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John Mayer knows a thing or two about writing songs. The chameleonic guitar wunderkind has scored hits across genres, and found equal success in crafting blues and pop tracks.
Being a great songwriter comes from understanding great songs. And, as Mayer’s impressive covers repertoire shows, he has that knowledge in spades. Not just a great player and a great writer, Mayer knows how to interpret other peoples’ material to maintain the character of the original while injecting his own unique flavour.
To see what we’re talking about, check out these three incendiary live covers.
Free Fallin’
Doing a cover of an iconic song justice is one thing. Making it your own? That’s something else entirely. In this acoustic performance from the Nokia Theatre, Mayer absolutely owns Tom Petty’s classic “Free Fallin’” with an acoustic spin that brings his vocal dexterity to the fore.
It’s a sublime performance, with Mayer taking Petty’s original vocal melody and running with it to beautiful effect. Hats off too to Robbie McIntosh and David Ryan Harris, whose tasteful guitar playing and backing vocals elevate an already excellent rendition.
Wait Until Tomorrow
There’s something magical about a power trio firing on all cylinders. And, as far as power trios go, they don’t come much more magical than the John Mayer Trio. Mayer himself is already a powerhouse, but when you’ve got Steve Jordan and Pino Paladino filling out the bottom end… sheer perfection.
That’s apparent from the absolutely stonking groove that the band lays down on this balls-out version of Hendrix’s Wait Until Tomorrow. From the moment Jordan’s first snare shot rings out, it’s absolutely infectious. Mayer’s solo, meanwhile, is mesmerizing, effortlessly fluid and channelling the late, great Mr. Hendrix, but with a distinctive flair all of its own. Top Notch.
Gentle on My Mind
What’s the right way to play tribute to a musical legend? There’s no one answer to that question, but John Mayer’s heartfelt homage to Glen Campbell is a pretty good template.
Performed just after Campbell had passed from a long struggle with Alzheimer’s, Mayer prefaced his rendition of Gentle on My Mind (one of Mayer’s favourite songs) with the following disclaimer:
“I’m going to play this song with more love than precision. And I play it because it’s my favourite song in the world. And whether I play it right or wrong, I’d rather have played it.”
Mayer need not have worried about a lack of precision. His tender take on the Campbell classic was effortlessly fluid, tender, and did justice to the stalwart original.
Have you ever seen John Mayer live? And what’s your number one Mayer cover moment? As always, share your stories in the comments section!
When we’re young, there are several firsts that we’re not aware of, though our parents may relish in those moments. These are milestones such as first steps, first words, first trips to the potty, and so on.
As we age, there are more firsts that we become more aware of, such as our first kisses, first dates, and first times behind the wheel (often to our parents’ great fear in the passenger seat).
While punk and pop-punk are arguably defined by stacks of power chords and clean guitar passages, incorporating capos benefits the genre.
They can make some things more accessible to play. In interviews, Mike Ness of Social Distortion said he has a Gold Top Les Paul tuned down from E standard to Eb standard and capos the guitar at the second fret. This is to make playing certain things more accessible and comfortable, accommodating an old injury on his fretting hand. Thanks to capos, Ness can play in different keys.
While he can imitate the greats, his voice on the instrument is also distinct, blending virtuosic technique, great tone, incredible musicality and a healthy dose of humour. All of that has made him an in-demand clinician and very busy player, recording and touring with Asia, Dizzee Rascal, Steven Wilson, Hans Zimmer, and his project, The Aristocrats.
One does not travel this world without gaining experience and wisdom, which Guthrie has shared with many through the years. Without further ado, here is some of the knowledge he has passed on over the years.
