Photo by Thomas Falcone

On Saturday night, John Mayer made his debut at the newly constructed UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. The concert was among the rescheduled dates stemming from Mayer’s cancelations early this year after contracting COVID-19. Although, Mayer’s guitarist David Ryan sat out the show due to positive test results. 

Mayer began his UBS Arena stand with a tune off his latest LP, 2021’s Sob Rock, “Last Train.” The first set continued with 2006’s “Belief” and fan-favorite “Who Says.” Next, Mayer and the band served up “Wild Blue” ahead of “Something Like Olivia” off Born and Raised. Then, they played a hip-shaking take on “I Guss I Just Feel Like” before ending the first set with “Helpless.”

For Mayer’s solo acoustic set, he played three tracks, beginning with a sweet take on “The Heart of Life.” “Walt Grace’s Submarine Test, January 1967” came next, with accompaniment by Mayer’s backup vocalists. For the set’s final song, Mayer unleashed “Neon” off Room for Squares. 

The third set picked up with “Your Body Is a Wonderland,” followed by “Rosie.” Then, the band took on “Edge of Desire” ahead of “Stop This Train,” which included a Simon and Garfunkle “Homeward Bound” outro, which paid homage to the Elmont venue, located on the border of the duo’s hometown of Queens. 

The set continued with a sweet take on “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room.” Next, Mayer and the band performed “In the Blood” off The Search For Everything. Then, for the set’s final song, they treated fans to “Gravity.” After a brief break, the band returned to the stage to deliver a “New Light” encore.

Mayer will begin a two-night stand at TD Garden in Boston tonight. The shows will serve as his final Sob Rock stops before kicking off Dead and Company’s summer tour on June 11 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. 

John Mayer 

UBS Arena– Elmont, N.Y.

May 7, 2022 

Set I: Last Train Home, Belief, Who Says, Wild Blue, Something Like Olivia, I Guess I Just Feel Like, Helpless

Set II: The Heart of Life, Walt Grace’s Submarine Test, January 1967, Neon 

Set III: Your Body Is a Wonderland, Rosie, Edge of Desire, Stop This Train*, Slow Dancing in a Burning Room, In the Blood, Gravity 

Enc.: New Light 

Notes: 

* “Homeward Bound” Simon and Garfunkel outro