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JOHN MAYER SETS EUROPEAN CONCERTS FOR HIS SOLO ACOUSTIC ARENA TOUR

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John Mayer Opens ‘Sob Rock’ Tour With “Small Stage Series” Show At Hollywood Palladium [Photos/Videos]

Throughout a career that now spans two decades, John Mayer has shown that he can not only bring his own flair to an affair, but uplift the level of whatever, wherever, and whenever he is. In truth, the one-time student at the Berklee School of Music has long been a master of delivery, with his guitar, his voice, and his presence—equal parts confident, self-effacing, and light-hearted with his interstitial musings.

To that end, Mayer soft-launched his 2022  Sob Rock  tour in strong form on a warm L.A. Wednesday in February as part of  SiriusXM  and  Pandora ‘s “Small Stage Series”. In front of a crowded house at the 4,000-capacity Hollywood Palladium , and with many more listening and watching at home courtesy of SiriusXM and Pandora, John and his band— 10 pieces in total —worked through songs old and new, with plenty of style and spirit to spare.

As expected, the setlist was heavy on 2021’s Sob Rock . From a “Last Train Home” opener to an encore of “All I Want Is to Be With You” and “New Light”, with several in between, John and company playfully pulled from from the ’80s throwback collection the hit No. 2 on the  Billboard 200 last year.

Even with those delightful draws from his latest release—including the country-infused “Shouldn’t Matter But It Does” and the contemplative “All I Want Is To Be With You”—John had ample time to amp up his fans with the classics from his ever-growing catalog. No, there was no mention or nod to his “ original sin ” of “Your Body Is a Wonderland.” Instead, there came a string of hit tunes that have long been and will always be true to who John is as a singer and songwriter, precisely because they manage to ring true through the years.

The nod to botanical intoxication in “Who Says” got as many honest woos as it ever has per capita. The same went for “Waiting on the World to Change”, with more anxiety and exhaustion behind it than ever before. In many ways, “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” feels like a painfully apt description of how life is so often lived in this pandemic era.

John and his band, though, never finished that last song. Toward the end of the jam, a fan had to be taken off in a wheelchair. John stopped the show once he saw people pointing to the incident, alerted everyone in the building to send for a medic, and then stepped off stage with his band while the fan was tended to.

John Mayer paused the show more than halfway through when someone in the audience passed out, requiring medical attention. He cut music and helped out, eventually leaving stage briefly (maybe 2 mins) and came back to announce the woman was okay and gave a 👍🏼 pic.twitter.com/dEQJD721qk — Chris Gardner (@chrissgardner) February 10, 2022

That incident aside, every piece of the show ultimately served as a palette for John to paint upon. Wherever the performance went within his repertoire, his brought his axe to bear, often wailing along with his solos, as is his wont to do. Had the house lights gone up after “Gravity” ended the main set, no one would’ve gone home disappointed.

But the highlight of the night didn’t come from John’s instrument. Instead, the honor went to new bandmate Greg Phillinganes , of Toto fame, who traded in his keyboard for a funky, crunchy keytar that he wielded ably in a rock battle with John during “Helpless”, from 2017’s The Search For Everything .

Truth be told, it’s that artistic range, along with impeccable skill, that made him such an exciting prospect and, ultimately, a strong to step in as the frontman of Dead & Company alongside Bob Weir  years ago.

Those factors, though, have long been part of John Mayer. They’re what shot him to stardom to begin with, and they’re what John, quite apparently, still has in ample supply as he prepares to head out what we all hope will be a safe ten weeks in arenas across the country. For a full list of John Mayer Sob Rock tour dates, head here .

Hosted by TV personality Andy Cohen , the John Mayer concert at the Hollywood Palladium aired live on SiriusXM’s The Spectrum channel, with multiple rebroadcasts throughout the week. The concert will also air on Andy Cohen’s Kiki Lounge channel on Friday, February 11th at 8 pm ET.

In addition to the live show, the special SiriusXM/Pandora John Mayer “Small Stage Series” event featured an interview segment hosted by Cohen. Topics of conversation included Mayer’s brotherly relationship with the late Bob Saget , his complicated relationship with prom photos, and whether or not he listens to his own music while making love.

Click below to watch a few clips of the conversation below via SiriusXM . Scroll down to check out a gallery of photos of John Mayer and company from the Palladium show courtesy of photographer Matthew Rea .

John Mayer and Andy Cohen Remember Bob Saget

John Mayer on Listening to Your Own Music While You Make Love

John Mayer on Prom

The entire concert, as well as additional content not seen during the Hollywood Palladium show, will air as part of the virtual Pandora LIVE series this Saturday, February 12th at 9:00 p.m. ET. RSVP for free here.

John Mayer’s concert, in its entirety with additional content not seen during the Hollywood Palladium show will air as part of the virtual Pandora LIVE series this Saturday, February 12 at 9pm ET /6pm PT. Anyone can RSVP for free here .

John Mayer | The Hollywood Palladium | Los Angeles, CA | 2/9/21 | Photos: Matthew Rea

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John Mayer Kicks Off "Sob Rock" Tour with 22-Song Setlist

• On Tour Now
• Last updated: 18 Feb 2022, 19:05:03
• Published: 18 Feb 2022, 19:05:03
• Written by: Bree Wilde
• Photography by: Mike Coppola, Getty Images
• Categories: On Tour Now Tagged: John Mayer

Last night at the MVP Arena in Albany, New York, John Mayer kicked off his Sob Rock Tour. As you may have guessed from the tour name, the set was heavy on the Sob Rock tracks - he played 8 of 10, starting the set with the album's opening track, "Last Train Home."

Fans in attendance noted that the show didn't really find its groove until about 8 songs in, but were delighted by the visual tribute to Bob Saget (RIP) during "I Don't Trust Myself with Loving You."

A highlight was the first full band version of "Your Body is a Wonderland" in YEARS. He followed that throwback with a cover of Prince's "The Beautiful Ones."

Sob Rock track "All I Want Is To Be With You" got its second-ever live performance - the debut happened earlier this month at the Hollywood Palladium, see that setlist here .

Mayer closed with a two-song encore, "Born and Raised" and "New Light."

Check out fan footage and the full setlist below:

Trying to decide what to wear to the show? Here's a protip via reddit .

The Sob Rock Tour continues tonight in Philly and runs through May 3 where it wraps in Toronto. Full list of dates here .

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John Mayer Is Taking His ‘Sob Rock’ on Tour Next Year

John Mayer has set a 24-date tour in support of his latest album, Sob Rock, released July 16.  

By Taylor Mims

Taylor Mims

Next year, John Mayer is bringing his Sob Rock to the masses. The artist has set a 24-date tour in support of his latest album, which was   released Friday (July 16) .   

The North American trek will kick off on Feb. 17 at Times Union Center in Albany, New York. The Grammy-winner will run through Philadelphia, Toronto, Boston, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Denver, Atlanta, Nashville and more. Scheduled dates include multiple nights at The Forum in Los Angeles and three shows in New York.   

John Mayer Performs Two Numbers From ‘Sob Rock’ on ‘Fallon’: Watch

Sob Rock  is the eighth studio album by Mayer, who recorded the collection at Henson Studios in Los Angeles with Don Was. The album is his first solo record since 2017’s  The Search For Everything . In between, Mayer has fronted Dead & Company  with original Grateful Dead members, and toured with comedian  Dave Chappelle .   

“Shot in the Dark” is the latest single from Sob Rock , with a brand new video released the day the album arrived. The 1980s inspired video features Mayer moping around an empty building seen only by light through stained glass windows. 

Trending on Billboard

Tickets for the Sob Rock tour go on sale July 23 at 11 a.m. via JohnMayer.com . Fans can sign up for presale access through Seated  here . Registration begins July 20 at 9:45 a.m., with the presale beginning at 10 a.m. local time and running through July 21 at 10 p.m. local time.   

Two pairs of front row tickets will be auctioned off for each show on the tour. All proceeds from the ticket auctions will go to the Back To You Fund, which has supported many charities including Mayer’s Heart & Armor Foundation, as well as programs supporting at risk youth and the homeless.

Check out a full list of dates below.   

Introducing Sob Rock Tour ‘22. Sign up for presale access now at https://t.co/gtFjPxVPNA pic.twitter.com/LvMj8FA4B4 — John Mayer (@JohnMayer) July 16, 2021

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In an interview with Zane Lowe that walked the line between pretentious and insightful, John Mayer went full Christopher Nolan and claimed “the idea of ‘Sob Rock’ is to implant false memories into your brain. Can you go back in time and synthesise a piece of work that’s so true to the era that, when you hear it, your brain goes ‘nah nah nah this exists, I’m gonna find it,’ but you can’t.” Down the rabbit hole we go.

Fittingly, everyone from Chicago and Foreigner to Dire Straits and Don Henley helped inspire this record’s authentic soft rock canvas.

Tranquil dreamscape Wild Blue joins Mark Knopfler and Chris Rea together in blissful matrimony, Last Train Home boasts proud Toto synths, All I Want Is To Be With You recalls ‘Tunnel of Love’-era Springsteen and Shot in the Dark could have been on the soundtrack to St Elmo's Fire.   

Helping ensure the musical backdrop isn’t a second rate imitation, Mayer sagely employed the likes of keyboard player Greg Phillinganes and percussionist Lenny Castro, two venerable musicians who know this style inside out. Yet ‘Sob Rock’ truly swerves one-dimensional homage because of how well Mayer’s own aesthetic, from super-smooth singing to tasteful fretwork, fits the genre.

He’s cleverly spiced everything up with a variety of throwback influences. Licks from The Beatles, Eagles and Freddie King, alongside a little country and R&B, both deepen the sense of deja vu and, in combination with his typically unhurried songwriting, give the material a strong original voice.

There’s something gloriously wistful about this music that, when done right, immediately creates a state of bittersweet, romantic reminiscence. Shouldn’t Matter But It Does is beautifully melancholic over tender orchestral pads and a sparse production, and with its distinct late ‘70s ambience and Bee Gees voicings, Why You No Love Me is enriched by magical harmonic touches beneath lyrics that cut close to the bone: “Hurt me once, I’ll let it be. Hurt me twice, you’re dead to me. Three times makes you family.” His only misstep is repeatedly crooning the chorus in baby talk fashion, making it possibly the best and worst cut he’s ever written.

Given potential pitfalls, it can’t be understated how well Mayer’s executed this concept when the album could have easily been, at best, a pleasing pastiche, at worst an unintentional parody. Through relatable sentiments and a joyful, evocative sound, images and feelings are conjured that could easily be mistaken for comforting long lost memories. Nolan would be proud.

John Mayer Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:

Thu February 17 2022 - ALBANY New York - Times Union Center (USA) Fri February 18 2022 - PHILADELPHIA Pennsylvania - Wells Fargo Center (USA) Sun February 20 2022 - NEW YORK New York - Madison Square Garden (USA) Mon February 21 2022 - NEW YORK New York - Madison Square Garden (USA) Wed February 23 2022 - WASHINGTON DC - Capital One Arena (USA) Fri February 25 2022 - PITTSBURGH Pennsylvania - PPG Paints Arena (USA) Sun February 27 2022 - TORONTO Ontario - Scotiabank Arena (Canada) Tue March 01 2022 - ELMONT New York - UBS Arena (USA) Fri March 04 2022 - BOSTON Massachusetts - TD Garden (USA) Sat March 05 2022 - BOSTON Massachusetts - TD Garden (USA) Fri March 11 2022 - LAS VEGAS Nevada - MGM Grand Garden Arena (USA) Sun March 13 2022 - LOS ANGELES California - Forum - Los Angeles (USA) Tue March 15 2022 - LOS ANGELES California - Forum - Los Angeles (USA) Wed March 16 2022 - LOS ANGELES California - Forum - Los Angeles (USA) Fri March 18 2022 - SAN FRANCISCO California - Chase Center (USA) Sat March 19 2022 - SAN FRANCISCO California - Chase Center (USA) Tue March 22 2022 - SEATTLE Washington - Climate Pledge Arena (USA) Wed March 23 2022 - SEATTLE Washington - Climate Pledge Arena (USA) Fri March 25 2022 - SALT LAKE CITY Utah - Vivint Smart Home Arena (USA) Sun March 27 2022 - DENVER Colorado - Ball Arena (USA) Sat April 02 2022 - FORT LAUDERDALE Florida - BB&T Center (USA) Tue April 05 2022 - TAMPA Florida - Amalie Arena (USA) Fri April 08 2022 - ATLANTA Georgia - State Farm Arena - GA (USA) Sat April 09 2022 - ATLANTA Georgia - State Farm Arena - GA (USA) Mon April 11 2022 - CHARLOTTE North Carolina - Spectrum Center (USA) Wed April 13 2022 - NASHVILLE Tennessee - Bridgestone Arena (USA) Wed April 20 2022 - AUSTIN Texas - Moody Center ATX (USA) Thu April 21 2022 - AUSTIN Texas - Moody Center ATX (USA) Sat April 23 2022 - HOUSTON Texas - Toyota Center - TX (USA) Sun April 24 2022 - DALLAS Texas - American Airlines Center (USA) Thu April 28 2022 - CHICAGO Illinois - United Center (USA) Fri April 29 2022 - CHICAGO Illinois - United Center (USA)

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John Mayer Makes Eighties Slickness Seem Weirdly Heartfelt on ‘Sob Rock’

By Keith Harris

Keith Harris

No one is more aware of what people think about John Mayer than John Mayer himself. The title of his eighth studio album acknowledges past accusations of sad-boy mopery. The muted pastels of the throwback cover art, complete with a simulation of the “Nice Price” sticker that Columbia Records used to slap on its bargain LPs, dares you to call him a purveyor of slick, dated studio-rock. 

[ Find the Vinyl for Sob Rock Here ]

Is this self-deprecating? A jab at critics? Either way, the self-consciousness of the packaging is notably absent from Mayer’s music itself. He may come off glib in interviews, but he’s either blessed or cursed with an inability to preserve any ironic distance from his material, so what might seem like genre exercises from a flashier performer sound as heartfelt as diary entries. The guy can’t even sing a cliché like “the road keeps rolling on forever” insincerely. 

Mayer is a sly craftsman and a virtuoso chameleon on guitar, adept at mimicking disparate styles. A booming drum intro announces the lead track, “Last Train Home,” which sounds like a historical recreation of a forgotten Eighties soundtrack cut, complete with a few economical period-appropriate Eric Clapton guitar bursts. The veteran Chicago hip-hop producer No I.D. collaborates with him on the sleek pop-funk of “New Light.” And on the disillusioned “I Guess I Just Feel Like,” Mayer solos with the Jerry Garcia-like tone that earned him his job touring with the Grateful Dead. 

Mayer has assembled some classy accomplices for Sob Rock . Producer Don Was made his name in the ’Eighties and Nineties helping middle-aged rockers like Bonnie Raitt and the Stones adapt to contemporary styles without going overboard. Smart country-pop groundbreaker Maren Morris contributes fitting harmonies. And as session men go, both his core touring band, bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Aaron Sterling, and Greg Phillinganes, the keyboardist who appeared on both Thriller and Songs in the Key of Life, are the cream of the crop.

Lyrically, Mayer can be bitter, complaining: “You shoulda been sad instead of being so fuckin’ mean” on “It Shouldn’t Matter But It Does,” or philosophical, quipping “Hurt me once I let it be/Hurt me twice you’re dead to Me/Three times makes you family” on the unfortunately titled “Why You No Love Me,” or even hopeful on “Til the Right One Comes.” But uniting these different moods, and the different styles in which Mayer dabbles, is the effortless warmth in his voice, which never puts too much weight behind his heartbreak or his happiness. He sings like a man who knows his place in the world.

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John Mayer Announces ‘Sob Rock’ Tour 2022

North American Tour Kicks Off February 17 th  in Albany, New York

Tickets on sale starting friday, july 23 rd  at 11 am local @  johnmayer.com, new album ‘sob rock ’ and video for “shot in the dark” available now .

John Mayer  has announced concerts for his  ‘Sob Rock’ Tour 2022 , kicking off Thursday, February 17, in Albany, New York, running through Thursday, April 28 in Chicago, Illinois. Produced by Live Nation, the tour features stops in New York at the new UBS Arena in Belmont Park (March 1st) and Madison Square Garden (February 20), as well as two nights at the Forum in Inglewood, California (March 13 & March 15), among others. Tickets go on sale starting Friday,  July 23rd , at  11 AM  @  JohnMayer.com . A full listing of tour dates can be found below.

In album news,  Sob Rock , the eighth studio album from the GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, guitarist, and producer is  available in stores through all DSPs   via Columbia Records. Produced by John Mayer and Don Was, and recorded at Henson Studios in Los Angeles, the album marks Mayer’s first solo offering since 2017’s  The Search for Everything .  A full track listing can be found below. Check out  Sob Rock   HERE . 

A signup to access presale tickets via  seated  is available now  HERE . Fans can register until Tuesday, July 20, at 9:45 AM. Seated presales start Tuesday, July 20, at 10 AM Local, and run through Wednesday, July 21, at 10 PM Local. 

A limited number of VIP packages will be available starting Tuesday, July 20, at 10 AM Local. Premium seats, preshow ‘Sob Rock’ lounge access, exclusive merchandise & more.

Two pairs of front row tickets will be auctioned off for each show on the tour through  https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/ . All proceeds from the ticket auctions will go to the Back To You Fund, which has supported many charities, including John’s Heart & Armor Foundation, as well as programs supporting at risk youth and the homeless.

‘Sob Rock’ Track List:

Last Train Home

Shouldn’t Matter but It Does

Why You No Love Me

Shot in the Dark

I Guess I Just Feel Like

Til the Right One Comes

Carry Me Away

All I Want Is to Be With You

The video for “ Shot in the Dark ”   was released today and can be seen  HERE . The first single and video from the album – “ Last Train Home ” – was released last month to  critical acclaim . Catch John Mayer performing on ‘TODAY’ on Tuesday, July 20. 

‘SOB ROCK’ TOUR 2022 DATES:

Thu Feb 17 – Albany, NY – Times Union Center

Fri Feb 18 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center

Sun Feb 20 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden

Wed Feb 23 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena

Fri Feb 25 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena

Sun Feb 27 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena

Tue Mar 01 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena

Fri Mar 04 – Boston, MA – TD Garden

Fri Mar 11 – Las Vegas, NV – Grand Garden Arena

Sun Mar 13 – Los Angeles, CA – Forum

Tue Mar 15 – Los Angeles, CA – Forum

Fri Mar 18 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center

Tue Mar 22 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena

Fri Mar 25 – Salt Lake City, UT – Vivint Arena

Sun Mar 27 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena

Sat Apr 02 – Sunrise, FL – BB&T Center

Tue Apr 05 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena

Fri Apr 08 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena

Mon Apr 11 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center

Wed Apr 13 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena

Wed Apr 20 – Austin, TX – Moody Center

Sat Apr 23 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center

Sun Apr 24 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center

Thu Apr 28 – Chicago, IL – United Center

There’s nobody quite like  John Mayer . He has emerged as a GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, celebrated songwriter, and iconic guitar player all at once. The Bridgeport, CT native introduced himself on the quintuple-platinum  Room For Squares  in 2001 and has earned three #1 debuts on the  Billboard  Top 200 with the triple-platinum  Heavier Things  [2003], double-platinum  Battle Studies  [2009], and gold  Born and Raised  [2012]. In addition to selling over 20 million albums worldwide and gathering billions of streams to date, he has garnered seven GRAMMY® Awards, including  “Song of the Year”  for  “Daughters , ”  and has earned a record seven U.S. No. 1s on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart and 25 entries on the Hot Rock Songs chart, the most for any solo artist. In 2015, Dead & Company was founded, with Mayer on lead guitar as well as vocals. Since its formation, the band has completed six tours, playing to 3.4 million fans, and has become a record-breaking stadium act. Most recently, 2017’s  The Search for Everything  bowed at #2 on the  Billboard  Top 200 and went gold. 

For more information, visit  Johnmayer.com  and  Sobrock.net . 

About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit  www.livenationentertainment.com .

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By Sam Sodomsky

July 16, 2021

Let’s say you play your cards right and end up like John Mayer . Two decades in, you’ve amassed a solid run of hits and a devoted community of fans who will buy tickets any time you’re in town. You’ve got some baggage; who doesn’t? Some notable exes have painted damning portraits of you in a small playlist’s worth of songs, and you’ve said a couple indefensible things to the press that follow you like hellhounds wherever you go. At the same time, you’ve got a dignified side gig as the touring guitarist for a classic rock institution , the kind of role that you can age into gracefully, gainfully employed without ever having to step back into the spotlight. Where do you go next?

“I’m somewhere between a pop artist and a jam band—maybe closer to pop artist,” Mayer recently surmised , and this particular niche has thrust the guitar virtuoso from Billboard charts and magazine covers squarely into the Neil Young-buying-ownership-in-a-model-train-company phase of his career. (For Mayer, now 43, it’s all about luxury watches .) Yes, he’s got a new record, but even that seems like a hobby, something to pass the time. The earliest single arrived in spring 2018, because why not? The suave, undeniable “New Light” sounds no less relevant today than it did back then, and its inclusion proves that Mayer can work at his own pace—trends, release cycles, and global pandemics be damned.

None of this is to suggest that Sob Rock , his eighth studio album, is thoughtless. In fact, its vision is so complete and confident that it pretty much writes its own review. (Judging by the title, bargain bin stickers on the cover, and fake pull-quotes on the merch , the tone is not so enthusiastic.) To make this music, Mayer gave himself a prompt. Instead of an artist who dominated VH1 and frat houses in the early 2000s, what if he’d emerged during the classic rock era and found himself, decades later, as a late-career musician attempting to update his sound? “Pretend someone made a record in 1988 and shelved it,” he explained , “and it was just found this year.” It’s an intriguing concept until you realize that, even in his fantasies, John Mayer is making music doomed to be lost to time, sapped of inspiration and out of his element.

Before we get any further, I will note that the ’80s staples Mayer references on Sob Rock in overt, almost shockingly accurate ways represent a moment in popular music I have a lot of fondness for. It was a time when new technology allowed career artists to embellish their music with smooth, luxurious textures, better suited for the digital precision of CDs than the analog crackle of vinyl. Blockbusters like Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms , Steve Winwood’s Back in the High Life , and Don Henley’s The End of the Innocence —all contented statements from well-established rock acts in the mid-to-late-’80s—come to mind. There is a quiet triumph in hearing someone like Mayer using his substantial resources to recreate this sound, bringing in first-hand witnesses like producer Don Was, bassist Pino Palladino, and keyboardist Greg Phillinganes. If you’re going to go in, go all the way.

Nevertheless, it’s a crowded field. Over the past decade, indie lifers like the War on Drugs, Destroyer, Bon Iver, M83, Jenny Lewis, Cass McCombs, the Killers, and Tame Impala have all taken artful inspiration from roughly the same time period; upstarts like Westerman and Bullion have offered their own underground perspective on it; Taylor Swift herself studied the era for a next-level pop breakthrough, going so far as to name an album after a specific year; Weezer landed their biggest hit in ages with a cover of Toto’s “Africa.” In this context, once the novelty of its production wears off—the stadium synths and slick guitar solos, auxiliary percussion and yacht-paced, mid-tempo cruise— Sob Rock reveals itself to be just another John Mayer album, a work to be judged on its own terms.

This is the part of the review where I should dissect the songwriting, drawing attention to the ways that Mayer misses the mark. But does anyone need me to explain why it’s uncomfortable, maybe even offensive, to hear an adult man from Connecticut singing a chorus of “Why you no love me? Why you no even care?” in a song called “Why You No Love Me”? Do you want me to point out how, despite the Joshua Tree gravitas of the closing “All I Want Is to Be With You,” the melody sounds distractingly similar to “I Want It That Way”? Do you need a music critic to annotate the gaping hole at the heart of the quasi-confessional strummer “I Guess I Just Feel Like,” whose profound melancholy feels as vague as its title?

These are obvious flaws—all reasons why, unlike the records that inspired it, you probably won’t hear artists decades from now dreaming up their own Sob Rocks . But surprisingly—just like the music that inspired it— Sob Rock as a whole is immediate and embracing, peaceful and sparkling, like the ocean as viewed from an airplane window. The 10-song, 40-minute album goes down smooth and breezy; its faults are forgivable (except for “Why You No Love Me”) and its highlights are understated and fun. Listen to those elegant turnarounds from the chorus to the central riff of “Wild Blue.” Tune in for the slow build of “Shot in the Dark,” with a gorgeous, wordless accompaniment from Maren Morris and a staccato string part airlifted from the Blue Nile . Soak in the moment halfway through when Mayer proudly crosses the “Every Breath You Take” threshold, slipping from pro-forma romance—“I want you in the worst way”—to full-on stalker: “Is the gate code still your birthday?”

This willingness to be ridiculous—to merge his outsized personality with the tasteful, somewhat anonymous adult contemporary ballads he’s written since day one—feels like a small breakthrough. “When I’m making this record right now,” Mayer reported a few months back, “I’m laughing out loud. And I’m not even sure if it’s because I think it’s great, or because I think it’s insane.” The truth is he could have amped it up in both departments—more hunger to prove himself beyond his influences, more fearlessness to work outside his comfort zone. Even if this is one of his stronger albums, the whole thing feels self-consciously minor. When Mayer gets back on stage this summer, he’ll be accompanying Dead & Co. for another trek, ripping solos through their classics instead of standing by his new material. And, frankly, who can blame him?

Still, Mayer’s insight suggests that at the heart of Sob Rock lies a desire not just to satisfy himself but to actually delight himself, to elicit a new enthusiasm for his work. What other metric could there be for a John Mayer album in 2021? And if he doesn’t clear that bar then, really, what does he have? Always neurotic and aggressively self-aware, he has already buffered himself against criticism, appearing on the defensive before the album was even out: “I want to get in trouble. I want someone to tell me this is shit ,” he told Zane Lowe. “It’s called Sob Rock because it’s a shitpost .” But it’s not shit, and it’s not even that provocative. By design, Sob Rock is the sound of a man alone in his success, playing against himself on the world’s most expensive chess board—oohing and ahhing at his own prowess, scratching his chin meaningfully then cracking a joke when things get too intense. He seems comfortable and complacent. Never losing, never winning.

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Watch John Mayer wield his pink Jackson Soloist once again on the Sob Rock tour

Mayer's trusty Floyd Rose-equipped axe, which has been in and out of his starting six-string lineup, has returned

When John Mayer’s Sob Rock tour kicked off earlier this year, there were a number of questions that fans had on their lips: how many acoustic guitar deep cuts from his ‘08 live album will he play? Will he use his PRS SE Silver Sky ? Can we expect to see him reunite with his pink Jackson Soloist on stage?

The answer to that last question is, apparently, yes. The hot pink shred machine, which Mayer grew immensely fond of during his pre-Silver Sky years, has indeed returned to Mayer’s six-string starting lineup.

Captured via fan footage from Mayer’s gig last Tuesday (April 5) at Tampa, Florida, the hot pink six-string came out mid-song during a performance of I Guess I Just Feel Like – a track noted for the nature of its extended, jam-like outro exchanges.

At first, Mayer opts for a thumb-heavy fingerpicking technique, and wastes no time putting the Floyd Rose to good use via some subtle embellishments. A guitar pick is then summoned for the classically Mayer outro solo, which is also littered with two-hand taps, silky pentatonic runs and even more whammy wiggles.

We don't need to comment on the fact that seeing the Jackson axe, so often associated with genres beyond the remit of Mayer’s pop-blues stylistic direction, strapped to Mayer at first seems to make for one unexpected pairing.

However, Mayer’s history with the guitar is an intimate one, and one that can be traced back to his pre-PRS playing days in 2015. The guitar made its first live appearance at that year’s Grammy Awards ceremony, during which Mayer teamed up with Ed Sheeran for a rendition of the latter’s chart-smashing single, Thinking Out Loud .

Though footage from the event is seemingly non-existent, the pair joined forces elsewhere while Mayer was hosting a Late Late Show episode for a decidedly heavier take on Sheeran’s track Don’t , which gave a hint of what the pink Jackson is capable of in Mayer’s hands.

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Even before these events, Mayer was showing off his eye-catching axe – and his chops – through a series of quick-fire Instagram posts and guitar lessons. Since then, it’s been a go-to guitar for Mayer, having made subsequent appearances on 2017’s The Search For Everything , both on stage and in the studio.

In reality, Mayer’s affinity for the metal-leaning axe is unsurprising. A self-professed forward-thinker of the instrument, the Sob Rock man has been engaged in a long-term process to modernize and change the way we think about the guitar for quite some time.

A post shared by John Mayer 💎 (@johnmayer) A photo posted by on

A super-Strat sounds like the first thing Mayer would be attracted to. His own PRS Silver Sky, after all, was born out of his interest in “pushing things forward“ , and he recently called Jim Root’s signature Fender Telecaster – a minimalist take on the original blueprint – everything a Tele “should look like in this day and age“ .

The Jackson Soloist, with its very Sob Rock color choice, tonal versatility and flexible hardware appointments, certainly seems to fit the bill. In fact, it's entirely possible that Mayer’s love for the aesthetics of his Jackson informed his decision to bring out a similarly styled Roxy Pink PRS Silver Sky .

All we know is, Mayer is one of today’s standout soloists. Throw a whammy bar into the mix, and the results are inevitably going to be impressive. One to look out for on the Sob Rock tour, for sure.

For a full list of Sob Rock tour dates, visit John Mayer's website .

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Matt is a Senior Staff Writer, writing for Guitar World , Guitarist and Total Guitar . He has a Masters in the guitar, a degree in history, and has spent the last 16 years playing everything from blues and jazz to indie and pop. When he’s not combining his passion for writing and music during his day job, Matt records for a number of UK-based bands and songwriters as a session musician.

“Eddie Van Halen’s main solo is a greatest hits of all his best guitar licks”: Dweezil Zappa issues update for What the Hell Was I Thinking? – his ambitious mega-track featuring Eddie Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen, Brian May and more

“There’s not a guitar teacher in the world that would ever teach anyone to play a guitar like that”: Buzz Osborne thinks Jimi Hendrix is one of the greatest guitarists ever – but says his technique was “wrong”

“I used to write solos, but there’s a lot of beauty in a more spontaneous take – even an old, known pattern that falls in a different place than usual”: Matheus Canteri is shamelessly blending country with shred – and it’s working

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John Mayer: Sob Rock Tour 2022

• Date Apr 13 , 2022
• Event Starts 7:30 PM
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GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, guitarist and producer, John Mayer announces his Sob Rock Tour 2022 coinciding with his eighth studio album release. The Sob Rock Tour will be making a stop at Bridgestone Arena on April 13, 2022. 

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John Mayer - February 18

John Mayer Announces ‘Sob Rock’ Tour 2022, Performance At Wells Fargo Center On February 18

John Mayer  has announced the show dates for his  'Sob Rock' Tour 2022 . Produced by Live Nation, the tour will feature a performance at Wells Fargo Center on Friday, February 18. Tickets go on sale starting Friday, July 23rd , at 11 a.m. through WellsFargoCenterPhilly.com .

In album news, Sob Rock , the eighth studio album from the GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, guitarist, and producer is available in stores through all DSPs via Columbia Records. Produced by John Mayer and Don Was, and recorded at Henson Studios in Los Angeles, the album marks Mayer’s first solo offering since 2017’s The Search for Everything .  A full track listing can be found below. Check out Sob Rock HERE . 

A signup to access presale tickets via seated  is available now HERE . Fans can register until Tuesday, July 20, at 9:45 a.m. Seated presales start Tuesday, July 20, at 10 a.m. and run through Wednesday, July 21, at 10 p.m. 

A limited number of VIP packages will be available starting Tuesday, July 20, at 10 a.m. Premium seats, preshow ‘Sob Rock’ lounge access, exclusive merchandise & more.

Two pairs of front row tickets will be auctioned off for each show on the tour through   https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/ . All proceeds from the ticket auctions will go to the Back To You Fund, which has supported many charities, including John’s Heart & Armor Foundation, as well as programs supporting at risk youth and the homeless.

‘Sob Rock’ Track List :

Last Train Home

Shouldn’t Matter but It Does

Why You No Love Me

Shot in the Dark

I Guess I Just Feel Like

Til the Right One Comes

Carry Me Away

All I Want Is to Be With You

The video for “ Shot in the Dark ” was released today and can be seen HERE . The first single and video from the album – “ Last Train Home ” – was released last month to critical acclaim . Catch John Mayer performing on ‘TODAY’ on Tuesday, July 20. 

There’s nobody quite like  John Mayer . He has emerged as a GRAMMY ®  Award-winning artist, celebrated songwriter, and iconic guitar player all at once. The Bridgeport, CT native introduced himself on the quintuple-platinum  Room For Squares  in 2001 and has earned three #1 debuts on the  Billboard  Top 200 with the triple-platinum  Heavier Things  [2003], double-platinum  Battle Studies  [2009], and gold  Born and Raised  [2012]. In addition to selling over 20 million albums worldwide and gathering billions of streams to date, he has garnered seven GRAMMY ®  Awards, including  “Song of the Year”  for  “Daughters , ”  and has earned a record seven U.S. No. 1s on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart and 25 entries on the Hot Rock Songs chart, the most for any solo artist.  In 2015, Dead & Company was founded, with Mayer on lead guitar as well as vocals. Since its formation, the band has completed six tours, playing to 3.4 million fans, and has become a record-breaking stadium act. Most recently, 2017’s  The Search for Everything  bowed at #2 on the  Billboard  Top 200 and went gold. 

For more information, visit  Johnmayer.com  and  Sobrock.net .