Mayer, Jeff Beck Play On

In the wake of the Sewol ferry disaster in South Korea that resulted in more than 250 deaths, mainly of high school students, most entertainment events were canceled throughout the country.

Photo: Owen Sweeney / Invision / AP

Baltimore Arena, Baltimore, Md.

One that wasn’t was John Mayer‘s first-ever concert in South Korea, at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul May 6.

Anticipating that his concert might be deemed inappropriate while the country was still mourning, Mayer tweeted from Japan, where he was playing, that he was “thinking about the people of Korea” and “having conversations about how we can help while there.”

Like Jamsil Indoor Stadium, who played Seoul the week before, Mayer wore a yellow ribbon during the concert in tribute to the victims, and announced before he started playing that he would donate the profits from all concert-related sales – meaning albums, T-shirts, whatever – to a charity fund for victims’ families.

“I’m deeply sorry for such a tragedy that struck the nation,” he was quoted as saying by the fan site KpopStarz. “I’m so grateful that all of you could attend my concert despite the sadness. I’m praying for the victims. I will sing every song for them.”