Well he didn’t ever make the Cavern but Jackson Browne has now performed at the cavernous Liverpool Echo Arena. His last three trips to Liverpool have seen him play at the more ornate and baroque setting of the Liverpool Philharmonic. Apart from being a highly gifted and original musician Jackson Browne is a poet and thrives on intimacy. Therefore his transfer to the more prosaic and functional Arena was always going to be interesting.
Jackson Browne with the able support of David Lindley and a talented band of gifted musicians produced a show of two halves. The first set comprised of just Jackson Browne, David Lindley and a percussionist whose name I didn’t quite catch perhaps Dito Gineranno? – shame on me because he was really good and he deserves to be recognised. The trio managed to produce a jamming session that was both eclectic and intimate. Starting off with a couple of non Jackson Browne songs Seminole Bingo by Warren Zevon and Carl Hiaasen and Bruce Springstein’s Brothers Under the Bridge was novel.
Following Looking East David Lindley sang the Blind Willie Johnson classic Soul of a Man. Declining the invitation of a local wag to embark on their own rendition of Twist and Shout [in the Arena’s acoustics it sounded remarkably like a request for Twist and Shite - a truly apposite request] they moved onto For Taking the Trouble before finishing the set with For Everyman The obvious pleasure that all three gained from simply playing together gave a real insight to what nourishes and sustains their creativity. It was a classic JB set
Next up came Set 2, the full band and amplification
The Band comprised Mark Goldberg on Lead Guitar, Kevin McCormick on Bass Guitar, with Jeff Young on organ. All three have worked with Jackson Browne for many years and are of course outstanding musicians in their own right. Mauricio Lewak was excellent and tight on drums. Backing vocals were supplied by the superb voices of Aletha Mills and Chavonne Stewart. Completing the entourage was the co-star of the show David Lindley. David Lindley is fantastic musician and a long time musical partner of Jackson Browne whose first collaboration goes back to 1973 and the For Everyman Album and has continued ever since
In just under two hours they covered four decades of Jackson Browne’s repertoire delivering classics from most of his 13 original albums. Inevitably there were some old favourites missing but hey ho when you have written over 120 songs you can’t do them all.
To anyone who hasn’t yet seen or worse heard of Jackson Browne then life still has many treasures to offer you. His music style is varied as he has embraced so many different influences and harnessed them to his own sweet sound. He was one of the seminal originators of the West coast sound of the Birds, the Eagles and Crosby Stills and Nash. His work includes blue grass, country, tex-mex reggae and he has even been known to belt out the odd disco number. If you are in a crap job try listening to the Pretender, if your love life is dire try I’m Alive, if you think nuclear power is a good thing then see a shrink but first listen to Before the Deluge, if you are concerned about the plight of the third world try Too Many Angels or if you just want to hear some fantastic music why not go for Doctor My Eyes, Running on Empty or I am a Patriot or of course just get your arse down to one of his concerts. They were all in the show.
Jackson Browne is a poet, musician and humanist whose music is timeless and transcends national boundaries. Shifting the mile down the hill to a different Liverpool venue was no problem and his devoted fans loved him.
Set List
Set 1
Seminole Bingo
Brothers Under the Bridge
Looking East
Soul of a Man
For Taking the Trouble
For Everyman
Set 2
Wonderland
Rosie
Time the Conqueror
Giving that Heaven Away
Late for the Sky
My Problem is You
Too Many Angels
I’m Alive
Doctor My Eyes
Mercury Blues
The Pretender
For a Dancer
Running on Empty
Encore
I am a Patriot
By Tom Webb
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Like many of Jackson’s fans I’ve been a proud follower of this amazing guy for abour 30 years, I fist saw him in concert in London in 82 having bought all of his albums back then.. I was in Liverpool also ( I hate the acoustics there ) but Jackson was superb, 2nd set was the one for me and my 12 year old who knew all of the songs having been brainwashed by Dad ! – Keep going Jackson – we’re with you all the way…
The Spanish percussionist is Tino di Geraldo. He also toured with Jackson and David in 2006, which is immortalised on the ‘Love is Strange’ album recently released.
liverpool last night was the 2nd time i`ve seen jackson,the 1st was manchester last year and i`ve got to say the review did not really come close. manchester was great,but last night was out of this world.i`m now in my 50s(where has it all gone)seen some top solos and bands of all types but jackson and the band are up there with the best, add david and we`re on a rocket to the moon! sat next to a girl and her dad, she in her 20s and she was not the only one,who knew all the words and did all my dancing for me,(i just look so sad doing it now)and she was having a great time.just goes to show it`s all about the x factor for the kids now theres still hope? 1st time felt the need to post on the net thats how good it was.
I have been a jackson browne fan for many years, enjoyed his music and live performances over those years. Missed the echo arena show, but his last live performance in Liverpool at the Philharmonic Hall last year was DIRE!!!!