Imagine your favourite musician performing in an usually small club of 500 people instead of the hollow but conventional confines of 10,000 or more seated arena.  Imagine if a ticket as hot has that only cost you roughly $12.  For almost 500 ex-patriots, it's a dream come true to see the boy wonder that is John Mayer foot-loose and fancy free in a smoky club on the other side of the Atlantic - that's our side.

While he is still new to the ears and eyes of the UK, tonight's show is heaving with so much homegrown support that you forget you're on your own turf.

Looking down from the balcony of the VIP bar, I thank my lucky stars I'm not sardined in-between the swelling crowd below.  Dressed casually in a t-shirt and baggy jeans, the exceptionally tall Mayer kicks off with 'Why Georgia?' and is welcomed by deafening screams.  I feel the brunt of it from three excited girls squealing into my left ear "Weeee love yooooooooooooooooooou, Johhhhnnn!", and jumping up and down as if a red hot poker has just been rammed up their 'asses'.    When Mayer responds with "I love you too", the reaction is almost orgasmic for them.  My prayers for them to contain themselves go unanswered so without any choice, I slap one of the girls and tell her and her minions to shut up.  And this was in the VIP area.

Mayer appears relaxed as he chats to the crowd in between songs - probably because, as he says, tonight feels "like a second home".  Faithfully supported by his band, they step back into the darkness to allow Mayer to absorb the attention.  

His set-list reflects pretty much the entire track-listing of album Room For Squares, with the exception of a few bonus live favourites and a new song called 'Something's Missing'.  Profusely thanking the crowd, Mayer blasts through favourites like 'No Such Thing', 'My Stupid Mouth', 'City Love' and 'Your Body Is A Wonderland'.  

While the band take a breather, Mayer continues with an acoustic rendition of 'Covered In Rain', before he is joined by bassist David LaBruyere for another song.  Watching the two play together, it suddenly dawns upon me just how tall Mayer is, as he towers of LaBruyere by at least a foot.

Best described as countrified folk-rock with a twist of blues, Mayer and his band are a joy to watch and listen to live.  His soft voice doesn't falter and his finger-work on his range of guitars is always sharp.  Whatever assumptions you have of him are likely to be crushed if you decide to see him live.  It's a completely different experience - one which will leave you with a pleasant smile.
(4/5)