CONCERT REVIEW

John Mayer is known for being vocally gifted, singing about feelings and issues that connect to his listeners; often making them say “it’s like he’s singing right to me.”

His July 28 performance at DTE was no different and he surprised many with his additional talents.

Opening for Mayer was San Francisco rock band, Train. Train’s performance was well received by thousands of women, who greatly outnumbered the male attendance. Lead singer Patrick Monahan stirred up those females and put DTE’s security to work when we ventured into the crowd during the band’s 2009 hit, “Marry Me.”

Acknowledging the patrons sitting on the lawn, Monahan ran up the pavilion steps to give them a more personal concert. Sparking a flutter of camera flashes and a mobbing of jittery females.

Opening for the night’s headliner, Train closed their set with their most popular single, “Drops of Jupiter.” The song appeared to be known and memorized by nearly every person as they recited it, lyric for lyric.

Fan’s poured into their seats during set change and John Mayer walked onto a dark stage and a nearly sold out venue.

Before licks on the guitar and vocals put ears into ecstasy, eyes took notice of Mayer’s rather “unique” clothing choice.

Moving from head to toe, he sported a Jimi Hendrix-esque head band, forcing his hair to mop over top of it. His black tank top allowed the flowers on his left arm tattoo-sleeve to really stand out.  Mayer, who later joked about it, was wearing what seemed to be leather “manpris,” (capris for men). If it wasn’t for his impressive guitar skills and droves of women followers, his man card would’ve been revoked.

The 32 year-old musician played his first commercial single “No Such Thing” early on in his set, allowing for several songs off his newest album “Battle Studies,” which is also the name of his world tour.

Mayer made it a point to show his talents on guitar, both acoustic and electric. Done so in a “love for music” fashion, it’s easy to see where Mayer finds himself with inspiration – bluesy rock. Even more apparent was when he covered Bill Withers’ soul classic “Ain’t No Sunshine,” which he ended with Jamaican flavor.

His solos on guitar almost matched the time spent on actual vocals but it never lost the attention of the thousands of 20-somethings.

If the Connecticut raised Mayer would’ve been born in the 1940s, there’s no doubt he’d be placed along side Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

Mayer performed such hits such as “Gravity” and “Edge of Desire,” but made it a point to tell the audience he enjoys the freedom of playing songs that are not radio hits.

“I’m one of the lucky few artists who plays what he wants on stage and have the audience’s trust that we play it because it inspires us and therefore inspires them,” Mayer told the audience.

Before exiting for his encore, Mayer made mention of the nations economic status and told fans not to worry so much about material possessions. Saying personal happiness is far more important.

Mayer’s finale was the song “Free Fallin’,” made popular by classic musician Tom Petty. His rendition of guitar licks and high vocals kept fans planted to their seats and blankets (Mayer earlier calling people on the lawn “free spirits).

Although coming to the Palace of Auburn Hills in February, Mayer’s performance pulled in an impressive crowd. His songs seemed to capture patrons as he moved through motions of his lyrics. Mayer is one of the few headlining musicians who have a genuine appreciation for his fans while establishing his legitimacy as a song writer and his divinity on guitar.