{"id":15081,"date":"2017-05-26T13:59:58","date_gmt":"2017-05-26T12:59:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rockhaq.com\/?p=15081"},"modified":"2018-01-04T10:55:40","modified_gmt":"2018-01-04T10:55:40","slug":"live-review-john-mayer-the-o2-london-11-may-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rockhaq.com\/1546951672250\/?p=15081","title":{"rendered":"Live Review: John Mayer – The O2, London, 11 May 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

So to celebrate the last day of my academic studies, I decided to buy a ticket to one of John Mayer<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s two UK shows at the London O2 Arena. The agonising four hour drive to the venue had me constantly worrying about whether I would miss a bit of Mayer\u2019s set since this was the first time I was seeing him live. When I finally got seated in The O2 just shortly after 8\u2019 o clock, a sigh of relief washed over me as supporting act Andreas Moe was still playing. To my surprise he had five minutes left of his set so in the end it worked out really well because I only had 25 minutes to wait for John Mayer!<\/p>\n

The lights dim down and the screen projects the name of Mayer\u2019s current album \u201cThe Search for Everything<\/em>\u201d which is then followed by the names of his supporting personnel who will be joining him on stage. On this tour Mayer\u2019s set is divided into five different chapters which starts with \u201cChapter 1: Full Band<\/em>\u201d. He opens with the U2 inspired Heartbreak Warfare<\/em>. Its only a minute into his set yet I\u2019m already in awe of how much skill Mayer has under his belt as a guitar player. He effortlessly recreates the spacey soundscapes of Heartbreak Warfare<\/em> by simultaneously playing the notes and sliding his hand against the whammy bar of his guitar.<\/p>\n

A staple of John Mayer\u2019s concerts is that he and his musicians jam out A LOT at the end of songs. Folk number Queen of California<\/em> shows the organic chemistry he and his musicians have by being able to improvise for an additional five minutes. Throughout the evening, the vibrant colours of his stage set change to reflect the mood of his songs. For the acoustic set Mayer played against a beautiful backdrop which consisted of Japanese imagery such as temples, mountains and cherry blossom flowers. Two sound technicians even brought out a miniature Japanese bridge on stage to contribute to the authenticity of the set!<\/p>\n

A personal highlight for me was In Your Atmosphere<\/em>. Mayer has never released this song since it was an exclusive track on his live DVD: Where the Light Is<\/em>. As he’s been changing up the set list every single night of this tour, it was one of the songs that I was dying to hear because of how rarely he plays it.<\/p>\n

“The set turns up a notch when Mayer plays his gorgeous rendition of Tom Petty\u2019s Free Fallin\u2019<\/em>. The cover has become a crucial addition to Mayer\u2019s career because of his rather original take on the song. While the same personnel wasn’t there to play on it, Mayer & guitarist David Ryan Harris did an excellent job in recapturing the magic as during the bridge, 20,000 London gig goers were repetitively singing \u201cNow I’m\u00a0free fallin\u2019<\/em>\u201d in unison.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

However the set turns it up a notch when Mayer plays his gorgeous rendition of Tom Petty\u2019s Free Fallin\u2019<\/em>. The cover has become a crucial addition to Mayer\u2019s career because of his rather original take on the song. While the same personnel wasn’t there to play on it, Mayer & guitarist David Ryan Harris did an excellent job in recapturing the magic as during the bridge, 20,000 London gig goers were repetitively singing \u201cNow I’m\u00a0free fallin\u2019<\/em>\u201d in unison.<\/p>\n

In 2005 Mayer played in a trio with bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Steve Jordan where the style of music was dedicated to blues music. A short video was played where the members were discussing why they originally formed and decided to put the John Mayer Trio back on the road after a staggering ten years. Breezing their way through songs such as the funky Vultures<\/em> and heavy blues number Who Did You Think I Was<\/em>\u00a0the band display how rhythmically tight they are as a unit. Palladino dons a leather trench coat and black sunglasses looking every inch the most badass rock star you\u2019ll ever see at any live gig.<\/p>\n

Mayer retreats back to his full band set up in which he spoils the audience with a deep cut from his 2001 debut album Room For Squares<\/em>; Why Georgia<\/em>. He also gives some advice to aspiring musicians on how a song is written. He uses a strange analogy of how a basketball player tries to perfect their skills during their career. Gravity<\/em> gives Mayer\u2019s backing vocalists an opportunity to really shine. Hearing the soothing organs that were bolstered by vocalist Tiffany Palmer\u2019s ridiculous vocal range made me feel like I was part of a church congregation watching a gospel choir perform. The evening ends with an epilogue as Mayer sits down at a piano playing the mellow You\u2019re Gonna Live Forever In Me.<\/em>\u00a0This brings everything\u00a0to a nice close.<\/p>\n

This was my first time seeing John Mayer. I feel like it was the appropriate time to experience his live show as he reintroduced a lot of aspects that had been absent from his previous tours, such as the blues trio. Treating the audience to a fair and diverse range of songs to indulge in gave me an insight into how compatible Mayer’s music is with the acoustic, blues, funk and soul genres.<\/p>\n

FULL SETLIST:<\/em><\/p>\n

(Full Band)
\nHeartbreak Warfare
\nMoving On And Getting Over
\nRosie
\nWho Says
\nQueen Of California<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

(Acoustic)
\nEmoji Of A Wave
\nIn Your Atmosphere
\nDaughters W\/ Robbie McIntosh
\nFree Fallin’ (Tom Petty Cover)<\/p>\n

(John Mayer Trio)
\nBright Lights Big City (Jimmy Reed Cover)
\nVultures
\nWho Did You Think I Was<\/p>\n

(Full Band)
\nHelpless
\nIn The Blood
\nSlow Dancing In A Burning Room
\nIf I Ever Get Around To Living
\nWhy Georgia<\/p>\n

(Encore)
\nGravity
\nYou’re Gonna Live Forever In Me<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

So to celebrate the last day of my academic studies, I decided to buy a ticket to one of John Mayer\u2019s only two UK shows at the London O2 Arena. The agonising four hour drive to the venue had me constantly worrying about whether I would miss a bit of Mayer\u2019s set since this was the first time I was seeing him live.
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