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  • This has probably been covered before but... John Mayer... WOW

Who knew John Mayer could play blues!?

After being told to check him out about a year ago I must say I am loving his style...
I always knew JM as some pop artist, but after watching his trio I must say I've been blown away,
not to mention Pino Palladino on bass - seriously, that guy is like a band on his own ?
and last but not least, Steve Jordan on drums - pretty awesome too

Anyway I'm pretty sure people have spoken about John before, but I must say hes pretty legit ?

Check out his cover of a classic:
    Yeah, the boy can play. He sat in with Jeff Beck when I saw JB at the El Rey theater. This was shot with a Canon G6 point and shoot....at a focal length of 28.8.....I was that close man. I really dig this shot, if I may say so myself.

      Ja he can play, just don't read or watch any interviews with him...
        Yep that 3 piece from up there is on the DVD where the lights are... Super muzo!

        @Don... AND yes he talk utter rubbish on the DVD as well!
          i have the dvd of this concert - absolutely awesomeness..

          but this dude - serious FIGJAM.. !!! :? :?
            The trio is unsurprisingly called The John Mayer Trio.

            They have one live CD out called Try! that is really good. The rhythm section (Pino Palladino + Steve Jordan) is just scary.

              I am still trying to get the John Mayer Thing!

              His tone is great! this I agree

              I bought the live DVD "where the lights are" and I am still trying to work out what all the fuss is about.

              I enjoy the acoustic set he does, good playing and great vocals.

              The trio is tight, and he almost get's it going in some songs, but there is something missing for me.

              I also have footage of him on Crossroads 2010 and he starts Aint no Sunshine so well and then it limps along.

              He gets away with his Pop set on "Where the lights are" I enjoy his picking (Electric or Acoustic), but some of his electric playing seems to just not get there!

              I know guitarists like Bonamassa have been slated on this forum, but I think Joe get's it right.

              One thing I know is that he is nowhere near SRV. I am not trying to slate Mayer, because I do enjoy a lot of his stuff, but all this hype about being the next best thing, I still have to realize.

              ?
                He's really good... really good. Just don't make any comments on his personality, Singemonkey has a crush.
                  dee wrote: The trio is unsurprisingly called The John Mayer Trio.

                  I quite like that guitar he's playing here ......... nice tone, eh Norman? ?

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                    • Post #10
                    Squonk wrote: I am still trying to get the John Mayer Thing!

                    His tone is great! this I agree

                    I bought the live DVD "where the lights are" and I am still trying to work out what all the fuss is about.

                    I enjoy the acoustic set he does, good playing and great vocals.

                    The trio is tight, and he almost get's it going in some songs, but there is something missing for me.

                    I also have footage of him on Crossroads 2010 and he starts Aint no Sunshine so well and then it limps along.

                    He gets away with his Pop set on "Where the lights are" I enjoy his picking (Electric or Acoustic), but some of his electric playing seems to just not get there!

                    I know guitarists like Bonamassa have been slated on this forum, but I think Joe get's it right.

                    One thing I know is that he is nowhere near SRV. I am not trying to slate Mayer, because I do enjoy a lot of his stuff, but all this hype about being the next best thing, I still have to realize.

                    ?
                    Squonk I'll tell you what the fuss is about ?
                    From my generation, He is probably one of the very best song writers. In my opinion, the best over the last decade.
                    But that's because JM is my favorite, I love his music, it appeals to me, I feel it, Its relative...

                    Great player? Absolutely! the greatest? Not a Chance!!
                    Great song writer? The best...

                    I am speaking about someone that appeals to my generation I think..
                    Like as great as I think the Beatles are and I can argue for days with my Dad... I love the stuff, but is it on the top of my list? Not even in my top 50 ?

                      Brentcgp wrote:
                      Squonk wrote: I am still trying to get the John Mayer Thing!

                      His tone is great! this I agree

                      I bought the live DVD "where the lights are" and I am still trying to work out what all the fuss is about.

                      I enjoy the acoustic set he does, good playing and great vocals.

                      The trio is tight, and he almost get's it going in some songs, but there is something missing for me.

                      I also have footage of him on Crossroads 2010 and he starts Aint no Sunshine so well and then it limps along.

                      He gets away with his Pop set on "Where the lights are" I enjoy his picking (Electric or Acoustic), but some of his electric playing seems to just not get there!

                      I know guitarists like Bonamassa have been slated on this forum, but I think Joe get's it right.

                      One thing I know is that he is nowhere near SRV. I am not trying to slate Mayer, because I do enjoy a lot of his stuff, but all this hype about being the next best thing, I still have to realize.

                      ?
                      Squonk I'll tell you what the fuss is about ?
                      From my generation, He is probably one of the very best song writers. In my opinion, the best over the last decade.
                      But that's because JM is my favorite, I love his music, it appeals to me, I feel it, Its relative...

                      Great player? Absolutely! the greatest? Not a Chance!!
                      Great song writer? The best...

                      I am speaking about someone that appeals to my generation I think..
                      Like as great as I think the Beatles are and I can argue for days with my Dad... I love the stuff, but is it on the top of my list? Not even in my top 50 ?

                      Not trolling, I actually quite like him... but isn't his best stuff (particularly live) covers or re-workings of older blues artists? Which is fine... just don't see the songwriting coming through? Feel free to point me in the right direction!
                        Brentcgp wrote:
                        Squonk I'll tell you what the fuss is about ?
                        From my generation, He is probably one of the very best song writers. In my opinion, the best over the last decade.
                        But that's because JM is my favorite, I love his music, it appeals to me, I feel it, Its relative...

                        Great player? Absolutely! the greatest? Not a Chance!!
                        Great song writer? The best...

                        I am speaking about someone that appeals to my generation I think..
                        Like as great as I think the Beatles are and I can argue for days with my Dad... I love the stuff, but is it on the top of my list? Not even in my top 50 ?
                        I am with you on this Brent, I have lots of his albums, Dvd's etc.

                        I enjoy his tone and his songwriting and anyone who can compose "Neon" gets full marks, But I just see so many people edging him past great towards genius, which I am not getting. and I am speaking from a guitarist point of view here, not the whole package.

                        I still think he has it all, like none before, Looks, Talent, Voice and he plays some mean guitar, which most probably causes a lot of the haters out there.

                        George Best once said " If I was ugly, no one would have heard of Pele!"

                          I can understand where Squonk is 'coming from' ............ John Mayer, I think the boy is awesome ..... Full Stop!!!!

                          I have a similar problem with George Benson.....great guitarist, I can appreciate the guys' awesome musicianship, just can't come to grips with the songs, the melodies ...... if that makes sense. In short, great guitarist ...... just hate "Gimme the night" and all that K@k ....

                          But then there are some of my friends (you know who you are... ?) who don't like my other "hero" .... Carlos ....... you see ....... different strokes, that's all ...... ?

                          My absolute favourite JM track ....... enjoy .......



                            I'm with Brent here about the generation thing. JM introduced me to the blues; he got me started on it. I'd never listened to Hendrix, SRV, BB King, Clapton et al before I started checking out some of the stuff behind what Mayer does. His recordings are also just fabulous: I must say Squonks, that I thought his playing on "Where the Light Is" is just fabulous throughout. I find his version of "Wait Till Tomorrow" a lot more energetic than Hendrix's original. ?

                            In the other hand, having seen some subsequent recordings, I think his stuff has taken a little bit of a dip lately. I'm not as fond of Battle Studies as I was of Continuum, for example.

                            Perhaps the single big thing for me is the combination that JM brings, as you mentioned Squonk: lyricist, singer, player. He has it all. There are other guitarists or singers who might be better, but not any that I can think of who can match him on all three.
                              Generational... I can relate to almost all his songs and lyrics especially! He sings about life and all it's happenings! And I love that! Who says... Slow dancing (my fav), wonderland, say ... Its just great songs with great melodies! I just relate to his music and enjoy 90% of his stuff!
                                I am with Brent and Warren here. He plays modern white man blues, in a slightly refreshing way. I am SO sick of hearing awful SRV rehashes etc. Also he can almost be considered a peer with regard to the generation thing. His influences are similar to mine, as opposed to my influences vs B.B King's or the like, which are completely different. He's not amazing or groundbreaking IMO but he is someone I can relate to ?

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                                  • Post #17
                                  Some good reads there, thanks to my 'generation' for sticking their necks out for me.

                                  John Mayer at the moment could be one of the most inspirational players out there too.
                                  Yes I have always loved the blues, but John on his own kinda made it cool.
                                  (Joe Bonamassa is for me the greatest modern rock blues player)

                                  And I LOVE JB... but JM pips him on most other counts, diversity, song writing that touches my heart... and that is music for me...

                                  John Mayer will take the Blues to the next level and inspire it to another level, at a point where it may have started dying...

                                  Long live JM and his music... and it will go on for decades to come and inspire a whole generation of new wonderful talented blues players, with a twist...
                                    I find this whole generation thing interesting... would you guys consider Hendrix of a different generation? Obvious answer is yes... but then again no. Jimi didn't make 28 so why categorise him as someone for older folks when it's "young persons music" (note, I don't buy age-appropriateness in music)? I'm just a couple of years older than Mayer and his blues sounds "older" to me than when the Stones did blues in their 20s.
                                    Hmmm... I don't think this post makes any sense ???
                                      I woul say generational as in the age we live in now... People in hendrix's era had different issues back then!
                                        Jacquesg4j wrote: I woul say generational as in the age we live in now... People in hendrix's era had different issues back then!
                                        Yep but blues is not current events specific, and neither is protest music really, you can interchange "vietnam" for "iraq" etc.