Colbie Caillat performs at the Susquehanna Bank Center on 7/10/08, opening for John Mayer. Photo by THawks.

Upon entering the arena, there are still thousands of people milling about buying their $12 drinks and $35 JM t-shirts and now I understand why there are still so many people in the parking lot tailgating! When I finally reach my seat, I hear Colbie singing her radio friendly song “Bubbly” and the crowd is happy. She then sings Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” and ends with “The Little Things”. I miss most of her set, but Colbie looks great and I enjoy what I do hear. After some convincing, I’m able to get past security and take a nice close-up shot of her.

When Colbie leaves the stage, a large portion of the audience heads out for a short break. A large group of “roadies” rush the stage and carry off her stuff. They start setting up for John and I notice a huge silky gray back-drop in the background. They roll out two large area rugs where John and his fellow guitar players will stand. The instruments are rolled out on platforms and racks of guitars are set in place rather quickly. His band starts warming up and before I know it, I hear the music to “Belief” and the crowd roars. Then, through all the lights, I see him!

John Mayer performs at the Susquehanna Bank Center on 7/10/08. Photo by THawks.

He is wearing a black sleeveless t-shirt, his guns and tattoos in full view. He’s wearing jeans and I notice that his jeans are either too big or he has recently lost some weight and we occasionally see his white boxers. After “Belief”, he tells us he’s going back to his “know it all years when he really didn’t know anything” and then we hear “No Such Thing” and “Why Georgia”. Two beach balls are being tossed around in the crowd seated in the orchestra area and some people have brought “We Love You John!” signs.

He takes us back to 2006 when he had a bunch of songs put together for Continuum and he tells us a story about how “he needed one song to be in charge” and then he sings “Waiting on the World to Change” to a screaming audience. At this point, I realize most of the crowd is standing and I don’t think I could sit again if I tried. We hear “Vultures” and “Bigger Than My Body” (hey, maybe he means his jeans!).

He tells us that some songs are meant for when “you know a relationship just isn’t working out” and he mentions the song “Stupid Mouth” but then starts to play “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room”.

He does an amazing cover of “Crossroads”. I noticed when he plays guitar live he gets “in the zone” and the songs are extended by five minutes or so and no one seems to mind. I try to get closer to get a better picture of him but his security detail isn’t letting anyone get any closer to the stage. I do my best with the camera I have with me.

He addresses the crowd about every three songs or so and they react with extreme admiration. He sincerely thanks us, his fans (who have filled this 25,000 capacity arena) for “still being able to do this gig.” The stage lighting changes quite a bit but I notice that the only thing he really changes throughout the show is his guitar. This man was born to play the guitar and he just happens to sing really well too. His band is just as impressive, especially his guitar players, Robbie McIntosh and David Ryan Harris. He highlights them both quite a few times during the show.

The crowd reacts to John Mayer. Photo by THawks.

He sings “Free-fallin” by Tom Petty and I really enjoy his version. Then he tells us he’s going to get “bluesy” and he sings the Herbie Hancock song “Stitched Up”. He closes with “Gravity” and most of the massive crowd is on their feet singing along with him.

He comes back for an encore to a thunderous crowd and sings “Bold as Love” and then segues into “The Wind Cries Mary”. It is CRAZY GOOD. He has mad talent and I don’t want this one to end. He does end it though, with “Wheel” and “Say”. He gives us cards reminding us he will be coming back to The Borgata in Atlantic City to perform on August 24th with special guest One Republic. I’m checking my schedule already, John.

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