Half of My Heart is a Shotgun Wedding

Who: John Mayer with Train 
When: August 10, 2010
Where: Darien Lake Performing Arts Center/ Darien Center, NY 
With: Becky 
Of Note: John commenting on signs, me screaming myself hoarse 

So, my love for John Mayer is well-documented.  This night, during the summer of 2010 was particularly magical.  Touring to support his most recent release, 'Battle Studies', Mayer was in peak form- tearing through an awesome set list, making use of a fantastic screen behind the stage set up, and ending the set with one of my top five live music moments ever.  A perfect day of Darien Lake tailgating goes without saying.

Train opened the show, just on the brink of their 'Hey Soul Sister' comeback madness.  I was struck by just how hard lead singer Pat Monihan worked for the crowd's affection.  He was strutting and preening and singing - going so far as to don a white t-shirt and tell the crowd, "We're going to get married!"  Then, he made a full lap around the interior of the pavilion slapping hands and singing the eventually ubiquitous 'Marry Me'.  They ended their set with 'Drops of Jupiter', a song that holds a special place in my heart from the summer after my freshman year of college.  All in all, a great opening set.  

And then, John Mayer.  Swoon.  His set was just incredible, playing a couple of old favorites - most notably 'No Such Thing' and 'Why Georgia' - and equal selections from 'Continuum' and 'Battle Studies'.  Mayer was his usual charming self, dressed in cargos and a t-shirt with a bandanna around his head, sweating like crazy due to the late summer heat & humidity, tearing through guitar solos, and crooning at us in a way that makes me want to do unspeakable things to him.  

I always love when musicians interact with the audience.  Mayer had two great fan moments, both related to signs that audience members were holding up.  The first, was the traditional song request sign that requested (I think): '3x5', 'My Stupid Mouth', 'Love Song for No One' and (definitely) 'St. Patrick's Day'.  John read the list aloud and said, "Wow, that would be a non-commercial set." I thought it sounded awesome. 

The other sign was one that read, "John, Can I Design Your Next Album Cover?"  John had someone bring the sign up on stage, complimented the girl on her hand-drawn Helvetica lettering, and said that he really liked the initiative shown.  The next day the local news had a nice story on the girl, who was a design student. 

The music that night was so good; John is always good, but there was a little something extra in the air.  Maybe it was just that we were seated in a very well-behaved, very enthusiastic section?  I just remember feeling like I was getting my face rocked off.  I remember thinking the saxophone player was really cute.  I remember the crowd singing all the duet parts of 'Half of My Heart'.  I remember John having a heartbreak sticker on his guitar.  

The stand-out moment of the night was, definitely, the last song of the set.  John had played a couple of covers - 'Message in a Bottle' (I LOVE Mayer's cover of this song) and 'Raspberry Beret' - but the last cover of the night was definitely the best.  Anyone who knows me knows my unironic and unabashed love of Journey, particularly 'Don't Stop Believin''.  John played it.  And, I lost my mind.  And screamed myself into a coughing fit...multiple times.  And, in trying to take video of the amazing combination of John Mayer & Journey, manage to take video of my screeching and coughing, which I have never shared before because it's pretty embarrassing.  But for you, dear blog readers, I will.  

This was such a perfect summer concert experience.  I was so sad when his spring 2012 tour (that I managed to get tickets to!) was cancelled.  Get well soon John!  We'll see you next time you're on the road.  

Photo Credit: Becky 

(Also worth nothing, this has been my computer desktop since then)