(USA Today)-- "It's been a crazy couple of years ... going on bed rest, going a little mad," John Mayertold a crowdin Montana Wednesday night as he took the stage to sing for the first time in concert since April 1, 2011.
The singer, 35, has been sidelined twice by a granuloma, or growth, in his throat. After having surgery for the condition in 2011, Mayer found it had returned in March 2012 and he was forced to cancel a tour and to be silent as he recovered from another surgery. In September, he said it might besix monthsbefore he would sing again.
But he gave it a shot last night as part of the Concert to Benefit the Fighters of the Pine Creek Fire, which raised more than $100,000 to help firefighters who battled this past summer's blaze that destroyed more than 8,500 acres of forest and farmland in and around the town of Livingston, outside of Bozeman.
Joining Mayer onstage were Zac Brown and Clay Cook of Zac Brown Band. Special guests included David Ryan Harris, Sean Hurley, Aaron Sterling, Ben Bullington and Lil Jane & The Pistol Whips. John performed three songs -Speak for Me, Whiskey, Whiskey, WhiskeyandIf I Ever Get Around To Living- from his latest album,Born and RaisedandWho Saysfrom 2009'sBattle Studies.
Mayer, who has a home in Montana, said in a release, "Putting on a concert to raise some money for the departments is the least I can do for a town and a community that has welcomed me with open arms."
And in otherjust-announced news, Mayer will perform at this year's New Orleans JazzFest on April 26.
