John Mayer made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Monday (June 7) to offer up a first-ever live performance of his latest single, Last Train Home.
Despite dropping the new track, teasing a hot pink PRS Silver Sky and announcing the name and release date of his upcoming album in less than a week, the blues ace showed no sign of slowing down the pre-album hype train, and went full steam ahead for a retro-infused rendition of his latest ‘80s-flavored single.
Armed with the aforementioned axe, Mayer’s effortless melodic guitar playing takes center stage, propped up by the band’s period-accurate sonic appointments suited to boot with double-keys, massive synths and a selection box of vocal hooks.
Mayer allows himself a little more room to let loose on his signature guitar by the time the extended outro comes around, offering up wailing whole-note-and-then-some bends, pinpoint sliding stabs and a descending pentatonic flurry to round things off in style.
The Continuum mastermind was joined on stage by his Last Train Home studio collaborators, which included Toto percussionist Lenny Castro and keys legend Greg Phillinganes.
Also joining the fray was long-time Mayer sideman, neo-soul sensation and session powerhouse Isaiah Sharkey, who can be seen wielding a PRS Silver Sky – Frost-finished with matching headstock, no less – of his own.
John Mayer's upcoming album, Sob Rock, will be released on July 16, and is available to preorder now over at sobrock.net.
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Matt is a Senior Staff Writer, writing for Guitar World, Guitarist and Total Guitar. He has a Masters in the guitar, a degree in history, and has spent the last 16 years playing everything from blues and jazz to indie and pop. When he’s not combining his passion for writing and music during his day job, Matt records for a number of UK-based bands and songwriters as a session musician.
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