming.

For most fans around me, the question was if he would bring his electric axe once and if at all, we’ll see a guest appearance from someone like Steve Jordan. At the stroke of 8:30, the Grammy-award-winning guitar player opened the show with one of his most iconic songs, ‘Slow Dancing in a Burning Room’, and the crowd immediately sang it with just as much gusto. 

The next song to it was ‘Love on the Weekend’, and there were immediately couples falling into a slow-mo dance. Then there was the mash-up of ‘A Face to Call Home’ and ‘Last Train Home’. Having delayed the show by a few weeks, the ‘Waiting on the World to Change’ writer apologised to those who couldn’t attend on the night. 

Over the years, having seen excerpts of his live shows online, it is Mayer’s ability to relate and communicate with his audience that has set him apart. He took requests from the crowd, which even included his hits and also a small cover of ‘My Sweet Lord’ by George Harrison. A talker that Mayer is, he admitted that he was figuring out the chords for the 1970 song and explained how he does his music maths.

I was perhaps a little late to the Mayer party, discovering him towards the end of my college days, but there was something about the music he was presenting. It spoke deeply about heartbreak and hope. His songs have always been relatable on all levels and can be mused for anyone. Songs like ‘Face to Call Home’ and ‘You’re Gonna Live Forever in Me’ will always remind you of someone.

Playing without a break, his setlist also saw some of my personal favourites, which included ‘Who Says’, ‘Stop This Train’, ‘Why Georgia’, ‘Neon’, and ‘You’re Gonna Live Forever in Me’. The set of one and a half hours concluded with the amazing ‘Gravity’, which really left the audience on a different level, bringing out his signature black PRS SE Silver Sky electric guitar to end the set.

To conclude my experience of the ‘John Mayer: Solo’ tour, I can safely say that this might have been the best concert I ever seen because you could hear the intricacies of the music so well. It was an education for guitar enthusiasts and the greatest homage to music enthusiasts. His voice is still holding on to the quality that we had so much adored and, in fact, has improved in its phrasing and modulations. 

The guitar playing is only improving, and as a showman, John Mayer is the one you want to see as a one-man band. He continues to carry a legacy of players that he manages the world to keep reminding.