The last thing in the world I expected to be called by John Mayer was a “bitch.” But there he was on stage, hair curling wildly past his ears, white T-shirt looking disheveled, telling the audience to “move, bitches, move,” as he mercilessly strummed the guitar draping around his hips. Could this possibly be the same Mayer that only a year ago was clean-cut and releasing the extremely mild, arguably boring “Daughters?”
Indeed, it was. Although I had been warned not to expect to hear any of Mayer’s familiar album tracks when I bought my ticket for the John Mayer Trio concert at the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, I was not prepared for the type of show Mayer delivered on Saturday, Oct. 8. Rather than play his usual love songs, Mayer intimately showed the audience that he had a case of the blues.
The focus was mostly blues and Mayer was less focused on pleasing the crowd and reciting tired radio hits. This was a refreshing change from the past two Mayer concerts I had been to. Mayer’s guitar playing has always been extraordinary, but with the backing of the other two musicians of the Trio, drummer Steve Jordan and bassist Pino Palladino, Mayer really allowed himself to let go and experiment with his music.
The show started with the channeling of one of Mayer’s living idols, as he played the B.B. King classic “Everyday I Have the Blues.” Other covers included Jimi Hendrix’s “Wait Until Tomorrow,” which was playful and yet still rich; The Meters’ “Sissy Strut,” which was played as a tribute to New Orleans; and Ray Charles’ “I Don’t Need No Doctor.”
The crowd was then given a glimpse of some of Mayer’s new original tunes, expected to appear on his next studio release due out Nov. 22.
“Gravity” is reminiscent of the introspective, yet melodic, songs that comprise much of his second album, “Heavier Things.” The only difference here was that Mayer injected some Hendrix lyrics during the bridge of the live performance, reminding the audience of one Mayer’s self-proclaimed influences.
“Vultures” was another original, but the falsetto he used in the chorus was enough to make me wish the song would prematurely end.
Other originals included “Try” and “Good Love is on the Way.” Both were extremely bluesy, and the blaring electric guitar was more reminiscent of Hendrix than any of Mayer’s noticeably mellower previous hits.
The songs were also fuller and heavier, both musically and lyrically, and it was obvious that Mayer was taking enjoyment out of their debut. The crowd reacted to both with overwhelming applause.
“Who Did You Think I Was?” is another new song and has been recently released by the Trio as a single. It represents a departure from Mayer’s comfort zone, and is still easy listening infused with a blues-like feel. Certainly he has come a long way since the bubblegum flavored “No Such Thing.”
He floated between the other two musicians on stage, strumming his guitar with a genuine enjoyment that had been absent from any of the other Mayer shows I have been to, it was clear that he was not only having a blast but was comfortable in his own skin.
Of course Mayer played some of his old stuff, at the very least to pacify the more narrow-minded fans. “Daughters” and “Something’s Missing” both made an appearance towards the show’s conclusion. I must say that after all the heavier, soulful, more relaxed songs he had played beforehand, I was craving more blues.
Mayer thanked his fans profusely for attending a show featuring his more experimental sound. After being shown exactly what he can do with a finely tuned guitar, I genuinely hope the talented Mayer continues to experiment.
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