John Mayer - Crossroads (Live at Letterman)

[PeyotePaul]

I love his version, especially how the whole band drops out right before the solo.... Perfect way to build tension and add energy to the song.

[fenderstratguy]

Below is a list of all the John Mayer haters on this channel who have played in front of 28,000 people:

.

[JDrockerDUDE]

people need to learn what a sell out is. all a sell out is is doing what the record company tells you to do because it pays good. Totally abandoning your creativity originality and heart for your music. 

[SmiffyDelta]

7 people are... well.... just fucking clueless dickheads!

[losttolose]

I a very big mistake to put seats ...

[XxmynameboratxX1]

Love that note at 1:43, he makes it look so effortless

[BuckinBronco123]

Mayer is pop and blues. Gross plays jazz, swing, Chicago blues, Texas blues, Rock, Soul and a bunch more. Gross is more multi-dimensional than Mayer. Gross has a unique style. Mayer is primarily a blues cover guy. If he put out a good all blues album i would be more inclined to take him seriously as a blues artist. Right now I just don't.

[voodooblueskid]

@BuckinBronco123 try! - john mayer trio.... lol

[1Guug]

@BuckinBronco123 John Plays blues, pop, r&b, soul, a little bit of funk + he has a very unique style. But i know what you mean.

[Rockcall110]

Fuck Yea ;)

[BuckinBronco123]

Still proved my point pal. Those people are killing music. They are the poster children for the Cancer of the modern music industry. They're not artist at all. Without mass media brainwashing marketing campaigns and effects like autotune, 75% of these pop sellouts would be singing in a parking lot panhandling. I rest my case!

[CStheoneandonly]

@BuckinBronco123 John Mayer isn't one of them, douche.

[BuckinBronco123]

@CStheoneandonly Nice comeback for a guy who looks to be about 12 years old. Still waiting to hit that growth spurt aren't ya son. Seriously get a grip. LMAO!!!

[CStheoneandonly]

@BuckinBronco123 he's not. You're resorting to calling out on things that have nothing to do with the music.

And I don't want to sound like some loser teenager but I'm 16 and 6'1"...

[BuckinBronco123]

@CStheoneandonly Your comment was an insult so I responded as such. We disagree about Mayer end of story. Frankly I'm done wasting my time with some zit popping yuppie in high school. Have a nice day!

[CStheoneandonly]

@BuckinBronco123 lol you're clearly a loser. Attempting to make fun of people younger than you who you feel are inferior to yourself...over the internet too! Just because your days are past their prime and you feel music is done because of everything that's out today (Bieber, Rihanna - which we agree on by the way) doesn't mean you should come out and spew your skewed opinions on videos by quality artists like John Mayer.

Oh and you like guns...you're cool!

[BuckinBronco123]

@CStheoneandonly Dude I'm in my mid 20s with a great career. I'm as happy as ever, get over yourself already for crying out loud. Let's just agree to disagree, fair enough?

[CStheoneandonly]

@BuckinBronco123 how am I not over myself? you're the one acting like you're better than all of us...

[BuckinBronco123]

@CStheoneandonly I'm not better than anyone, I just disagree with your opinion of Mayer's status in the Blues world. That's it.

[CStheoneandonly]

@BuckinBronco123 then answer this: which current Blues artist is better? and I don't mean Clapton and whoever is still around.

[BuckinBronco123]

@CStheoneandonly I don't get the question, how can someone be a current artist and not be around? Anyways, I'll attempt to answer your question. Dave Gross is a young and up-and-coming blues guy. He's not really well-known because he's not mainstream, but he's a very solid player who I believe is much more versatile and true to blues than Mayer. Sugar blue and Robert Cray are some other older guys that are still really active in the blues world.

[CStheoneandonly]

@BuckinBronco123 I mean not past their prime. And you know more about Blues than me...how is JM not versatile though?

[BuckinBronco123]

I don't care if you respect my opinion or not, who are you to validate or discredit anyone else's opinion? The fact that you assert Mayer being an equal to Clapton and co. is laughable and asinine beyond belief. Mayer will never do half of what they have for music. Clapton is a legend, Mayer is a wannabe. Learn the difference Mayer lovers and stop throwing temper tantrums dunderheads.

[CStheoneandonly]

@BuckinBronco123 You're an idiot dude.

[BuckinBronco123]

@CStheoneandonly Says the guy with Brittney Spears, Justin Bieber, and Rihanna videos on his channel. Stop it, seriously you guys are proving my point. Just agree to disagree and leave it alone.

[CStheoneandonly]

@BuckinBronco123 wow before I thought you were dumb because of your opinion (which was unfair). Now I KNOW you're dumb - clearly those are covers by artists that I support, I really, really, really don't like any of the three you mentioned. Clearly Clapton and SRV did more for music, but that's all due to timing! JM just happened to be around later. And no one even tried to say Mayer did more, they were discussing talent alone.

[StephanGregor1]

Some things I don't like about the guy, a lot of his music I think sucky, good mainly for getting your girl warmed up for some coziness. I wouldn't listen to this treatment of a blues classic twice (I really couldn't watch it through a single time). That's just music, and the beauty of it that there's something for everyone.

But down below here, I see a whole lot of stuff has nothing to do with music.

Some folks here need counselling. Or a boyfriend.

[BuckinBronco123]

I never said he didn't have talent. I said he put a pop spin on a blues classic FACT! You're clearly nothing more than a Mayer fanboy. Every single Favorited video on your profile proves it, shame for you though because last time I checked gay marriage is still banned in NY. If anyone is getting there shit touched it's you asswipe. Go do everyone a favor and choke on Mayer's dick. You yuppies drool over Mayer, when he'll never be a fraction of the man Clapton, SRV, BB King or Duane Allman are.

[joshski85]

@BuckinBronco123 Nothing wrong with being a certain kind of pop artist, SRV,Clapton,Allman have all released or been involved in pop efforts so I don't understand the point you're trying to make there.Anyone involved in music knows sometimes to push something you truly believe in you have to give the record companys/radio stations a pop song it's not rocket science.And you think BBking and Claptons opinions might hold a little more weight then yours? cause I sure do.

[BuckinBronco123]

@joshski85 That's false dude Clapton, SRV, Duane Allman were strictly Blues or Rock guys. They never did Pop like Mayer. Not arguing with you but a lot folks nowadays don't know pop from blues and that's sad.

[joshski85]

@BuckinBronco123 So your telling me in your opinion that,Change the world,Wonderfull tonite, are not pop songs? you definatly can't be telling me that It's in the way that you use it isn't a pop song.All pop means is popular, so yeah SRV,Clapton an Allman have all been apart of or wrote pop. An in the age of auto tune wrap you would think people would be a little of appreciative of arist like Mayer who compose, write an perform there own music.

[morselax012]

@BuckinBronco123 SRV, Clapton and Duane Allman or the Allman Brothers Band or the Almond Joys, whatever facet you want to pick were all "pop" in their day. Pop just stands for popular.

[Mharr1s]

@BuckinBronco123 you either know little to nothing about guitar or you are just an ignorant fuck. anyone that has been playing guitar would not deny the skill that mayer has. He plays blues, everyone steals licks from everyone. He has his own licks, plenty of them. Go back to getting your ass touched.

[pumukellll]

can someone tell me whats the basic techinque hes build the intro on? i fukn aweeeesome

[youngprofessor]

yeah,man!

[BuckinBronco123]

Mayer is overrated, I remember when this guy was singing pop ballads for snot nosed teenaged brats. Anybody recall "your body is a wonderland" lol. Leave Robert Johnson, Slowhand, and SRV's material alone Mayer for Christ sake.

[buckleygeneration]

@BuckinBronco123 OK, so what you're saying is you remember way back when he made, in your opinion, bad music? Yeah, I always stop listening to a musician if I find out they once made some bad stuff.

[V3niceKing]

@BuckinBronco123 Who you think gets paid more? Pop John Mayer or Blues John Mayer? Call him a sellout or say what you will but you would play whatever made you the most money too. Blues is his passion, his pop stuff just pays the bills.

[metart93]

@V3niceKing you realize that if what your saying is true, he is the definition of selling out right?

[voodooblueskid]

@metart93 selling out is when your company tells you what to write about and all that.. john has said he LIKES to write pop music.. just cause he likes blues more should he not wrote pop because it'll get him money?

[CatchHellsBlues]

@V3niceKing now don't make a mistake both pop and blues are great! noone really listens to blues in a way you would wait in front of a music shop just to buy a copy

[1Guug]

@V3niceKing

it would aggree with you, but John Mayer said once that he would love to write only blues stuff but the pop stuff just pops out of his mind. We can't choose what kind of songwriter we are.

[surfer1211]

@BuckinBronco123 You clearly can't let go of your generation; & by saying "anybody recall Wonderland?" all you're doing is proving the point of his versatility. He plays pop tunes because he likes that but he loves blues & its clear hes damn good at it. If you cant see that than you just can't move on from your time. Not to mention his pop songs are so beyond regular pop, look at the music & you'll understand. Fact is every living blues legend has let him sit in; he's doing something right.

[SuperHarvestMan]

@BuckinBronco123 He's not that overrated. He's more underrated than anything, because people (like you) can't get out of your head that he's done a couple gen pop songs. So what? Are you that much of an elitist? Do you hate Clapton because he did Wonderful Tonight (a lame ballad)? At least he has a job making music that pays the bills. I'd do a few pop songs if it meant I got to live well off and write music and jam with the greats like Clapton and BB; like Mayer does & u don't.

[SuperHarvestMan]

@BuckinBronco123 I'm guessing you're an SRV/Clapton fanboy, and a non-musician (or a shitty one) at that. You're offended that some people consider John Mayer blues, yet SRV is also blues. You're offended that John Mayer can cover every blues classic, and blues out better than you ever will on guitar hero. And I've never seen a musician be so disrespectful to such obvious talent, and to a guy who's just having fun living the dream. So clearly you don't know shit about music.

[BuckinBronco123]

@SuperHarvestMan You guys need to get a clue Mayer is great at what he does, but putting him in the class of Clapton and other blues greats is insane. I have a different view with a right to have it. If you don't agree fine, but this is America, not red china or liberal socialist Europe. Grow the fuck up and get over it already.

[bluestastic]

@BuckinBronco123 actually last time i checked this is the internet, and by saying such a stupid comment you've waived your right to have your opinion respected.

also, mayer has shared the stage with clapton et al hundreds of times. all of these greats that you say are out of mayer's league, would tell you you're wrong.

and they are right.

[SuperHarvestMan]

@BuckinBronco123 You're the one with the elitist attitude, not me. You've been comparing Mayer to Clapton. No one tried to say they're on the same level. He's just doing a cover that everybody and their grandma knows how to play. And then you started going on about how he's no SRV or Clapton. Yeah obviously, he's not them. He doesn't try to be like them. If you have an opinion that's fine, but you're the one who's comparing, and that's just fucking stupid.

[terzolilu]

Robert Johnson is calling: fuckin like that !

[McdougallJake]

haha clapton could never play as good as mayer! shit just keeps getting better!

[PBLero]

@McdougallJake troll be gone!

[LifeasaScotsman2010]

@McdougallJake Respect the classics man. These new guys wouldn't be anywhere without em.

[Bigbluesboy]

I don't understand that John Mayer is covering Clapton's version of Robert Johnsson's Crossroads. He is just summering up the best of Clapton's Crossroad solos in his Crossroads version. John Mayer is the best copycat there is...

[dfg1999]

Real guitar player

[joakimrainer]

damn! best crossroads intro i´ve ever heard! please someone put out a lesson video on it!

[sportsportsport]

Robbie is one cool mother fucker!

[TheDancingSaxophone]

1:27 DANG. That is one thin neck for a fender.

[parkermckinleymyers]

@TheDancingSaxophone it's probably because his hands are HUGE.

[TheDancingSaxophone]

@parkermckinleymyers Most likely. :) But it still looks kinda thin. I play a strat myself, and the neck on that is a lot thicker looking.

[JMBelief1]

Alright let me try somethin here... What a great way to start that sick intro!

[Geoffreyg41]

Nice try, it's good to innovate but I can't feel the blues in this version, you can't see the man actually coming to the crossroads and sell his soul to the devil.

[albertobsn]

@Geoffreyg41 THAT'S WHAT I MEAN!

[albertobsn]

@Geoffreyg41

[ixlikexscurvy]

Cant wait for this guys next album. It's supposed to be all bluesy, no pop shit.

[chronoisworking]

@ixlikexscurvy nope, its all bob dylan singer/songwriter style. Go watch the youtube videos for his new songs like Age Of Worry, Something Like Olivia, and Shadow Days.

[chronoisworking]

@ixlikexscurvy oh and blues is a type of pop music. I wish people would stop using pop as pejorative. Jimi Hendrix, Robert Johnson, BB king, Paul Weller, they are all pop stars. They play pop music. Blues, AAB form, the title of the song is repeated alot... its more pop than alot of pop!

[bpurfiel]

I've listened to this 1000000 times just for that intro.

[VHrules78]

those hammerons before the intro own!

[PhilKingMusicPage]

my goodness... id expect this to have 59,894 views if there were two people alive.

[brunosmovies]

i hate his poppy stuff but this is jizz

[modjias]

Robbie Mcintosh owns that slide guitar..

[djgca1]

Gosh dang Steve's snare drum! Sounds magical.

[emdblues]

groovy

[emdblues]

man, what a player...

[Rees473]

It's funny how the audience can't find the right beat to clap on in the funky intro. So they end up clapping on the off beat. Fail.

[cmusatang6606]

Hi. I'm Ricky Bobby and if you like John Mayer then **** you

[TheLennyboy13]

@cmusatang6606 how about you go **** yourself!! his crossroads cover version is great, different from robert johnson

but still great!!!

[cmusatang6606]

@cmusatang6606 i meant if you DONT like John Mayer then **** you. if you DONT like.

[nathanmcdable]

@cmusatang6606 lol save

[nathanmcdable]

@cmusatang6606 lol bellend

[ghostbuster323]

He definitily reverses the stereotype that only scary people have full sleeve tattoos haha 

[bigmack209]

why are these bitches sitting?!

[ysound]

what tha hell,this man has a guitar in his hand when he was in his mother's womb

[MrMeiryou]

Usually I feel like jammin' after his videos... But this time I just know I'm not good enough to pull out even one of these awesome riffs... Damn it! >_<

[SocksInPanic]

@MrMeiryou

The main riff is pretty much the easiest stuff Mayer EVER played O.o

Play Neon. Thats tough.

[stratocaster137]

he's sick, that intro is awesome

[fenderdude137]

how does play what he plays from 1:07 - 1:12? specifically the right hand

[khoiavo]

@fenderdude137 I think he's just strumming with his hands.. but it looks like he's beating the neck cause he's strumming up there

[shootthephoneco]

um. why is this not on a live album

[awesomejohnnet]

Very nice cover , good feel, great tone, and nice solo..

[rickcochet]

Steve Jordan is awesome!! great drummer 4 a great guitar player!

[BluesGuitarSG6]

What a beginning! He's so amazing live!

[Jamzamurai]

this starts sucking at 4:52

[jakedeving]

@Jamzamurai I got mad at you until i understood the joke haha

[Zelcibot]

@Jamzamurai i know you try to get thumbs up, just cut it failer.

[Jamzamurai]

@Zelcibot waddya mean?

and failer is not a word

[MrKingguitarshop1]

john is the man!!! i'm brazilian and i like so much!!! extreme talent

[andyHMFCbrown]

THE MAN HAS GOT TALENT :P

[87Bussiere]

Whenever I see Him play this song I always Think he could give it a bit more feeling but A good version none the less

[dwdavenport]

sweet technical beginning

[ajensson]

Who were the 2 deaf people?

[ajensson]

I love the Van Halen at 3:43. JM c'est tres superb!

[TheDistortionist]

@ajensson That's more of a Jeff Beck.

[Mikemaddog]

this in a really sick version. John Mayer can shred.

[ledzeprulz1234]

Robbie Mcintosh kicks some damn ass

[junebug47]

@ledzeprulz1234 steve jordan kicks some damn drums

[ledzeprulz1234]

@junebug47 Totally agree with that too, in the words of John himself, "No one plays like Steve..."

[richierich1283]

5 part hormonizer in action with his voice makes it exciting

[alapunk13]

is he slapping those strings?

[izzbiz12]

it's like keeping beat, almost playing his guitar as a percussion instrument, that sound is super

[fenderdude137]

how did he get so good at playing? was it just millions of hours working things out from other solos or what? his sense of groove is unbelievable

[giddensisadualist]

"alright let me try something..."

[AndrewDavisMusic]

i think the reason he covered this was so he had rights to play this song live almost every night on his tour. i mean it looks extremely fun to play, i'd do the same. haha

[jingwah]

why is robbie so gangster..just someone please tell me..

[olli1895]

learnd this funky intro:) hard as hell but never give up, i used 2 days to learnd all the song :) but i have play'd guitar for 4 years now, playd lots off conserts here in norway, :) i'm norwegian :) can all the john mayer songs :) love this guy !

[boffe19]

what kind of fuzz is he using?

[mayerguitar]

@boffe19 its a pete cornish NG-2

[GuitarHickNick]

@mayerguitar Can a Fuzz pedal really sound $1000+ good? I think I'm just speaking out of jealousy but wow you could rent like 4 phillipino women for that

[turkasaurusrex]

@GuitarHickNick lol are you saying filipino hookers are cheaper than other hookers of different ethnicity?

[Blubellfield]

@mayerguitar

It's an amazingly awesome fuzz!

[Drizzydid]

@boffe19 what is fuzz? also whats the best gibson les paul-ish guitar

[huzza18]

@Drizzydid It´s a special kind of distortion pedal and a Gibson Les Paul is a guitar that´s known for its thick , fat classic rock tone . John plays a Fender Strat which is known for clearer , thinner tones .

[juxeboxhero]

@Drizzydid A Fender Stratocaster!

[hockeyMVP4life]

@boffe19 although the dunlop dallas arbiter works just as well :)

[theoffspring1012]

@boffe19 When i play this song i just turn down the tone on my guitar and turn the gain a little bit up ;)

[theoffspring1012]

@boffe19 You can get sort of the same sound just by turning down the tone on your guitar and turning up the gain a little bit ;)

[modjias]

Robbie Machintosh is the fucking slide king!

[FirstFactionFilms]

Out of all the songs on his new album, I would be willing to bet he loves playing this one best!

[dovey16]

i believe that john mayer is one of the best guitar players around, right now.

[iis2yooh]

intro was fucking sexyyyyy!

[ghaddy07]

its almost as if the guitar is about to go off.

[xoHanBanox]

i went to his concert last night

IT WAS AMAZING

i love this man soooo much

want to have his babies

[scottelliottmusic]

....wait....i just got to the slide work...THAT is the best part of this whole video.

[scottelliottmusic]

The intro is the best part of this...

the rest reminds me of when Rappers try to be actors....

[specialagentslowhand]

pop artist keeping the blues alive. can't complain

[daveoman1]

Went down to the Crossroads, flagged a ride with Jeff Beck in a 32 roadster.

[JHaynesVideo]

The song is structured so that the solo and resolving chorus really stand out. Hence why John makes the verses fairly "flat".

It's also a homage to cream's version, as on the album it's very under-produced (compared to the rest of his songs).

He's undoubtedly THE standalone guitar hero of his generation.

[hockeymanx19]

I like that technique at 1:08

[TheJuliusJT]

nice!

[DEkappytan]

the reason the vocals are flat is because he wants to take the song in a different direction. both johsnon and clapton did the pained, deep torment thing. this is just him trying to be different.

[tobiasdahlstrom]

I agree, the only part of this song I like is the solo. The rest is just... flat

[iplayguitar420]

uhmm that fucking intro is sick i neeeeeeeed to figure it out !!!!

[olli1895]

@iplayguitar420 learnd this funky intro:) hard as hell but never give up, i used 2 days to learnd all the song :) but i have play'd guitar for 4 years now, playd lots off conserts here in norway, :) i'm norwegian :) can all the john mayer songs :) love this guy !

[guitardog0]

@iplayguitar420 no you dont. you need to know how to feel the beat and music. once you got that. you can play. doesnt have to be that but better

[qba5775]

@guitardog0 riiiiight, but how is he gonna learn funky playing technique without learning some licks and tricks and bits harmonies? Sometimes you need to recreate something note by note to develop improvisation skills. Sounds like a paradox? Maybe, but getting familiar with some solos, intros, melodies and stuff doesn't lock you in an unbreakable schema.

[alapunk13]

@qba5775 I agree with this comment

[juniormorossino]

@iplayguitar420 toca igual, mané.

[pianoplayer1224]

@iplayguitar420 As soon as you do, tell me! i'm workin' too :)

[pumukellll]

@iplayguitar420 post a lesson, when your done :D

[iplayguitar420]

@pumukellll haha will do once i get some better recording equipment ;]

[LadyDarkWalker]

eh??

[cgb1050]

Funky as Hell!!!

[jjbennett123]

I love John Mayer but the only bit of this song i actually like is the solo. The singing has NO emotion at all in it for me.

[josse89]

just listen to the main and backing vocals together.. Or listen to the album version, together it sounds amazing! but because it's live you don't hear it that wel..

[PeterZeeke]

you dont like the way it starts? funky as hell