Mayercraft Carrier: Belated, thong-free videos

I have to admit that all those John-Mayer-in-Borat-thong photos took the wind right outta my sails in terms of posting about my Mayercraft Experience. It took me several long minutes to even regain the ability to speak after first seeing them, but really, nothing I'm capable of writing could ever compare to... ahem... that. These as-promised videos also feel quite dull by comparison, but perhaps you can forgive them.

The Paste crew attended the first of John's two nighttime headlining shows in the Carribean Lounge. The Lounge features octopus-patterned carpeting, a mirror-paned ceiling that rattled disconcertingly along with the performers' basslines, and a giant art deco-y chandelier that looks as if it could do some serious damage if a screw or two ever came loose. We had fourth-row "table" seats and were looking forward to sitting back and taking in the show, only to find that everyone around us had no intention of sitting back, or sitting front, or sitting any which way at all. Should have known-- John Mayer fans are standers. So we became standers, too. At least for a little while. But then all the weird buffet food and the lack of sleep and, yes, the three super-fruity drinks from the Best Week Ever bon voyage party conspired to send me back to my cabin for an early bedtime. Gotta say, the intense digital camera flash action didn't help much. This video was taken right as John emerged from backstage, but it continued pretty steadily throughout the four songs I was there for. I should have kept taping, because the flashes just did not stop. It struck me as a little ridiculous. (I have somewhat of a missive brewing on superfans and their rampant, completely unnecessary flash photography during concerts, but that'll have to wait.)



In addition to his two shows in the Carribean Lounge, one afternoon John also appeared for a brief, open-air acoustic performance on the Lido deck. Folks were staking out chaise lounges and standing-room seats hours and hours before the 3 PM show, so we latecomers were left to skirt the perimeter of the crowd for the best possible vantage point. The real show for us, though, was the huge, crawling crowd-- look at that! So many people! So much John Mayer love! We really thought the boat might sink. (This would have been a less-scary idea if we'd actually learned anything during Friday's life jacket safety tutorial, but uh, we didn't.) My favorite part is how the crowd just suddenly ends. That's Caren in the sunglasses, making her "THIS IS CRAZY" face at the camera towards the end. And that's me at the very end, looking very much like how I felt the whole time.