solo tour mayer

‘Just Like Those Early Days’: Where to Get Tickets to John Mayer’s ‘Solo Acoustic Tour’

By John Lonsdale

John Lonsdale

John Mayer is getting back to the basics for his upcoming Solo Tour 2023 . With tickets now on sale, the 19-date run of springtime concerts will kick off at New Jersey’s Prudential Center in March, with dates scheduled at New York City’s Madison Square Garden before wrapping up at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.

Buy John Mayer Tickets at Vivid Seats

Shortly after the songwriter’s announcement, he followed it up with another update, writing on his Instagram that he was “blown away and moved by the response to this tour announcement. I guess the wait was worth it for all of us. This is going to be very special.”

Mayer later went on to share that “three of [his] favorite singer/songwriters around,” including JP Saxe, Joy Oladokun, and Alec Benjamin would join him on the upcoming run of solo shows. Though previously announced as an opening act, Lizzy McAlpine “won’t be able to make the run with us this time” because of a schedule conflict, Mayer noted in his post.

“LETS GOOOOOOOO,” Benjamin commented, with Oladokun writing “I can’t believe this is real hahaah. See ya soon!”

Editor’s picks

Every awful thing trump has promised to do in a second term, the 250 greatest guitarists of all time, the 500 greatest albums of all time, the 50 worst decisions in movie history, john mayer solo acoustic tour tickets 2023: where to buy john mayer tickets online.

General sale for John Mayer tickets are now available to purchase via Mayer’s site and Ticketmaster, though it looks like some stubs might be harder to come by for certain dates.

Buy John Mayer Tickets at Ticketmaster

If tickets are sold out for seats or dates in your city on Ticketmaster, fans can look to ticket resale sites like StubHub or Vivid Seats to find available Solo Acoustic Tour tickets to buy online. If you buy John Mayer tickets through Vivid Seats, you can also use our exclusive promo code RS15 to save $15 on your order of $125 or more through the site or its app. No strings attached — just an extra $15 in your pocket.

Democrats Taunt Trump At Trump Tower Chicago Ahead of Convention

People are trying magic mushrooms for depression — and accidentally meeting god, conservatives are already working to enact their project 2025 agenda, mark robinson, who often calls abortion murder: ‘we had an abortion’.

“See you soon. I’ve got some dream setlist writing to do…,” Mayer shared on Twitter when announcing his tour. More than two decades since Mayer’s major-label debut, Room for Squares , the Solo Tour marks the Grammy winner’s first headlining set of shows since dropping his last full-length project, 2021’s Sob Rock . (He’ll also embark on the Final Tour with Dead and Company this summer.)

Though the upcoming concert dates don’t exclusively support Sob Rock , it seems likely Mayer will play through at least a couple of the songs from the album during his Solo tour sets, from “New Light” to acoustic gems like “I Guess I Just Feel Like.”

Sony's Famous Noise-Cancelling Headphones Are Marked Down to Their Lowest Price Ever

Gamer essential: this best-selling gaming headset is $60 off for back to school, the best back to school tv deal a massive 70-inch 4k tv for $500, john mayer solo tour 2023 dates, schedule.

Check out the complete schedule for the Solo Acoustic Tour 2023 below, with concerts set for Boston, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Nashville.

March 11 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center March 13 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden March 15 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden March 18 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena March 20 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena March 22 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena March 24 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena March 25 – Cleveland, OH @ Rocket Mortgage FieldHous March 27 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena March 29 – St. Louis, MO @ Enterprise Center March 31 – Chicago, IL @ United Center April 1 – St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center April 3 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena April 5 – Phoenix, AZ @ Footprint Center April 6 – Palm Desert, CA @ Acrisure Arena April 8 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center April 10 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena April 11 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena April 14 – Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum

At Least 30 People Injured After Ferris Wheel Catches Fire at German Music Festival

• highfield fire
• By Daniel Kreps

Taylor Swift Performs ‘I Did Something Bad’ for First Time During Eras Tour

• 'Light Me Up'
• By Althea Legaspi

Bob Dylan to Cover 'Don't Fence Me In' for Ronald Reagan Biopic

• great american songbook

Meet the Zoomer Jokester Behind These Skibidi Toilet Classic Rock Covers

• Brainrot Bops
• By Morgan Enos

Muscadine Bloodline Dodged a Mainstream Country Career. That's a Good Thing

• By Josh Crutchmer

Most Popular

Halle berry says blake lively asked if she'd reprise storm in 'deadpool & wolverine.' she answered 'yes' as long as ryan reynolds called: 'but he never asked me', joaquin phoenix’s last-minute exit sparks “huge amount of outrage” among hollywood producers, ‘caitlin clark effect’ hits bottom line in indiana fever finance report, george & amal clooney’s twins’ ultra-rare appearance shows their love for all kind of animals, you might also like, haugesund fest boasts exceptional norwegian lineup and talents, 76 international pics, four world premieres, fabrizio freda, longtime leader of the estée lauder cos., to retire, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors, jane campion thinks box office success of ‘barbie’ has helped female filmmakers be ‘trusted with money’, ncaa fires back at objectors, defends house settlement.

Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.

John Mayer Announces North American Spring 2023 Tour

Groundbreaking Solo Acoustic Arena Tour  

March 11 th  – april 14 th, tickets on sale starting friday, february 3 rd , at 9 am local time @ johnmayer.com.

For the first time in his career,   trailblazer  John Mayer  has set a groundbreaking solo acoustic tour for spring 2023. 20 years in the making, this audacious trek features solo performances by Mayer, leaning heavily on his acoustic guitar work with special performances on piano and electric guitar, in arenas throughout the U.S. and Canada. Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off Saturday, March 11 th , in Newark, New Jersey, at the Prudential Center and will run through Friday, April 14 th , in Los Angeles at the iconic Kia Forum. Tickets go on sale starting  Friday,   February 3 rd , at  9 AM  local time at  Johnmayer.com . A full listing of tour dates can be found below.

Known for an effortless blend of mind-blowing guitar playing, soulful voice and impeccable songwriting abilities, Mayer has lit up the charts with numerous massive hits such as “New Light,” “Gravity,” “Love on the Weekend,” “Heartbreak Warfare,” “Daughters,” “Waiting on the World to Change,” “Last Train Home,” and “Your Body Is a Wonderland.” The 2023 tour has been 20 years in the making and will feature rare, full acoustic sets from John Mayer performing these songs, and many more.  Singer-songwriters Lizzy McAlpine, Alec Benjamin, and a special guest to be announced at a later time, will open these concerts.

Presales start Wednesday, February 1, at 9 AM local time and run through Thursday, February 2, at 10 PM.  Fans can sign up to access presale tickets via  seated  now at  Johnmayer.com .

A limited number of VIP packages will be available including premium tickets, exclusive merchandise, and more!

Two pairs of front-row tickets will be auctioned off for each show on the tour through  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.

Check  Johnmayer.com  for full tour and ticketing information.

SPRING 2023 TOUR DATES:

Saturday, March 11                 Newark, NJ                             Prudential Center                   

Monday, March 13                  Boston, MA                             TD Garden

Wednesday, March 15             New York, NY                         Madison Square Garden

Saturday, March 18                Pittsburgh, PA                         PPG Paints Arena

Monday, March 20                 Toronto, ON                           Scotiabank Arena

Wednesday, March 22            Detroit, MI                              Little Caesars Arena

Friday, March 24                    Nashville, TN                          Bridgestone Arena

Saturday, March 25                Cleveland, OH                         Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse

Monday, March 27                  Atlanta, GA                             State Farm Arena

Wednesday, March 29            St. Louis, MO                          Enterprise Center

Friday, March 31                     Chicago, IL                              United Center

Saturday, April 1                     St. Paul, MN                           Xcel Energy Center

Monday, April 3                      Denver, CO                             Ball Arena

Wednesday, April 5                Phoenix, AZ                            Footprint Center

Thursday, April 6                    Palm Desert, CA                     Acrisure Arena            

Saturday, April 8                    Sacramento, CA                      Golden 1 Center

Monday, April 10                    Vancouver, BC                         Rogers Arena

Tuesday, April 11                    Seattle, WA                             Climate Pledge Arena             

Friday, April 14                       Los Angeles, CA                      Kia Forum

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 seven tours, playing to four million fans, and has become a record-breaking stadium act. In 2021,  Sob Rock , Mayer’s eighth studio album was released to critical acclaim featuring the hits,  “Last Train Home”  and  “Wild Blue.”  

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 .

#  #  #

Photo credit: Frank W. Ockenfels 3

Hi-res  HERE

MEDIA CONTACTS:

John Mayer Larry Solters |  [email protected]    

Anna Loynes |  [email protected]    

Live Nation Concerts

Monique Sowinski |  [email protected]  

Valeska Thomas |  [email protected]  

Read more about

Join our newsletter!

John Mayer Announces First-Ever Solo Acoustic Arena Tour

John Mayer has announced a solo acoustic arena tour set for spring 2023. The 19-date outing marks the first full solo tour for the acclaimed singer, songwriter, and guitarist who has spent the last two decades touring with a variety of different bands, from his ever-evolving solo outfit to the recently revived John Mayer Trio to  Grateful Dead offshoot  Dead & Company .

“I’m going on a solo arena tour,” Mayer wrote in an Instagram post . “I began my career on stage with only a guitar and a microphone. 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 took a couple of decades, but I feel it now. I’ll be playing old songs. Newer songs. Songs you haven’t heard yet that I’ll be road testing – all on acoustic, electric, and piano.”

The tour, produced by  Live Nation , is set to begin on Saturday, March 11th at  Prudential Center in Newark, NJ and continue on to arenas in major markets around the U.S. and Canada throughout the ensuing month before wrapping up with a show at Los Angeles, CA’s Kia Forum on Friday, April 14th. Per a press release, “20 years in the making, this audacious trek features solo performances by Mayer, leaning heavily on his acoustic guitar work with special performances on piano and electric guitar, in arenas throughout the U.S. and Canada.”

A ticket pre-sale window for 2023 John Mayer solo tour dates will begin Wednesday, February 1st, at 9:00 a.m. local venue time and run through Thursday, February 2, at 10:00 p.m. local venue time. Fans can sign up to access presale tickets now via Mayer’s website . Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 3rd beginning at 9:00 a.m. local venue time. A limited number of VIP packages will be available including premium tickets, exclusive merchandise, and more.

Two pairs of front-row tickets will also be auctioned off for each show on the tour via Charity Auctions Today . 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.

Click below for a complete list of John Mayer 2023 solo arena tour dates. For full ticketing details, head here .

John Mayer Spring 2023 Tour Dates

Saturday, March 11 | Newark, NJ | Prudential Center ^ Monday, March 13 | Boston, MA | TD Garden ^ Wednesday, March 15 | New York, NY | Madison Square Garden ^ Saturday, March 18 | Pittsburgh, PA | PPG Paints Arena ^ Monday, March 20 | Toronto, ON | Scotiabank Arena ^ Wednesday, March 22 | Detroit, MI | Little Caesars Arena ^ Friday, March 24 | Nashville, TN | Bridgestone Arena * Saturday, March 25 | Cleveland, OH | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse * Monday, March 27 | Atlanta, GA | State Farm Arena * Wednesday, March 29 | St. Louis, MO | Enterprise Center * Friday, March 31 | Chicago, IL | United Center * Saturday, April 1 | St. Paul, MN | Xcel Energy Center * Monday, April 3 | Denver, CO | Ball Arena * Wednesday, April 5 | Phoenix, AZ | Footprint Center # Thursday, April 6 | Palm Desert, CA | Acrisure Arena # Saturday, April 8 | Sacramento, CA | Golden 1 Center # Monday, April 10 | Vancouver, BC | Rogers Arena # Tuesday, April 11 | Seattle, WA | Climate Pledge Arena # Friday, April 14 | Los Angeles, CA | Kia Forum #

^with Lizzie McAlpine *special guest TBA #with Alec Benjamin

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by John Mayer (@johnmayer)

• Skip to content
• Accessibility
• Buy Tickets

John Mayer Solo & Acoustic

• Date Mar 24 , 2023
• Event Starts 8:00 PM
• Doors Open 6:30 p.m.
• Availability On Sale Now

Pinnacle Parking

Purchase Parking

Lexus Lounge

Premium Seating

For the first time in his career, trailblazer John Mayer  has set a groundbreaking solo acoustic tour for spring 2023. 20 years in the making, this audacious trek features solo performances by Mayer, leaning heavily on his acoustic guitar work with special performances on piano and electric guitar, in arenas throughout the U.S. and Canada. Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off Saturday, March 11 th , in Newark, New Jersey, at the Prudential Center and will run through Friday, April 14 th , in Los Angeles at the iconic Kia Forum. 

Known for an effortless blend of mind-blowing guitar playing, soulful voice and impeccable songwriting abilities, Mayer has lit up the charts with numerous massive hits such as “New Light,” “Gravity,” “Love on the Weekend,” “Heartbreak Warfare,” “Daughters,” “Waiting on the World to Change,” “Last Train Home,” and “Your Body Is a Wonderland.” The 2023 tour has been 20 years in the making and will feature rare, full acoustic sets from John Mayer performing these songs, and many more.  Singer-songwriters Lizzy McAlpine, Alec Benjamin, and a special guest to be announced at a later time, will open these concerts.

Related Links

• https://www.bridgestonearena.com/0

APPROVED BAGS: Medical bags, parenting bags and CLEAR 12" x 12" bags will be permitted following X-Ray screening. Backpacks of any kind are NOT permitted.

Guests attending events with approved bags will experience delayed entry times. For expedited entry, please leave bags at home.

Additional Information

John Mayer announces North American acoustic solo tour

The Sob Rock singer-songwriter will temporarily hang up his PRS Silver Sky signature guitar for his Martin acoustic, with which he'll revisit old tracks and test-drive new material

John Mayer has announced a tour of North America for later this year, but there’s a twist: he’ll be doing the whole thing unaccompanied with his acoustic guitar .

After teasing a surprise announcement on social media earlier this week, Mayer ended speculation by confirming he will be embarking on an acoustic solo tour of the US, which is set to commence in March.

In a statement posted to his social media, Mayer said the idea of an acoustic solo tour had been brewing for a while, and reflected that it was just a matter of time before he returned to his roots with “only a guitar and a microphone”.

“I began my career on stage with only a guitar and a microphone,” Mayer wrote. “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 took a couple of decades, but I feel it now.”

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

Mayer also went on to say his solo tour will see him play predominantly acoustic guitar, with some electric guitar and piano, and that he will take the opportunity to road-test “songs you haven’t heard yet”.

The 19-date tour will kick off on March 11 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and will conclude at the Kia Forum in LA, California, on April 14. Between those dates, Mayer will visit New York’s Madison Square Garden, Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, Chicago’s United Center and other notable venues.

Notably, Mayer’s solo stint around the country will finish just days before he’s set to head out with Dead & Company in the middle of May for the supergroup’s last-ever tour .

Get The Pick Newsletter

All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!

As for solo touring, it will be the first time Mayer hits the road in support of his own music since the Sob Rock tour last year, which was launched following the release of his album of the same name.

Since it’s an acoustic tour, it’s highly unlikely we’ll see Mayer play his new Jerry Garcia Wolf replica guitar , which was created by Bill Asher of Asher Guitars using Doug Irwin’s original design blueprints and notes.

For more information about the upcoming tour, head over to John Mayer’s website .

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**

Join now for unlimited access

US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year

UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year 

Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Prices from £2.99/$3.99/€3.49

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.

“The cornerstone just got smoother”: Gibson’s ultra-classy ’70s-era Dark Walnut finish has always been hard to come by – but now it’s been reborn for a range of irresistible new-look models

“I learned very early on, if you play really loud, then stop suddenly, everybody’s words are hanging in the air”: Ani DiFranco on how playing in bars shaped her percussive playing style – and taught her how to grab a noisy audience's attention

Win a PRS Guitar signed by Creed!

Most Popular

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

• Entertainment

John Mayer Is Heading Out on a Solo Acoustic Tour — 'Just Like Those Early Days'

"I began my career on stage with only a guitar and a microphone. 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," the musician wrote

John Mayer is taking it back to basics.

The Grammy-winning guitarist announced Thursday that he'll be embarking on a solo acoustic tour this spring, hitting arenas around the country with only acoustic and electric guitars and a piano to accompany him. Kicking off March 11 in Newark, New Jersey, the tour will make another 18 stops before it ends in Los Angeles, California on April 14.

"I'm going on a solo arena tour," the singer-songwriter, 45, wrote on Instagram . "I began my career on stage with only a guitar and a microphone. 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 took a couple of decades, but I feel it now. I'll be playing old songs. Newer songs. Songs you haven't heard yet that I'll be road testing — all on acoustic, electric, and piano."

He added, "Hope to see you there…John."

The musician will be joined by JP Saxe, Joy Oladokun and Alec Benjamin on various dates of the run.

Though Mayer's debut studio album, 2001's Room for Squares , was by and large an acoustic affair, followups Heavier Things and Continuum leaned considerably into electric guitar. He has consistently toured with a full band in the years since, though he'll occasionally play an acoustic show — both accidentally and on purpose .

The tour comes after Mayer spent the fall in the studio , saying in October that "I love touring and will continue to play live shows, but in staying open to what's driving me creatively, it felt like making more music was the most inspired feeling I had. ... I've just got more songs to make. I'm having the time of my life writing and recording."

In addition to his solo work, the guitarist will reunite the John Mayer Trio on March 9, as they play Love Rocks NYC to benefit God's Love We Deliver .

Mayer also recently returned from Mexico following Playing in the Sand, Grateful Dead offshoot Dead & Company 's annual festival, and will join Bob Weir and friends again later this year for their final tour, kicking off May 19.

Tickets for Mayer's arena tour go on sale to the general public on Friday, Feb. 3 at 9 a.m. Fans can also visit johnmayer.com to sign up for the presale, which provides access starting Wednesday, Feb. 1.

FULL LIST OF JOHN MAYER SOLO DATES

Saturday, March 11 Newark, NJ Prudential Center

Monday, March 13 Boston, MA TD Garden

Wednesday, March 15 New York, NY Madison Square Garden

Saturday, March 18 Pittsburgh, PA PPG Paints Arena

Monday, March 20 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena

Wednesday, March 22 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena

Friday, March 24 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena

Saturday, March 25 Cleveland, OH Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse

Monday, March 27 Atlanta, GA State Farm Arena

Wednesday, March 29 St. Louis, MO Enterprise Center

Friday, March 31 Chicago, IL United Center

Saturday, April 1 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center

Monday, April 3 Denver, CO Ball Arena

Wednesday, April 5 Phoenix, AZ Footprint Center

Thursday, April 6 Palm Desert, CA Acrisure Arena

Saturday, April 8 Sacramento, CA Golden 1 Center

Monday, April 10 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena

Tuesday, April 11 Seattle, WA Climate Pledge Arena

Friday, April 14 Los Angeles, CA Kia Forum

Related Articles

‘Detroit Rock City’ Turns 25: A Cult Classic That Embodied Rock Culture

Knocked loose announce more 2024 headlining shows, watch: pearl jam reveal live video for “wreckage”, mark tremonti reveals new single “just too much,” announces 2025 tour, review + photos: metallica return to north america and rip it up at gillette stadium, aerosmith retire from touring, officially cancel final ‘peace out’ tour, jack white confirms new album ‘no name’, review + photos: foo fighters in spectacular form at sold-out hershey show, butcher babies part ways with vocalist carla harvey, cobot unleash video for new single “obsidian”, the black crowes announce new leg of happiness bastards tour, setlist + video: sammy hagar kicks off best of all worlds tour, seether confirm new album, release lead single “judas mind”, skillet and seether announce 2024 fall tour, queens of the stone age cancel european tour dates, josh homme to have emergency surgery, drummer roy mayorga joining jerry cantrell on 2024 tour, duran duran announce 2024 fall tour dates, heart cancel world tour due to ann wilson cancer diagnosis, watch: geezer butler joins foo fighters at birmingham concert, pierce the veil announce fall 2024 headlining shows.

John Mayer Digs Up Deep Cuts, Debuts New Song on Opening Night of First Solo Tour

The one-man-show is like watching your friend jam at a local bar

Last night, John Mayer kicked off his first-ever solo tour at the Prudential Center in New Jersey. The GRAMMY® Award-winning singer-songwriter strolled into the stage that had a few guitars, a piano, and not another soul in sight. The solo run is a passion project of sorts for Mayer, who is mounting the tour in the interest of keeping things simple and connecting with his fans on a more intimate level. After the first performance, it’s clear that he’s achieving what he set out to do.

In the dimly lit arena, Mayer started the set with his track “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room.” The crowd immediately recognized the song from just the first few notes. They erupted, then quickly settled down so they could completely absorb the delicate new version of the seminal song. Mayer was only visible to the audience through thin horizontal strips of light, as if a bit of sunlight was peaking thought a set of blinds on a window.

The mood was set.

When the song was over, John dropped his head and pounded his hands on his knees. It was seemingly a combination of excitement and relief. The audience was into it, and Mayer was thankful.

Before playing his breakout hit “Your Body Is a Wonderland,” Mayer took a moment to examine his own songwriting mortality. “Is this song stupid? I don’t know,” he quipped. “I have a thing for things I can’t tell are stupid. I have a think for ‘stupid sincere.’ So, as I sing this song, I’m going to really think about this being sincere. I know there are a couple lyrics that are hard to get around, but we’re gonna try. I’m gonna play it like it’s not a joke.”

And the crowd just laughed along with him.

Midway through the set, Mayer sat down behind a grand piano to change things up a bit. He performed “New Light,” “You’re Gonna Life Forever in Me,” and “Changing.” Towards the end of “Changing,” Mayer looped the piano and picked up one of his signature PRS electric guitars. He showed his full range as a guitarist, shredding through a stellar outro that brought the crowd to its feet.

After he got up from the piano and came back to center stage, Mayer quipped, “You didn’t think I was just gonna sit in a chair for two hours, did ya?” The crowd cheered once again for the extra-cool performance they had just witnessed. Mayer even surprised himself a bit. “I’m trying to find softer words for ‘that’s some of the craziest I’ve ever done in my life.'”

Towards the end of the set, Mayer treated the crowd to a brand new song that he’d never performed before. Titled “Driftin’,” the track was laced with a sense of longing over lost time. One can’t help but notice the autobiographical nature of the song, perhaps illustrating Mayer’s life drifting around on tour for over two decades.

He lamented in the second verse, “Called my shrink the other day / Forgot what I was gonna say / So, I lied and said I lost my way / ‘Cause I couldn’t let him down / Put my leather jacket on, to play the part of ‘Bad Boy John’ / A broken-hearted vagabond wandering into town, ’cause I’m driftin’.”

The chorus alludes to the notion that he may be searching for someone as well, stating, “Maybe some day, I’ll drift into you.” The song is an anthem for lost souls. With some time, it could easily become a crown jewel in his catalog. Hopefully, when he eventually records it, he does so just like this – with nothing but an acoustic guitar.

Other highlights included “Why Georgia,” his renowned cover of Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’,” and the fan favorite “Who Says.”

He also played “Stop This Train,” a song about trying to slow time down as his parents are getting older.

“We do this thing where we worry about our parents leaving all the time,” Mayer lamented. Every year, is this the year? I have spent many years mourning people who are still here. People just worry. You worry about tour parents, and I’ve done a lot of worrying.”

John went on to explain how when his dad turned 70, he had a bit of a breakdown because he thought that was such an old age for a person. He thought the end was imminent. And then, he gave some roundabout advice to the crowd: “My dad is 95 years old.”

John Mayer struck all the right cords on Saturday night. The show was simple, honest, and fun. There were times when it felt more like watching your friend play down the street at a local bar than watching one of the greatest musicians of his generation play in a packed arena. The amount of time he took to interact with the crowd in-between songs was quite remarkable. It was certainly a John Mayer that no one has really seen before.

Early in the set, Mayer said he spoke with his good friend Andy Cohen shortly after the tour was announced. He said, “Andy, I’m nervous. I don’t know if it’s going to work. I don’t know if they’re gonna like it.” Andy said, “John, you’ve already announced that it’s just you. They’ve come to see just you. They know what the show is gonna be. Relax, and enjoy it.” Mayer certainly seemed to be taking Cohen’s advice, soaking up every second.

At one point, Mayer summed up the evening perfectly. “I don’t have to win anyone over anymore,” he said with a sigh of relief. “I just want to be here and sing along with you.”

Privacy Overview

• Sales/Rental

Meyer Sound PANTHER Gets Personal on John Mayer Solo Acoustic Tour

Ultrasound system brings close-up intimacy to every seat in the arena.

The PANTHER system reacts accurately to subtle mix changes, especially in this stripped-down environment. With just a voice and guitar it’s critical that the PA does not influence tonality. The PANTHER system only puts out what you put into it!”

Derek Featherstone FOH Engineer and UltraSound CEO

Featured Products

Gifted with an emotive voice and extraordinary guitar skills, and drawing on a deep repertoire of chart-topping songs, John Mayer is one of the rare artists able to fill “A level” arenas as a true solo act. The rousing success of his recently concluded Solo Acoustic Tour relied on an intimate connection with his audience, accomplished aurally via a reinforcement system of Meyer Sound PANTHER large-format linear line array loudspeakers provided by UltraSound.

The spring leg of the tour kicked off on March 11 at New Jersey’s Prudential Center and wrapped at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum before Mayer embarked on a summer tour with Dead & Company — also supported by a PANTHER-based system from UltraSound. The fall leg was another east-to-west marathon, launching at Madison Square Garden with the November finale again at the Kia Forum. The FOH engineer for both the solo legs and the triumphant final tour by Dead & Company was Derek Featherstone, who also wears the hat of UltraSound CEO.

According to Featherstone, mixing one voice accompanied by guitar or piano is not the simple chore it might seem. “With one vocal and one instrument, there is nothing for the artist or engineer to hide behind,” he points out. “The mix is either right or wrong. The detail in compression and effects is plainly audible so you have to mix with greater accuracy.”

Accordingly, he continues, the touring rig kept him on his toes. “The PANTHER system reacts accurately to subtle mix changes, especially in this stripped-down environment. With just a voice and guitar it’s critical that the PA does not influence tonality. The PANTHER system only puts out what you put into it!”

Although the exact system configuration varied with particular arenas, a typical deployment would be anchored by front left and right arrays of 18-each PANTHER loudspeakers with side hangs of the same length as well as, when needed, extreme side hangs for 220-degree coverage consisting of 20 LEOPARD line array loudspeakers per side. In most scenarios, three short delays of LYON line array loudspeakers were added for balance and intimacy in the far upper seats. Dual hangs of six each 700-HP subwoofers filled out the deep bass notes.

For performance capture and mix processing, the front end of the system offered both analog purity and digital flexibility, with a vintage Gamble EX68 analog console paired with an Avid S6L digital mixer. “We also made a conscious decision not to use any wireless mics, wireless guitar feeds, or in-ear monitors. That’s part of the reason for the Gamble, as there is something rewarding to having a mic or instrument on a cable going into an analog desk. For vocal inserts, we leaned on the Summit DCL hybrid tube compressors and Empirical Labs Distressors.”

With no band bleed to worry about, Featherstone selected the Neumann KMS105 supercardioid condenser for Mayer’s vocals. “With no band behind him, we could use a condenser just like we would do in a studio since we don’t have to sacrifice any sonic reproduction to navigate around background bleed.”

After meticulous care in analog capture and sound shaping, Featherstone relied on the latest advancements in digital networking to deliver the signal with undiminished purity to the individual line array loudspeakers. “We are using the Milan AVB network to run digital all the way to each PANTHER cabinet,” he notes. “We feel like the AVB network does add some clarity in the 4kHz and higher regions.”

Eight MJF‑210 stage monitors were deployed for foldback, with three each at the two guitar performance positions, and two at the piano position. “The guitar positions are set up so the center wedge is vocal and the side wedges are guitar in stereo,” says Featherstone. “This keeps the three wedges from fighting each other.”

Rounding out the sound crew for the tour were System Engineer Michal Kacunel, Monitor Engineer Ian Dubois, Monitor Tech Alex Pritchard, and PA Techs Sean McAdam, Riley Gajewski, and Erik Swanson.

John Mayer’s Solo Acoustic Tour resumes in late winter of 2024 in the UK and Europe, with most of the same UltraSound crew and front-end gear flying over and joining up with a similar PANTHER system from a Meyer Sound rental partner.

A typical setlist on the fall tour leg covered about 20 of Mayer’s own compositions plus a couple of covers. Most accompaniment was on standard acoustic guitar, with two songs backed by piano and a few more using a double-necked acoustic with some looping effects. The opening act for the fall leg was JP Saxe.

Welcome to meyersound.com

Cookie details.

John Mayer debuts Martin double-neck acoustic guitar and new song at first gig of US solo tour

He broke out some deep cuts from his song catalogue too – while poking fun at his own song Why You No Love Me

The first night of John Mayer 's debut solo tour in Newark, New Jersey on 11 March is getting rave reviews and saw the songwriter exploring old favourites a deeper cuts with acoustic guitar and even piano looping. But the headline news for players is he broke out a uber expensive Martin custom double-neck guitar for the occasion at the Prudential Center.

And there it is for Edge Of Desire – a Tim Teel-built Martin Custom Shop 12-string / six-string combo first seen at NAMM in 2010. The former doesn't come in until the latter part of the song. Isn't there a pedal for that? Oh come on, he's John Mayer ! 

Mayer also played a new song for the occasion – joking before he started it that "What if it was Why You Know Love Me?" as a reference to his slightly ridiculously track from last year's Sob Rock that he has no intention of playing live – "I'm never doing it!" he told the chanting crowd before (jokingly?) suggesting that he regrets recording the song to some degree. 

But as for the new one above; it's called Driftin', there's a capo on the second fret and it's Mayer showing how effective he can be with cowboy chords and a catchy melody. No Neon -style fingerpicking acrobatics here – think more Tom Petty Americana.

And on that note, he busted out his much-loved version of Petty's  Free Fallin' – on another Martin. And just to be clear, Mayer only plays Martin acoustics. 

Elsewhere, hardcore fans got a treat with the first live performance of Heavier Things track Home Life since 2005.

Split Screen Sadness from that same album got a rapturous reception too, paired with setlist familiar Why Georgia below. 

Get the MusicRadar Newsletter

Want all the hottest music and gear news, reviews, deals, features and more, direct to your inbox? Sign up here.

Mayer sat down at the piano in the next segment for a snippet of Sob Rock track New Light, The Search For Everything's You're Gonna Live Forever In Me and, most interestingly, a looped piano / guitar performance of that album's Changing…  

The outro to the song saw him pick up an an electric guitar for the first time (his PRS Silver Sky ) to solo over the looped piano chords while sitting. It made for an unusual dynamic that the crowd loved – especially when Mayer started mixing piano and guitar simultaneously. What a show-off, eh! 

But what is very clear is Mayer's ability to make an arena feel intimate with his song catalogue and gifts as a musician. It mean he could get away with not playing the song Gravity and it didn't seem to matter. He chose to close the night in classic Americana troubadour style with acoustic guitar and harmonica for Born And Raised. 

• John Mayer live, acoustic and alone: our 6 favourite performances

I'm the Guitars Editor for MusicRadar, handling news, reviews, features, tuition, advice for the strings side of the site and everything in between. Before MusicRadar I worked on guitar magazines for 15 years, including Editor of Total Guitar in the UK. When I'm not rejigging pedalboards I'm usually thinking about rejigging pedalboards.   

“Handcrafted to be fully functional, authentically Gibson, and utterly one of a kind”: Leo Scala goes back to the future for the unique Master Artisan range of Theodore Retroliners

Blink 182 invites fan up on stage to sing First Date - but she sings the words to All The Small Things

“An almost overwhelming synth in terms of its scope”: Tone2 Icarus 3 review

Most Popular

Rock singer says John Mayer hit is ‘worst song ever written’

• Published: Aug. 06, 2024, 6:00 a.m.

John Mayer kicks off his Solo tour at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Al Mannarino | For NJ Advance Me

• Brian Linder | [email protected]

It turns out St. Vincent is not a big John Mayer fan.

That is, at least, sh e is not a big fan of one of Mayer’s hit songs , “Daughters.” In fact, the rock singer said in a recent interview that she believes it is the “worst song ever written.”

“It’s just so hideously sexist but it pretends to be a love song,” she said. “But it’s really, really retrograde and really sexist. And I hate it. It’s so deeply misogynistic, which would be fine if you owned that, but it pretends like it’s sweet.”

• Pop star who is ‘lucky to be alive’ speaks out after saying mean fans made her regret return to music
• Rock band frontman’s death at 61 leaves fans heartbroken
• 24 country music artists, influencers have died in 2024. Here is who we lost
• Country music legend’s wife fears for safety if fans learn value of his estate
• These country music stars are saying farewell this year

The lyrics of the song instructs fathers to “be good to your daughters,” so that they will not grow up to cause the men in their life issues.

• Rock, pop legend admits his ‘days are numbered’ as birthday approaches

You can see the video of the song below:

Worst song of all-time? That seems kind of harsh. There are some pretty brutal songs out there that are rooted in far more nefarious or evil schools of thought, but you can also see St. Vincent’s point if you dig into the lyrics.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

• Manage Account

The Dream Setlist for John Mayer’s Solo Acoustic Tour

Here are the acoustic and piano standouts we're hoping to hear on his upcoming tour.

By Becky Kaminsky

Becky Kaminsky

• Share on Facebook
• Share to Flipboard
• Share on Pinterest
• + additional share options added
• Share on Tumblr
• Share on Reddit
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share on Whats App
• Send an Email
• Print this article
• Post a Comment

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.

“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.

“Dreaming With a Broken Heart”

If piano songs are an integral part of this tour, “Dreaming With a Broken Heart” is a no-brainer.

“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.”

“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.

"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!

A stripped-down version of “Neon” would showcase how intricate the 2001 song actually is on the guitar.

"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.

“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.

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.

"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.

"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?

"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.

“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.

"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?

“Love Is a Verb”

A rarity in JM sets, 2012’s “Love Is a Verb” would be a great choice to bust out solo.

“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.

"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.

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.”

"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.

"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.

"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.

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.

"Edge of Desire" / "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room"

These two fan-favorites are a must for any John Mayer tour – full stop.

“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.

Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox

Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about?

Get in the know on.

Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Billboard Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

optional screen reader

Charts expand charts menu.

• Billboard Hot 100™
• Billboard 200™
• Hits Of The World™
• TikTok Billboard Top 50
• Songs Of The Summer
• Song Breaker
• Year-End Charts
• Decade-End Charts

Music Expand music menu

• R&B/Hip-Hop

Videos Expand videos menu

Culture expand culture menu, media expand media menu, business expand business menu.

• Business News
• Record Labels
• View All Pro

Pro Tools Expand pro-tools menu

• Songwriters & Producers
• Artist Index
• Royalty Calculator
• Market Watch
• Industry Events Calendar

Billboard Español Expand billboard-espanol menu

• Cultura y Entretenimiento

Get Up Anthems by Tres Expand get-up-anthems-by-tres menu

Honda music expand honda-music menu.

Dead & Company Close Out 30-Night Sphere Run: What a Short, Stunning Trip It’s Been. Will They Be Back?

By Chris Willman

Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

• St. Vincent’s ‘All Born Screaming’ Tour Further Certifies Her as Rock’s Dark (but Oddly Cheerful) Queen: Concert Review 7 hours ago
• Taylor Swift’s ‘Poets’ Tops Album Chart for a 15th Week, as Chappell Roan Reaches a New High of No. 2 11 hours ago
• Shelby Lynne on Making a New Record When She Thought She Was Done, Working With an All-Star Female Creative Team, and How She Saved Her Own Life 2 days ago

Related Stories

Take-two earnings emblematic of endless risk-taking in gaming biz, glaad supports ceo sarah kate ellis after lavish spending allegations: 'we are certain that she is the right leader', popular on variety.

Even if the show did remain static from night to night, you’d still want to see it more than once, if only to experience the major digital-FX bookends that remained identical throughout all 30 shows. For the second number in the set, the “camera” would zoom out from a modern-day closeup of the Grateful Dead’s old haunts in the Haight Asbury district, up over San Francisco and through the clouds to, finally, an overhead view of earth. (Of course, at different points the show would go farther into outer space than that.) And the penultimate number would make the return trip, coming back from the cosmos to gently land in SF circa 1965, with the original Dead members as silhouettes jamming in a second-story window. As conceived by Mayer, the show’s creative director, with Treatment, the producer of the visuals, and executed by Industrial Light & Magic, these twin moments surely marked peak experiences in a lifetime of entertainment for most of the fans on-hand. The additional beauty of it was that, like any, um, trip, there were variables that counted for a lot — and so just how magnificent these visuals felt to you probably depended on where the songs the band chose songs to accompany them fit on the majestic-to-meh scale for you.

In a June Variety interview, Mayer said that new video content would be introduced even as late as the final two weekends of the residency — mostly to keep things fresh for repeat customers. Some of the visuals just weren’t ready for opening night, so there was that factor, too. But primarily, this rotation of elements in and out was purposeful. In a separate interview, Treatment Studio’s Sam Pattinson , who served as co-creative director, said, “Our brief was originally that we wanted to create between 30-40% extra content (beyond what would fit in a show in a given night), so we could mix it up all the time. .. I think we made about five and a half hours in the end. So we beat the 40% on the three-hour show. It’s a huge body of work, really.” Watching the residency’s final two nights this past Thursday and Friday, it was fascinating to look at what had been introduced since that first opening weekend, and also what was even different between the two evenings.

As always, just one segment of musical content remained the same, as it had for all 30 nights of the residency: Mickey Hart, joined by fellow drummer Jay Lane and bassist-turned-percussionist Oteil Burbridge, executing the instrumental, atonal “Drums” for more than nine minutes, followed by the equally trippy “Space” for eight. Normally, if you told someone that you were going to hear what kind of amounted to a 17-minute drum solo and that it was going to be the highlight of the show , that wouldn’t speak very well for the rest of the show. In this case, the full-band parts of the concert have no reason to be slighted if someone feels compelled to single out Hart’s section as primo. It’s what he does in making that section aurally riveting, of course — and what Treatment has done in making this one of the few parts of the show where you really need to look straight up, as well as around. But it also has to do with the haptics built into the seats. Watching the show one night from the floor, I was impressed by how much bass sound could be pumped out at a standing audience. But watching this segment from an assigned seat is like — no exaggeration — getting a deep-tissue massage. Nothing any of the older Deadheads in the audience could have slipped me could have possibly made me feel any more blissed-out.

What often doesn’t get talked about is how un -psychedelic the majority of the Dead’s music is, though. Even when Weir isn’t busting out a Marty Robbins or Johnny Cash oldie, much of a Dead & Company set fits squarely into the camp of Americana, to the point where at times you could mistake it for a vintage concert by the Band — if the Band also happened to be jazz heads given to flights of improvisation that stretched the typical song length out to 7-to-11 minutes. The biggest misconception in the long, strange history of the Dead is that if you’re into songs , this music is not for you. It is, and at Sphere, for newbies or reluctant converts, the visuals constitute a sort of sleight-of-hand effect, where you’re too distracted by the splendor to worry about what might feel meandering, if that might’ve been your linear inclination on a normal tour. Check your head, not your watch, etc.

There was not much pomp and ceremony to Saturday being the last show of the residency… and possibly the last of Dead & Company’s career, if only to the extent that any show can be the last of a band’s career. Since the Dead don’t speak, as a rule, the only sign that this was any different than any other night was a group huddle, and the rare addition of a song not on the evening’s printed-out setlist — “Ripple,” which, for whatever reason, caused the fellow next to me to break out into the kind of tearful paroxysms of joy rarely seen outside of a Pentecostal service. (That’s the fun thing about being a less Dead-icated fan, at one of these shows; you can still experience, by osmosis, the surprise and delight being felt by people who have spent a lot more years than you bearing this obsession.) And then the giant fake-steel doors that normally close at the end of each performance stayed open, for a one-time-only appearance of full credits for the residency. (The screen being what it is, these names were much larger and more legible than they are when the Darren Aronofsky film “Postcards From Earth” also posts its end credits on a single Sphere screen.)

There was little sense of sadness in the crowd, or at least less so than when Dead & Company called a cessation to touring at the end of a final outing in 2023. To a person, probably, they all believed the band would be back for a second residency next year. In practical terms, that’s easier for them than it would be for, say, U2, which has new albums and the continued threat of international touring to deal with. And there’s no mistaking that the enormous payday would have something to do with a reprise, with merch sales alone believed to be in the six figures every night.

Encouragement on that front has come from the band itself, with many fans pointing to the interview Weir did with Variety in June, where he said he “wouldn’t be surprised if we get invited back” (no shit) “and I would certainly make room for that.” Additionally, Weir indicated he was already dreaming up ways to make the visuals of the overall show more spontaneous: “I’d love to see the arrangement get much looser and much more interactive — and I think it will, if we take another swing at it.” That swing feels like a given, until we’re told otherwise.

(If they want to book the sequel for a cooler couple of months, though, no one would complain. Because even Uncle Sam’s bones were breaking a sweat.)

More from Variety

Bob weatherwax, showbiz dog trainer and son of lassie’s original owner, dies at 83, why social video is a rival for linear tv ad dollars, how to watch every ‘alien’ movie online for free (and get the blu-ray set for 50% off), alexander payne dishes on ‘election’ sequel, upcoming western with ‘holdovers’ scribe and dream of doing ‘a good car chase film’, content owner lawsuits against ai companies: complete updated index, alain delon, french star of ‘le samourai,’ dies at 88, more from our brands, the best back-to-school tech deals: save on apple, bose, and samsung, supercar blondie and mckeel hagerty discuss the future of collector cars at house of robb in monterey, ncaa fires back at objectors, defends house settlement, the best loofahs and body scrubbers, according to dermatologists, industry’s marisa abela talks yasmin’s constant need to prove herself: ‘her stress level is at a 10’.

A.J. Ewart holds solo lead after Round 3 at Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open

A.J. Ewart enters the final round with a one-stroke lead over Chuan-Tai Lin after carding a 3-under 67 on Saturday at the Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open. (Jay Fawler/PGA TOUR)

Change Text Size

RESORT VILLAGE OF ELK RIDGE, Saskatchewan – Team Canada member A.J. Ewart enters the final round with a one-stroke lead over Chinese Taipei’s Chuan-Tai Lin after carding a 3-under 67 on Saturday. Three-time runner-up Johnny Keefer is tied for third alongside Bryce Lewis and Thomas Lilly. Five players are tied for sixth after the third round.

Ewart reclaimed solo possession of the leaderboard after being part of a four-way tie for the lead after Friday’s second round. A birdie on No. 18 carded a third-round 3-under 67 and 14-under total for Ewart, and proved to be enough to withstand Chuan-Tai Lin who finished one group ahead in 13-under for the tournament. In three rounds, Ewart has taken advantage of the back-nine, and totals 11-under for the nine-hole stretch thus far.

On his mindset of going into the final round with the solo lead, Ewart noted, “Same as it was the last couple of days. Just go and stick to my process and hit golf shots and see where that puts me at the end of the day. I feel like if I can commit to every shot, and really stick to my process throughout the day, I’ll be happy wherever I finish tomorrow, no matter what happens.”

The 25-year-old gained entry into this week’s field via sponsor exemption and made his fifth start of the season in Saskatchewan. With a victory, Ewart would become an exempt member on PGA TOUR Americas for the rest of the 2024 season and into the Latin America Swing of 2025. Most importantly, he would move into near contention for a Korn Ferry Tour card, as a win is projected to boost his standing in the Fortinet Cup 155 spots up to No. 14 with three events remaining in the season after starting the week off at No. 169.

Previously, the Coquitlam native has appeared in three other events this season on the basis of sponsor exemptions, as well as a fourth event due to his season-best and top-25 finish at the Explore NB Open (T25/-14). Another top-25 finish this week would guarantee Ewart a spot in next week’s field at the CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open.

Ewart is in his second year as a professional, and graduated from Division II Barry University in 2023. He played four seasons in Miami Shores, Florida, and won a school-record 14 times, breaking the previous record held by PGA TOUR player Adam Svensson. Ewart’s most notable accomplishments in his collegiate career include winning the Jack Nicklaus Award as the top player in Division II golf and claiming medalist honors seven times in one season (previously held by Svensson).

Upon completion of college, Ewart earned status on PGA TOUR Canada through Q-School, and by registering only three made cuts in nine starts, finished No. 89 in the Fortinet Cup. By finishing outside of the top 80 in the points list, Ewart had to rely on sponsor exemptions for PGA TOUR-sanctioned starts this season. His career-best finish came at the 2023 ATB Classic on PGA TOUR Canada where he finished tied for 16th at 9-under. Ewart looks to top that finish this week as he holds the 54-hole lead/co-lead for the first time in his career.

Final-round tee times begin at 7:25 a.m. MT and will run until 11:23 a.m. MT off the No. 1 tee on Sunday.

About A.J. Ewart (first/-14)

Birthplace: Coquitlam, Canada

Residence: Coquitlam, Canada

College: Barry University

Fortinet Cup (start of week): 169th

• Made his fifth start on PGA TOUR Americas this week and gained entry to the field via sponsor exemption; best finish came at his Tour debut at the Explore NB Open (T25/-14)
• Has been a member of Golf Canada since 2017; initially joined the team’s amateur squad from 2017-18 and 2022, and most recently became a part of Team Canada for 2023-24
• Played four seasons at Division II Barry University (2019-23); won a school-record 14 times, breaking the previous record held by fellow-Canadian and current PGA TOUR player Adam Svensson
• Tied Adam Svensson’s school record of seven victories in a season during his junior year in 2022; finished inside the top-15 in each tournament appearance this season (13)
• Was just the second Division II player ever to win the Golfstat Cup, finishing the year with a 69.78 scoring average
• Won the Jack Nicklaus Award as the top player in Division II golf as a junior
• Began playing golf at two years old; got into the game through his father who was a touring professional and now teaches golf at Burnaby Mountain Golf Course

Competition Notes

Course Setup: Par 70 / 6,781 yards; R3 average: 68.91

Weather: Cloudy with occasional showers and a high of 75. Wind from the northeast at 3-8 mph with gusts up to 17 mph.

• Team Canada member A.J. Ewart (1st/-14) holds the 54-hole lead/co-lead for the first time in his career, and gained entry into this week’s field via sponsor exemption.
• Saskatoon-local and sponsor exemption Kade Johnson is tied for 19th in 9-under.
• Brendon Doyle (T6) and Chris Korte (T11) shot the low round of the day in 5-under 65.
• Andres Gallegos (T11/-10) finished the third round as the low Latin in 10-under.
• Ewart (first/-14) leads five Canadians in the top-25: Chris Crisologo (T11/-10), Kade Johnson (T19/-9), Jimmy Jones (T19/-9), and Johnny Travale (T23/-8).
• Chris Crisologo (T11/-10) recorded the fifth ace of the PGA TOUR Americas season in the first round on No. 17 – the 134-yard par 3.
• Chris Crawford (T11/-10) recorded his second hole-in-one of the season in the second round on No. 15 – the 164-yard par 3.
• Samuel Anderson (T36/-6) made a hole-in-one in the third round on the 315-yard par 4 No. 7; it was his second hole-in-one of the season.
• Hole No. 3 – the 488-yard par 4 – is the most challenging hole at Elk Ridge Resort; averaging a +.350.

Is BLACKPINK’s Lisa doing a solo Europe tour in 2025? Here's what we know

B LACKPINK’s Lisa has had a whirlwind year, keeping herself busy with solo music releases and cementing her position as a global K-pop icon. After making her much-anticipated comeback with the smash-hit track ROCKSTAR, she followed up with another successful single titled New Woman, featuring Spanish singer Rosalia. Now, rumours are rife that Lisa may be gearing up for a solo Europe tour in 2025.

A French media outlet Arena Tour reported that Lisa might embark on a solo world tour next year. Given her recent accomplishments in her solo music career, the possibility of a solo tour seems more likely than ever.

The report speculated that Lisa could visit several European countries, including a potential concert in Paris. While no official confirmation has been made, fans are eagerly anticipating the news, as it would mark a significant milestone in Lisa’s solo career.

If the Europe tour becomes a reality, Lisa would be the first BLACKPINK member to embark on a solo world tour, showcasing her expanding influence on the international stage. This potential tour would come ahead of BLACKPINK’s expected group comeback in 2025, allowing Lisa to further solidify her presence as a solo artist.

Beyond the music, Lisa’s career continues to evolve in exciting directions. The recent launch of her fashion label LLOUD and her signing with American label RCA Records hint at bigger ventures for the K-pop star. These moves, combined with her successful music releases, have only fueled speculation about what’s next for the BLACKPINK rapper.

Lisa’s comeback single ROCKSTAR, released on June 28, 2024, marked her triumphant return to the music scene. The track, her first major release since LALISA and MONEY, quickly gained global attention, earning 10 million views within just six hours of its release. It also soared up the Billboard charts, solidifying Lisa’s status as a hitmaker in the K-pop industry.

Following the success of ROCKSTAR, Lisa released New Woman, a collaboration with Rosalia. The track further showcased Lisa’s versatility as an artist, blending her signature style with Rosalia’s unique sound.

In addition to her music achievements, rumours have emerged about a collaboration with American rapper Nicki Minaj. The speculation suggests that Lisa’s debut solo album is on the horizon, with her recently released songs set to be accompanied by two more tracks.

Lisa’s influence isn’t confined to the music industry. She is also set to make her acting debut with a role in the highly-anticipated HBO series The White Lotus Season 3.