John Mayer, he tells us earnestly in the opening moments of 'Where The Light Is', doesn’t like stuff to work out easily. He prefers the challenge of fighting for something. That may explain why, at a December show last year, he decided to be the opening act, the support band and the headliner. Or he just likes the sound of his own voice.

Thankfully on stage the serial conversationalist lets his music do most of the talking, with each of the sets showcasing a different side of the popstar/celebrity dater/bluesman/guitar hero.

The five songs opening the tastefully filmed and lit show reveal his sensitive singer-songwriter origins as a relaxed Mayer — bar stool and acoustic guitar in place — does the unplugged thing and teaches Jack Johnson a thing or two with hits like 'Daughters' and 'Neon' as well as lesser known offerings such as 'In Your Atmosphere'. A sublime rendition of Tom Petty's 'Free Fallin'' — as delicate as the original is overblown — sets the bar high for the next portion of the show. But the John Mayer Trio — with the ever cool Pino Palladino on bass and the mesmerising Steve Jordan behind the drum kit — deliver.

With all three musicians looking sharp in matching black suits, they take a free-form trip through Mayer's Hendrix fantasies, allowing the singer to affect his best gravelly voice and eyes-closed guitar soloing. A rock solid version of Elmore James' 'Every Day I Have The Blues' has the front man noodling on his six-string like a young Stevie Ray Vaughan but it's the Jimi songs — a fiery 'Wait Until Tomorrow' and laidback 'Bold As Love' — that he's clearly aching to play.

Although it's a brave (or arrogant, take your pick) man who intersperses such classics with his own tunes, the 30-year-old upstart's 'Who Did I Think You Was' — complete with molten lava instrumental breakdown — doesn't sound out of place. The 10-minute swampy slow jam 'Out Of My Mind' also holds its own, while the head-nodding 'Vultures' swings more than a blues song has the right to.

But the real party is saved for the celebratory headlining set. Joined on stage by a full band — including two more guitarists, keyboard player and a brass section — Mayer the hitmaker breezes through his biggest songs. While 'Waiting On The World To Change' sounds more uplifting than the original album version, 'Slow Dancing In A Burning Room' gains a real intimacy, a folksy 'Why Georgia' outdoes Dave Matthews at being Dave Matthews, 'The Heart Of Life' absolutely shimmers with Beatles melodies, 'Gravity' effortlessly slows down to a comfortable Sunday afternoon shuffle. The gentle bounce of 'I Don't Trust Myself (With Loving You)' and 'Belief''s spellbinding late night groove bring back the party mood before 'I'm Going To Find Another You' gently bids the audience goodnight.

And what a good night it's been.

» 'Where The Light Is' is available as a double-CD and single DVD.