John Mayer brings intimacy and soul to his India debut

American guitarist, singer and songwriter John Mayer enthralled Mumbai on Wednesday night with his first-ever concert in India. Unlike most chaotic arena shows, his one-night-only performance at the Mahalakshmi racecourse carried an air of intimacy and calm, evoking a sense of slow living.

The audience felt more, listened more and recorded less — a rare sight in today’s concert culture.The evening opened with Abdon Mech, the Nagaland-born, folk-leaning artist who has captured attention across India and beyond with his soulful songwriting and pop-indie sensibilities. He was followed by indie artist Tejas, who further set the tone for the night.Mayer took the stage at 8:30 pm. With a guitar slung effortlessly across his shoulder and a calm, assured presence, he drew the audience into a shared, almost reverential stillness.

Performing solo for an uninterrupted hour and a half, he commanded the stage with ease and quiet confidence. The show also featured nostalgic flashbacks from his journey, taking fans back to where it all began.

Known for seamlessly blending rock, blues and pop and for his smooth, technically intricate guitar work, Mayer is celebrated for his live performances. In Mumbai, he gave it his all, effortlessly balancing musical brilliance with warm, easy conversation.

He apologised for rescheduling the concert, originally slated for early January. “Mumbai, it’s good to see you! Thank you for waiting a couple of weeks longer and thank you for making it.

I love you,” he said.In a light-hearted and unusual compliment, Mayer said he admired Mumbai’s haircuts and joked about wanting to run his hand through everyone’s soft hair. “The Mumbai men have such a great flow to their hair,” he observed, drawing smiles from the crowd.

Mayer’s setlist traced the full arc of his celebrated career, weaving together timeless favourites such as Gravity, Slow Dancing in a Burning Room, Love on the Weekend and Edge of Desire among others. Each song felt thoughtfully chosen — not merely to showcase his technical mastery, but to honour the emotional connection he has cultivated with audiences worldwide, and now with fans in India.True to his global reputation, Mayer delivered more than just a concert — he created an experience. He moved seamlessly between blistering guitar solos and quiet, soul-baring moments that left the crowd visibly moved. Among the celebrities spotted at the concert were actor-singer Meiyang Chang; actress Anjali Anand; filmmakers Sidharth Roy Kapur and Krishna D.K; and Sussanne Khan, among others.The show was produced and promoted by BookMyShow Live.