John Mayer Kicks Off ‘Sob Rock’ Tour In Albany With Toto-Esque Material

John Mayer kicked off his 32-date tour, supporting his new album Sob Rock, in Albany, N.Y. last night (February 17), and videos-a-plenty of the evening were posted to YouTube by concertgoers.

Based on seeing the opening-night setlist, it appears Mayer will steer clear of any Dead and Company material on this outing.

Dressed in a Miami Vice-style white leisure suit and doing his best imitation of Eric Clapton in the late 80s, right away Mayer leaned into his more Toto-esque material (fitting with Toto percussionist Lenny Castro in his band) with the first three songs of the evening, “Last Train Home,” “Shot in the Dark,” and “I Don’t Trust Myself )With Loving You).”

Mayer steered into the sob rock with his fourth song of the night, “Who Says,” followed by “Love on the Weekend,” “Moving on and Getting Over,” “Shouldn’t Matter but it Does,” “Rosie,” and “I Guess I Feel Like.”

Also included in the set was the 2001 hit, “Your Body is a Wonderland,” 2005’s “Gravity,” and 2006’s “Waiting on the World to Change.”

Mayer’s band reads like a who’s who of musician’s musicians: bassist Pino Palladino (The Who, Nine Inch Nails, Jeff Beck, Black Messiah), drummer Steve Ferrone (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Average White Band), guitarist David Ryan Harris, keyboardist Jamie Muhoberac (Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac), vocalists Tiffany Palmer and Carlos Ricketts, keyboardist and vocalist Greg Phillinganes (David Gilmour, Eric Clapton), guitarist Isaiah Sharkey (Black Messiah) and the aforementioned Castro.

There’s been a buzz on social media about Mayer’s mastery of the guitar, especially YouTube the past few weeks, ever since Mayer partnered with Paul Reed Smith to release the Silver Sky line of guitars, an affordable option under the PRS brand. And while Mayer didn’t “rip it up,” it’s good to see him finally getting some love from music fans waking up to his soulful style.

Watch fan-shot videos from the show below.

Last Train Home