2023 is off to a strong start for John Mayer fans. The guitar pro announced a solo acoustic arena tour on Thursday (Jan. 26), featuring 19 stops across North America this spring.
“I began my career on stage with only a guitar and a microphone,” he shared. “A lot has changed since then, but I knew one day I’d feel it in my heart to do an entire run of shows on my own again, just like those early days.”
It was unclear what was to come for the artist after Mayer announced his departure from Columbia Records after 21 years in March 2022. The only thing that was clear was that John wasn’t calling it quits, sharing at the time that “I love music more than ever, and I believe some of my best work still lies ahead.”
This run of shows marks Mayer’s first solo endeavor since the departure, with attendees having “acoustic, electric and piano” picks both new and old to look forward to on the special tour.
While he can rip up an electric solo like no other, some of his best lyricism and guitar work shine on his acoustic tracks. This was made abundantly clear during several stops of the 2022 Sob Rock tour, when Mayer pivoted to an acoustic-heavy format after several of his band members tested positive for COVID-19.
Could those set of shows have been the inspiration for this stripped-down trek? Of the 20-plus years of songs in his catalog, here are 24-ish songs we hope to hear on the solo tour, with a focus on the acoustic and piano favorites.
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“Still Feel Like Your Man”
The hotel lobby piano vibe that opens 2017’s The Search For Everything sets you up for a good time. As the crowd anxiously awaits Mayer, this high energy intro would be great to kick off the show.
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“Dreaming With a Broken Heart”
If piano songs are an integral part of this tour, “Dreaming With a Broken Heart” is a no-brainer.
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“Stop This Train”
A solid combination of acoustic guitar and piano, there’s no song more fitting for an acoustic tour setlist than 2006’s “Stop This Train.”
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“Why Georgia”
Off his debut album Room For Squares, “Why Georgia” is a solid acoustic jam. Bonus points if he keeps the high-pitch vocal in the pre-chorus.
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"In Your Atmosphere"
Spoiler alert: John made it to L.A. In fact, Mayer is ending the 19-show run at the KIA Forum in Los Angeles despite repeatedly crooning “I don’t think I’m gonna go to L.A. anymore” on “In Your Atmosphere.” Big miss if it’s not played there!
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"Neon"
A stripped-down version of “Neon” would showcase how intricate the 2001 song actually is on the guitar.
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"The Heart of Life"
The overall themes of Mayer’s solo tour announcement appear to be reflection and moving forward. Embarking on this new career journey, it seems lyrics like, “No it won’t all go the way it should, but I know the heart of life is good” still ring true.
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“Free Fallin’”
This format lends itself nicely to riffing on covers. Mayer’s version of Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’” is a recurring acoustic treat in his sets.
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“Who Says”
A mainstay on his setlists, it may be a little cheesy when he swaps out one of the cities in the chorus for wherever he’s playing, but it is vital to the live experience of the song.
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"Born and Raised"
If we’re talking solo Mayer, we’d be remiss to exclude “Born and Raised,” the title track off his 2012 set. His guitar and harmonica do the heavy lifting on this song, making the vocals the final piece that completes the puzzle.
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"Wildfire” feat. Frank Ocean
Hey, the title of this article is dream setlist! The piano-heavy track fits seamlessly into the theme of this tour, and with Frank gearing up for a big Coachella headlining set in April, who says he wouldn’t warm up for the festival stage by being a special guest at a stop on John’s tour to perform the 2013 collab?
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"Theme From ‘The Search For Everything’"
Time for a little break. Enter “Theme From ‘The Search For Everything.'” Could it be an interlude? A segue? A little bit of the intro would enhance the set.
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“I Will Be Found (Lost At Sea)”
Many believe the track to be a standout from 2013’s Paradise Valley, but it seems Mayer may not agree. He once said “I wish I nailed it” of the piano-heavy song. This tour is an excellent opportunity to do so.
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"The Age of Worry”
The momentous percussion that comes in at 0:14 might make the song, but how moving would it be to see John solo on a bar stool belting this one?
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“Love Is a Verb”
A rarity in JM sets, 2012’s “Love Is a Verb” would be a great choice to bust out solo.
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“Emoji of a Wave”
Another song often passed over in his live sets. “It breaks my heart….” All John needs is his guitar and a bar stool for this gorgeous song, just like the promotional poster intends.
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"Shouldn’t Matter But It Does" / "I Guess I Just Feel Like"
These two Sob Rock tracks lend themselves best to this format. They stuck out on the album stylistically and could foreshadow what’s still to come.
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"XO"
This tour seems like a great opportunity for covers both new and old. If not this excellent Beyoncé pick, Mayer could feel inclined to surprise and delight the audience with a new cover in the mix – perhaps even a newer Bey track, like “Cuff It.”
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"Dear Marie”
John Mayer recently put years-old theories to rest about who “Your Body Is a Wonderland” is about, revealing the saccharine song is about his high school girlfriend, Marie. With a spotlight on his past loves yet again, now would be a cheeky time to break out this Paradise Valley jam.
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"No Such Thing" / "Daughters"
Clearly, Mayer has a wide catalog to choose from, but let’s not forget some of his biggest commercial successes. Whether it’s his debut single “No Such Thing” or the often-misinterpreted “Daughters,” he’s got to save a slot for one or two of the chart hits.
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"You’re Gonna Live Forever in Me”
If Mayer is doing a mostly acoustic and piano set, we expect and want to cry at least once. This one will do the trick.
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An Unreleased Song
If John is announcing this tour with the promise of songs that he’ll “be road testing,” we deserve a taste of at least two or three over the course of this tour. Another pass at his tribute to late comedian Bob Saget, which he teased at Alice in Winterland in late 2022? Or perhaps other musings of things he’s trying, melodies he has stuck in his head? As he embarks on this next stage of his career, sans record deal for the first time in more than 20 years, it would be amazing for him to give fans a glimpse into his mind as he works out the creation of a new song.
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"Edge of Desire" / "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room"
These two fan-favorites are a must for any John Mayer tour – full stop.
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“Last Train Home”
After hypnotizing the crowd with one (or both) of the songs above, we can see him exiting the stage to return for an encore with Sob Rock standout “Last Train Home” to bring us back to present day — and send us on our way.