The weather intrigued Mayer, who kicked off his performance with an album-quality version of "Why Georgia." "I don't know if you know but there is a sand storm. The locals are used to it. But it's making for some interesting saliva."

In between adept guitar solos that made his right hand a blur, Mayer used self-deprecating humor to amuse the audience, poking fun of his tendency to be "too nice" to autograph seekers.

"I can't blow them off. If someone asks, 'John, can I get you to copy the Bill of Rights on the CD?' I say, 'Sure, let me get my quill.'"

Mayer playfully ended his song "83" by performing snippets of Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and Lionel Richie's "All Night Long."

Mayer performed some songs from his forthcoming album "Heavier Things," including the bluesy ballad "Come Back to Bed," which possesses all the romance of "Your Body is a Wonderland." He wrapped up the tune with a few lines from the Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want."

The concert, which also featured the Counting Crows [ tickets ] and Maroon 5 [ tickets ], was a night of strong vocals.

Counting Crows' frontman Adam Duritz was in top form, soaring through his band's hits as well as songs from its latest album, "Hard Candy." He was chatty from the get-go, filling the first third of the set with curious banter.

"Nice to see you," Duritz said arriving on stage. "We were backstage talking a lot of stupid s---. Now we're out here doing the same. I have a load of dumb s--- to say. I'll save it for later. Hit it boys."

As soon as "Have You Seen Me Lately" wrapped up, Duritz was back on the mic, commenting on the scorching Phoenix weather. "This is too hot to live. I ain't gonna lie to you. I feel like my head's gonna explode. Why do you live here? … It's a desert. I have a lot of good friends who live here. They're nice people. My point is, I can't be moved to move my ass too much."

Duritz, whose onstage banter faded as the set continued, led his group through a series of reconfigured hits. An impassioned, conversational version of "Mr. Jones," played acoustically, earned steady applause. Duritz danced with his hands during Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi," a single that the band cut with Vanessa Carlton.

Duritz, alone at a piano, performed a stunning rendition of "Goodnight LA.," and two disco balls were lowered from the stage roof for the rollicking "Hangin' Around."

Maroon 5 vocalist/guitarist Adam Levine served up a healthy, soulful voice from his unassuming, petite frame. He swung a mic back and forth, and jumped up and down like a wind-up toy preparing to cut loose. His soaring vocals at times earned standing ovations. Several fans held signs proclaiming their love for Maroon 5, something that threw off Levine.

"When you started to put that sign up, I thought it said, 'loser' [instead of 'love']. I thought, 'Damn. That's f---in' cold.'"