Inspirational hit song, Waiting On The World To Change, is first up, and while I loved this song a lot when I first heard it on Continuum, I have to admit that it’s no longer really one of my favourites.
Mayer is backed by his full touring band for the next and final set. I’m pretty sure I heard this song at the show I went to, but I still enjoy it Mayer’s seductive guitar work is nice, and I love the authentic blues sound which sounds less like John Mayer and more like B.B. Though I enjoy the Trio songs, I have to say having already owned the Try! CD sort of weakens the experience for me while the band sounds great on all of the tracks, the renditions sound pretty identical to the live versions I already heard on Try! One “new” song is included, a blues track titled Come When I Call. Some of the songs from the Trio’s Try! CD make an appearance, including the band’s rockin’ cover of Jimi Hendrix’s Wait Until Tomorrow. Each member of the trio sounds excellent on their respective instrument, and Mayer even lands an impressive guitar solo towards the middle of the track. You’re immediately greeted to the sounds of the Trio rocking out, and it’s instantly obvious that these guys are serious about their musicianship. First song on the set is blues standard, Everyday I Have The Blues. Mayer is joined by bassist, Pino Palladino, and drummer, Steve Jordan, for the John Mayer Trio set. His breezy rendition has easily become another of my favourite songs by him. I was a bit surprised when I first heard that Mayer would be covering Tom Petty’s classic, but he puts a beautiful spin on it, especially when he reaches for the high notes in the chorus.
The best of the acoustic set follows with the album’s lead single, Free Fallin’. The song is even slower than the album version, with more emphasis put on Mayer’s vocal delivery. However, I do enjoy the live versions of this song and this one is just as good as the others I’ve heard. I’ve grown tired of this song over the years though the lyrics still speak to me (“On behalf of every man/Looking out for every girl/You are the god and the weight of her world/So fathers, be good to your daughters”), the song has been greatly overplayed, particularly after its Grammy win. Of course, the biggest hit from Heavier Things gets a live treatment on Daughters. The mellow guitar fits in perfectly with the melancholy feeling, and Mayer’s voice sounds smooth and strong as he sings this track.
In Your Atmosphere is one of my favourite unreleased songs I’ve heard the track various times on bootleg concert recordings, and I’ve always loved the emotional lyrics dealing with the complications of a long-distance relationship (“I don’t know what its like to land and not race through your door/I don’t think I’m gonna go to LA anymore…/I’m not sure that I really ever could/Hold on to your hotel key in your bedroom neighborhood/Me sleep-walkin in Hollywood”). The song was first released on Continuum, and though the acoustic version doesn’t stray too far from the original, it’s still lovely to listen to, especially as Mayer tries out a few different vocal stylings during the verses. One of my favourite Mayer songs arrives next with the acoustic rendition of Stop This Train. The laid-back vibe of the song works well and perfectly sets a relaxing, intimate mood for the acoustic set.
Neon has always had a sort of bluesy feeling, but the live version gets the total blues treatment, as Mayer plays a short groove solo on his guitar. The CD opens with the sounds of loud cheers before Mayer kicks into an acoustic version of Neon, a song first released on his Inside Wants Out EP (though more famously known for being on his debut CD, Room for Squares). Mayer performs a an acoustic set first, followed by a set with the John Mayer Trio, and then ends with a set performed with his regular touring band. The money raised at the show went to the Annual John Mayer Holiday Charity Revue, so not only are you essentially supporting a good cause by watching/listening to the show, you’re also getting nearly two hours of stellar entertainment. Where The Light Is was recorded at the Nokia Theater in December 2007. Seeing John Mayer live in concert was one of the most wonderful concert experiences I’ve ever had, and later that year I got to relive it all when I purchased the CD/DVD, Where The Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles.
Mayer was performing songs from his record-breaking hit album, Continuum, and I was pleased with the set list of new songs as well as covers (he did an amazing version of Duffy’s “Mercy”) and older hits. Finally, in August ‘08, I saw him in California at the Sleep Train Amphitheatre and was absolutely blown away. The last time I reviewed a John Mayer concert CD ( Any Given Thursday, 2002 ) I had yet to see my favourite musician in concert.