“Eventually, we could do a set one day of hit, hit, hit, hit, but I’m not there yet,” said John Mayer in the video of his Nov. 27, 2005 interview playing on the center screen at the Moody Center. The sentiment perhaps wasn’t true then, but Wednesday night, it proved to be a reality with the arrival of Mayer’s Solo tour.
After the positive fan response to his spring 2023 solo acoustic tour, which according to Billboard, grossed $39.3 million, John Mayer added a fall leg to his 11th headlining tour. Despite Austin’s place in the homestretch as show 14 out of 17, Mayer’s energy never wavered. The singer-songwriter took to Moody Center’s stage with a collection of acoustic guitars, a piano and harmonica as a confident veteran and invigorated musician.
From the way Mayer began his set by casually strolling onto stage and wordlessly tuning his guitar down to his simple black t-shirt and faded jeans getup, everything about this intimate performance mirrored a coffee shop serenade rather than a jam-packed arena. Starting with “Heartbreak Warfare,” Mayer jumped through his discography while throwing in the occasional cover.
Playing a soothing rendition of “Waitin’ on the Day,” Mayer turned to “sign land.” Audiences often come prepared with thoughtfully decorated poster boards from which Mayer often takes song requests. Calling it a game of “stump John,” Mayer reminisced over his songwriting journey and confessed that in the beginning of his career, he never thought someday he would have enough songs that some might “fall off the hard drive.” Picking a few from the crowd, the singer played bits of “Back to You” and “In Repair,” moving seamlessly into “Still Feel Like Your Man.”
Mayer boasts a long career of playing with bands and collaborating with other musicians, and this solo performance confirmed his individual musical prowess. Meeting his audience with crystal clear vocals and masterful musicianship, the singer’s command of his instruments permeated the set, from the slick guitar interludes to even playing two instruments simultaneously.
As the night winded down, Mayer reflected on his career’s humble beginnings playing at Stubb’s Austin for South by Southwest in 2000, where he gained the attention of his first label, Aware Records. The crowd’s diversity highlighted Mayer’s impact as people of all ages gathered to experience his captivating performance.
With such a large collection of records to his name, some fan favorites did not make the cut. However, the authenticity of the ever-changing setlist surely makes each performance special. Mayer ended the evening by thanking the crowd for allowing him to play songs that were at the “top of the heap” and “letting (him) express (himself) with full bandwidth.”
