Singer-songwriter John Mayer looked entirely at home Friday night, October 9, playing for 10,000-plus adoring fans at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. His one-off solo show was part of the casino’s 30th anniversary celebration, but the evening also felt like a homecoming for the Connecticut native.
Over a relaxed, engaging two-hour set, Mayer moved through hits, deep cuts, and well-chosen covers, switching among guitars and briefly setting up behind the grand piano for “Changing.” A beautiful rendition of Beyoncé’s “XO” showed his sensitive side, while a snippet of Tex Owens’ “Cattle Call” gave him a chance to show off his yodeling – and have a little fun along the way.
It was Mayer’s first Connecticut show since the 2023 Sound on Sound Festival, and he clearly enjoyed reconnecting with the hometown crowd. His good-natured banter wandered into everything from audience requests to home decor. “I know what your kitchen looks like; I have the same kitchen,” he joked, drawing laughs from fans who are thrilled to claim him as one of their own.
The conversation was entertaining, but the music gave the evening its heart. Opening with “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room,” Mayer demonstrated his gift for turning uncertainty, longing, and self-doubt into songs that feel deeply personal yet widely relatable. Familiar favorites including “Queen of California,” “Your Body Is a Wonderland,” and “Neon” brought fans to their feet, with many singing along to every word.
His guitar work was equally compelling. A decade of playing alongside members of the Grateful Dead in Dead & Company has expanded his musical reach and earned him legions of new fans. In the solo setting, his deft playing stood out even more clearly, with rhythmic accents and melodic phrases that spoke as eloquently as his lyrics.
Guitar enthusiasts had plenty to admire. Mayer played a custom-made 12-string National resonator on “Walt Grace’s Submarine Test, January 1967,” an engrossing story-song that is one of his most rewarding deep cuts. Later, he brought out his double-neck Martin for “If I Ever Get Around to Living” and “Edge of Desire.” Looping in a progression on the 12-string neck and accompanying himself on the six-string, he built a fuller sound without sacrificing the intimacy of the performance.
The encore paired a crowd-pleasing “Gravity” with Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’,” a fitting close to an evening built around strong songs and robust guitar work. Mayer makes intricate playing feel natural, and personal stories feel familiar. That combination helps explain his enduring appeal, evident in his upcoming 18-show residency at Sphere in Las Vegas, the first singer-songwriter to headline multiple dates there.
Mohegan Sun’s Rocktober concert lineup includes Daughtry on October 15, Ricky Martin on October 18, and Rush on October 30 and November 1. Learn more at MoheganSun.com.
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