John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
–by Laura Tucker
John Mayer is instantly recognizable by his soft and almost sugary vocals and his impeccable guitar work. Apparently, thatās all you need to pack an arena like he did on Wednesday night at the Enterprise Center. Heās on tour this year, all by himself. Solo.
Well, heās on tour with JoyĀ OladokunĀ who opened the show, also performing with nothing but her guitar and her message of hope and inspiration. She is a soft-spoken and talented musician that is surely on the path of her higher purpose.
Joy Oladokun performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
You might think that one person and an acoustic guitar wouldnāt be big enough, bold enough or loud enough for a venue this size, but it was exactly the opposite. There was nothing missing from this show.
Joy Oladokun performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer has collaborated in the studio with many artists of notability from Buddy Guy to Shawn Mendes, and even Slowhand himself, Eric Clapton thanks to his prolific guitar work, but this stripped-down and raw style of performing gave him a chance to have a little banter with the audience and to just simply, be himself.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
One fan brought a sign that was lit up and impossible to miss. She was there with her dad and they wanted to hear āDaughter.ā She got her wish and some recognition from John.
Early on in the show he told a story about a sign he read on the bathroom stall door. He wrote a little jingle for the company and their tagline ādesigned to be worry freeā and then sang it for us, showing us just how clever he can be on the spot. Maybe writing hit songs just comes that natural to him. Songs like āNo Such Thing,” “Your Body Is a Wonderland,” and “Why Georgia” from his debut album Room for Squares, released in 2001. It was then that he became a staple in pop music and has never let up.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
His reputation as an amazing guitarist precedes him but who knew he would play the piano and electric guitar at the same time. Thatās what he did at one point, on the song āChangingā, leaving the audience a-gasp and cheering for more.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
One amusing element of the show was the interview reels that played between songs on the jumbo screen allowing us to see his journey as an artist as well as his hairstyles over the years.
Another moment that was unexpected came in the form of āWhy Anyone Has to Goā which is dedicated to his friendship with the late Bob Saget. Apparently, the two of them have been very close for years and his passing has had a profound impact on Mayerās life.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
āSayā and āWaiting on the World to Changeā are also among the hits in his discography but were notably absent from his set list.
Heās loving this tour so much that new dates are being added to extend the Solo performances into fall 2023 with changes in the opening act.
Setlist:
Slow Dancing in a Burning Room
Shot in the Dark
Waitin’ on the Day
Queen of California
No Such Thing
Neon
Who Says
Cattle Call
The Age of Worry
The Heart of Love
Your Body Is a Wonderland
Why Anyone Has to Go
Changing
Stop This Train
Daughters
In Your Atmosphere
Born and Raised
Walt Grace’s Submarine Test, January 1967
A Face to Call Home
If I Ever Get Around to Living
Edge of Desire
Encore:
New Light
You’re Gonna Live Forever in Me
Free Fallin’
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Joy Oladokun performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Joy Oladokun performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Joy Oladokun performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Joy Oladokun performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
Joy Oladokun performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.
John Mayer performing at Enterprise Center Wednesday night. Photo by Laura Tucker/ Laura Tucker Photography.