John Mayer at the O2 Arena, London - 11/05/2017

John Mayer’s recent two-night consecutive run at the O2 Arena marked a long-awaited return for the musician, who last performed at this same venue three years ago. Mayer’s current tour is in support of latest album The Search for Everything – a project that was released in two gradual ‘waves’ as four-track EPs, followed by the arrival of the complete album last month. With a keener emphasis on pop and soul, the twelve tracks that comprise The Search for Everything indicate an evident shift from the folk/country sound that has dominated previous releases, Paradise Valley and Born and Raised, though the country influence still lingers in places.

The Search for Everything tour is structured in a chapter format, accompanied by scenic onscreen visuals and stage lighting which provided a cinematic quality that was unlike any past Mayer gig I had attended. After opening the first of the O2 gigs with a solid rendition of ‘Heartbreak Warfare’ from 2010’s Battle Studies, Mayer and his band launched straight into the new material, kicking up a steady funk groove on ‘Moving On and Getting Over’ and ‘Rosie’ that rivalled the lighter, R&B tones of the album versions. Drawing this first chapter of the gig to a climactic close was an acoustic version of ‘Blues Run the Game’ that evolved into a dynamic, full band-led ‘Queen of California’.

Mayer opened Chapter two’s acoustic set with the heartfelt ‘Emoji of a Wave’ — one of my personal favourites from the current album and a definite highlight of the gig. While Mayer’s vocals were in top shape throughout the concert, his range showed most strength and consistency in this segment, accompanied by minimal instrumentation. The fine acoustics of the O2, probably the best I have experienced at this venue, further complemented Mayer’s soulful voice.

The standout tracks of the evening came by way of the John Mayer Trio set that formed Chapter three. Having never previously seen the Trio perform, it was an absolute treat hearing 'Vultures' and 'Who Did You Think I Was' played by this bluesy line-up; the musicianship and on-stage chemistry between Pino Palladino, Steve Jordan and Mayer was electric. On a side note, the documentary chronicling the Trio’s return that played prior to the band’s set, proved the perfect build, prompting further excitement throughout the crowd, while the onscreen visuals accompanying the actual performance were among the most inspired of the entire concert. With only three songs included in this chapter, and given the Trio’s eclectic repertoire, my only gripe was that the set wasn’t longer.

The full band returned on stage for the final chapter with ‘Helpless’, the track on The Search for Everything that, along with the aforementioned ‘Rosie’, bears most likeness to the Heavier Things era of Mayer’s earlier catalogue. The energetic, rock-driven song transpired fantastically in the O2, and succeeded in maintaining the momentum gained from the Trio’s epic performance. However, of the current material, 'In the Blood' had the strongest emotional impact; the song’s powerful lyrics and moody arrangement conveyed a deep sense of poignancy that was well received by the crowd.

The talent of Mayer’s band was apparent throughout, though key moments included Isaiah Sharkey’s extended guitar solo on ‘If I Ever Get Around To Living’ and David Ryan Harris’ vocally impressive interpretation of Prince’s ‘The Beautiful Ones’, which effortlessly transitioned into ‘Slow Dancing in a Burning Room’. ‘Gravity’ — the third, and strongest track of the evening to appear from 2006’s Continuum, was a natural choice to begin the encore, after which Mayer made a final, solo return to the stage for self-accompanied piano ballad ‘You’re Gonna Live Forever in Me’.

At one point before the encore, Mayer took a moment to thank the enthused crowd. Upon doing so, he humbly reflected on the more intimately sized audiences of past UK tours, in which he "played for all the American kids" — a nostalgic reference to the fact that, until more recent years, Mayer has experienced the majority of his success in the US, while maintaining a somewhat modest fan base in the UK. As he progressed into ‘Why Georgia’, I glanced round the packed venue and reminisced on my own memories of attending those intimate shows in the early stages of my fourteen years as a JM fan. Though I miss the atmosphere of the smaller venues, it is great to see Mayer receiving the recognition he deserves and filling arenas like the O2 - a feat that truly reflects his ever-growing fan base here in the UK.

Setlist

Full Band

Heartbreak Warfare 

Moving On and Getting Over 

Rosie
Who Says 

Blues Run the Game > Queen of California

Acoustic
Emoji of a Wave 

In Your Atmosphere
Daughters
Free Fallin'

John Mayer Trio

Bright Lights, Big City
Vultures 

Who Did You Think I Was

Full Band
Helpless 

In the Blood
The Beautiful Ones > Slow Dancing in a Burning Room 

If I Ever Get Around To Living 

Why Georgia

Encore
Gravity

You're Gonna Live Forever in Me