Last Night: John Mayer

I went to see John Mayer play at Madison Square Garden last Thursday. It's a tradition for me really, since I've been listening to his music for about 10 years. Even though I don't really like him that much any more, I do enjoy his live shows.

Michael Franti & Spearhead (above) opened with forty minutes of reggae-pop tunes. Lot of fun, pretty solid set.

(Is this why that VW show sold out instantly?)

JM came on twenty minutes late and played for a little less than two hours. Not much to say. He's a great live performer. The set was mostly comprised of songs from his back catalogue (of, em, higher quality albums than the newest addition). And to top it off, he ran Half of my Heart in a cover of Fleetwood Mac's Dreams.

Setlist

Heartbreak Warfare

Crossroads (Eric Clapton cover)

Vultures

No Such Thing

Perfectly Lonely

Slow Dancing In A Burning Room

Assassin

My Stupid Mouth/Daughters/3x5

Ain't No Sunshine (Whens She's Gone) (Bill Withers cover)

Waiting On The World To Change

Bigger Than My Body

Half of My Heart / Dreams (Fleetwood Mac cover)

Why Georgia

Gravity

Encore:

Who Says

Friends, Lovers or Nothing

VIDEO: John Mayer - "Who Says" + Personal

Once upon a time in the early part of this decade, I was a die-hard John Mayer fan. Then I started listening to The Strokes.

And now with the news of Battle Studies, JM's first album since Continuum in 2006, I've dug up all of the CDs that comprise his back catalog and had quite a trip.
He's probably the guitarist of this generation.
However, this doesn't really come through on this new single Who Says. First of all, he knocked off his own song Stop This Train on the opening riff and the lyrics are underwhelming and topical (pretty much emotionless) compared to his older work. No doubt it'll sell, and the fiscal prospects are probably the reason why he went back to the studio, but it seems like a step backward.

Let's give Battle Studies a chance anyway.
It's slated for November 17.