Hot tickets: John Mayer, Santana and Passion Pit

John Mayer performs July 31 at Jiffy Lube Live (Brian Jones/AP)

Thanks to an interview with a certain adult publication earlier this year, John Mayer showed the ability to turn heads with his thoughts as well as his guitar skills. But foot-in-mouth moments for entertainers are a dime a dozen; virtuosic guitar skills are another matter.The latter will be on display when Mayer performs with the Avett Brothers, July 31 at Jiffy Lube Live. Tickets ($36-$79.50) go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. through Live Nation and Ticketmaster.

Here's a list of the other shows you can snag tickets for beginning this week:

Tickets go on sale Thursday at 10 a.m. through Ticketfly for the following shows at the 9:30 club:
• A Benefit for DC Central Kitchen featuring DJ Will Eastman, US Royalty, Bluebrain and Midnight Kids, May 23 ($40)
• Passion Pit, June 3 ($25).
• Drinking Made Easy with Zane Lamprey and Steve McKenna and Marc Ryan, June 4 ($20)
• Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, June 5 ($20)
• Broken Bells and the Morning Benders, June 7 ($25)
• Dave Rawlings Machine, June 8 ($25)
• The Brian Jonestown Massacre and Young Sinclairs, June 9 ($22)

Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. through Live Nation and Ticketmaster for:
• Unity Tour 2010 featuring 311 and the Offspring, July 16 at Jiffy Lube Live ($37-$52)
• Santana and Steve Winwood, July 25 at Jiffy Lube Live ($25.50-$95.50)

Tickets go on sale Friday at noon through Ticketmaster for these shows at Birchmere:
• Toby Lightman and Aslyn, June 10 ($20)
• Sarah Harmer, June 27 ($25)
• Fantasia, July 20 and 21 ($59.50)
• Maysa, Aug. 13 and 14 ($45)
• Queer Queens of Qomedy featuring Carol Liefer, Poppy Champlin and others, Aug. 21 ($29.50)

Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster for:
• Carrie Underwood, Nov. 16 at 1st Mariner Arena ($33.50-$53.50)
• Silversun Pickups, Against Me! and the Henry Clay People, June 23 at DAR Constitution Hall ($32.50).

Free tickets will be available beginning Monday at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster for:
• Musicians From Marlboro III, May 6 at the Freer Gallery.

For shows with tickets available through Live Nation and Ticketmaster, prices listed are those available on Ticketmaster.

-- Alex Baldinger and Amy Orndorff