Anne: Then he told us that he had received a note from someone during the break. It was from a guy in his high-school class reminding him of an upcoming reunion. This led to some very funny and poignant remarks about high school in general and about the people he saw when he went to the 25th reunion.

He almost started the next song then, but then laughed a bit and told us some more about the note from his classmate. There was a P.S. that said, "I know where Mary Ann Luther is." Jackson said Mary Ann Luther was the girl everyone was in love with, especially him. He described talking to her on the phone a few years ago, and how in his mind she is still 15

There were lots of funny tidbits during this concert, but you sorta had to be there

I had the pleasure of attending my first Jackson Browne concert on August 20 in Medford, OR at the Ginger Rodgers theater, what is know as The ol' Crate, or short for "Craterian' by the locals. Named for it's proximaty to Crater Lake National Park. The theater was built around 1924 and has been transformed into an inimate music and performance hall with acoustics that Art Garfunkel described as " the songs practically sing themselves." Ok, that pushing it a bit, none-the-less, it was a perfect setting for a concert with as much anticipation as this generated.

The night began with a huge ovation from the crowd that was very grateful to be able to hear such a ledgend in our little town ( population about 60,000). He began very close to 7:30 pm. Jackson's voice was just amazing. When he finished his first song, the audience knew we were in for a night to be remembered for a long time. He stuck with his planned set for the first four or five songs. I could read the play-list from my seat directly across from the mixer-board. My first thought was, " oh he is just going to play the same songs he plays in every show on this tour". I was soon to find out how wrong first impressions can be.

Most in the audience were very appreciative and respectful to Jackson. Others however made my feel like I was trapped in a re-run of the Mac Davis show. At the first hint of the applause waning, they would yell out every Jackson Browne song that they could think of. All at the same time. What did these people think? Did they think that the show was going to be over in 45 minutes and feel like they did not get to hear what they came to hear? Jackson was unbelievably cordial, simply stating that he could only understand them if they spoke one at a time. Like a school teacher would tell a class. I wish some in the audience had not been ditching class during music appreciation 101.

He wanted so much to appease the audience that I feel that he strayed from the game plan to the point that he reached a point of distraction. Upon reading some notes, and hearing that he is a bit of a perfectionist in his music, I'm sure that it was a little unnerving to get through most of a song ( one he stated that he had not played in years in concert) and miss a couple lines.

One song, ( and my appologize for not knowing the title) he got about halfway through and just bagged it, claimed that he did not have notes/ teleprompter to follow. Not to make excuses, just to point out the fact that he was merely human, just like the rest of us.

He is such a musical poet ( There's a lot of words, Jackson,) as a former producer from some of his albums would tell him. How could you have every word of every song you had ever written in your head? More so when you consider the artful language and complexity of many of his songs.

During the break between sets, Jackson informed us that he had " re-learned" the song that he gave up on earlier in the first set. He played it with such soulful emotion that it was a truely moving experience. The applause lasted until his next song began. There was no break for the " name the next tune for Jackson" to begin, thankfully. His second set was much more of a mixture of different levels of intensity, and era's of music. Jackson really connected with the audience, for being percieved as shy person, he shared much about himself and his past with all of us. It was such a moving experince, he really ingraciated himself to all of us there that night.

The Jackson Browne concert that warm summer night will be a show that I will never forget. I would not say that I am a " super fan " of Jackson Browne, but have always enjoyed his songwriting, singing, music, and what he stands for as a person. This show changed that. I am truely awestruck by the performance that he gave that night. He played for another hour and a half after about a twenty minute break. His voice was just as clear and strong nearly three hours into the show as the first song. And if you see how many dates he has on this tour, it is even more remarkable.

If you have chance to catch this tour, I would emphatically recommend it. His music is as timeless now as when the songs were written, some of them thirty years ago. It is so hard to believe that Jackson Brown has been playing for as long as he has. How did it happen that we all got older, fatter, grayer, balder, and Jackson Browne seems to be ageless. We should all be so blessed.

It was over 25 years ago when I first saw Jackson Browne perform live in concert. In fact, I first saw him play at the Orpheum in Vancouver with Bonnie Rait in 1973. Obviously, at that time both artists were just embarking on what would become two very prolific and successful musical careers. I also was privileged to see JB perform with his band in a stadium setting in Vancouver in 1987. That tour coincided with the release of 'Lives in the Balance'. Needless to say, I have nothing but blissful memories of both concerts.

When I first heard JB was returning to Vancouver to play the Orpheum once again, I was more than willing to lay down close to 50 hard-earned Canadian dollars to pay another visit to an individual whom I have long admired as a songwriter, a singer, and a musician. If I had an American quarter for every hour I have spent listening to JB's recordings over the years, I would have definitely spent far less time in my personal struggle for the legal tender. There is no question people like myself have been key players in JB's personal struggle. This undying devotion has no doubt assisted JB in shaping a fountain of money as opposed to a fountain of sorrow. As a long-time fan, I am definitely leaning toward the latter.

During the morning before the concert, a good friend of mine at work remembered that I was going to see a concert at the Orpheum. He thought I was going to see James Brown. I chuckled. Isn't he in jail?

I must admit I was somewhat apprehensive about a solo concert by JB. Certainly one of the features I like most about JB's music is the instrumentation. Would his music sound hollow and thin without the likes of David Lindley and others at his side? What about the rich harmonies that I have grown so accustomed to? Would JB be the one running on empty?

Equipped with my 7X50 Bushnell binoculars I arrived at my seat in the nose-bleed section of the majestic Orpheum at 8:00 P.M.. I estimate that this landmark theatre holds about 3000 patrons. The first thing I noticed was more than half of the combined upper and lower balconies were empty. I prepared to quickly move to a better seat just as soon as the lights went down.

During the next 14 minutes, I tried to locate the images of the naked women illustrated in the serene ceiling mural. Fortunately, I did not need to use my binoculars. With the naked eye (plus corrective lenses) I counted three. I also gave some thought as to when the magnificent chandelier hanging from the center of the mural was last cleaned.

The stage was empty with the exception of an amplifier, 4 acoustic guitars sitting on a nifty rack (there was room for a fifth), a simple Yamaha electric piano and stool, two microphones and their stands, and a few floor pedals. At each side of the stage, a set of four speakers. At 8:13 P.M. JB's soundman/ guitar tuner/roadie carefully placed his list of songs for the evening on the floor at the center of the stage. He did not use any scotch tape.

JB casually walked on stage at 8:14 P.M with his open-tuned, Martin guitar strapped on and ready to play. As the lights dimmed, scores of patrons sitting in parts of the upper balcony quickly moved into the more expensive seats to be closer to their hero. There were plenty of great seats to choose from. I nestled in nicely. JB was dressed in a charcoal grey, loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirt with blue trousers and a pair of shoes that resembled bedroom slippers. He looked very relaxed. Serene. Almost young for his age. A little like Davey Jones. I wonder if he colors his hair?

Here are the songs (25 of them) that JB performed at his Vancouver concert.

First Set:

1. I'm Alive
2. In the Shape of a Heart (Great song. He fumbled some of the guitar parts in the early part of this song but seemed to recover nicely. Opening jitters? It didn't seem to bother him.)
3. Farther On (JB noted Vancouver is beautiful. Where have I heard this before? The reason JB likes performing solo is that he gets to play anything he likes or he can remember. )
4. Looking Into You (Talked about growing up in a house his grandfather built. Lived there until he was 12 and then moved to a house in Orange County. He picked up an obligatory long-stemmed red rose from one of the female patrons after performing this pearl penned in 1971.)
5. The Barricades of Heaven (Any concerns about the absence of sidemen were laid to rest with this classic, powerful, driving song. I wish I was once again cruising down I-5 with my soon to be wife in my 1967 VW Beetle listening to Orange County's native son on my Learjet car stereo. A warm, tingly feeling. Remarkable. I still have feelings.)
6. Your Bright Baby Blues
7. For a Dancer
8. Cocaine (JB recalled a scene from A Hard Day's Night in which the four lads were traveling on a train. They were passing bottles of coca-cola around. When someone passed a bottle to John Lennon, he pretended to snort it. JB thought that this was a very cool scene. I watched JB closely during this song. Performing it really seemed to make him appear euphoric. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, I assumed it was pure showmanship. He has added some new verses to this ditty. All in all, I still prefer his 1977 version. I often wonder how many people thought this drug was cool after hearing this song. One kiss leads to another.)
9. Lives in the Balance
10. World in Motion (The intro to this song featured a few licks from a song written by the legendary bluesman Mississippi John Hurt)

Intermission (As I stepped outside for a cigarette during JB's 20-minute break, a couple of mid-thirty-something females bounced out behind me singing Dr. My Eyes. Very poorly, I might add. I hope he plays it. I love that song. If I were a betting man, I would wager the farm that these were the only three words of a JB song that these two exuberant ladies actually knew. I'm sorry. I hate that.)

Second Set:

1. For Everyman
2. Linda Paloma (At this song's conclusion, this Vancouver crowd was definitely acting out of character when they finally exhibited some genuine and much deserved appreciation toward JB. A beautiful rendition of this song. Who needs harmonies?)
3. Late for the Sky (The most uncomfortable moment of the evening occurred after the conclusion of this memorable song from my brother's favorite JB album. Another cool, patron had attracted JB's attention. This cool cat gave JB a CD to listen to. Thanks. As JB walked back to put the CD down on top of his amplifier, a quiet moment ensued. One of Vancouver's finest took advantage of this lull to loudly ask him to put it (i.e.the CD) on. Classy. Vancouver classy. JB cracked a feint smile. Me, I quietly thought to myself that someone with Jackson's credentials does not deserve such ridicule. Something thrown had not missed. No sooner than my fellow Vancouverites had done me proud with their reaction to 'Linda Paloma', they had in part returned to their usual display of a complete lack of sophistication. At least one jerk did. Poor Jackson. He could have used his band at this moment in the show.)
4. Something Fine (Another beauty from his first album. Nice comeback.)
5. Rosie (The second most popular song of the evening according to this Vancouver audience. What do they know? I have always known what this song is about.)
6. Fountain of Sorrow
7. Too Many Angels (Heavenly sounding )
8. Sky Blue and Black
9. Dr. My Eyes (I've always liked this song but without Jesse Ed Davis' guitar playing justice was not served. I was confused by the ending of this pared down version. Perhaps he has added a new verse or two. It just didn't sound right to me. But I was sure that the two ladies I had run into on my smoke break thoroughly enjoyed it. In my opinion, he did a much better job of this song in 1973 and 1987.)
10. These Days
11. The Next Voice You Hear
12. The Pretender (This is my favorite JB composition. True to form, he performed it superbly.)

Encore:

1. Rock Me on the Water (I wish Bonnie Rait was here to hear how well he sings this song after all these years.)
2. Take it Easy (Co-written by Glen Frey. Played this song using a conventional tuning)
3. Lady of the Well (What a great song to end with)

It was wonderful to see and hear JB perform live once again. The depth and diversity of his multi-textured compositions have always appealed to my particular sound tastebuds. I don't have any idea what JB is like as a person, but I certainly do love his music. Keep up the struggle and being a happy idiot. Play anything you want. I know I will.

Hello fans! My wife and I just attended the concerts in Bellingham and Olympia Washington. We may win the prize for the most miles traveled to see a concert. We drove from St. George, Utah (near Las Vegas) up to Washington for a round trip of almost 3000 miles. The concerts were worth every mile we drove. The first night in Bellingham, Jackson didn't talk nearly as much but the crowd was also much less involved. I was so happy to see such a bare stage: 7 guitars and a keyboard. His voice was so strong and clear. He probably would have been fine without a microphone. The set list for August 16th was:

Easily my favorite song was Late for the Sky. Hearing this song acoustic was worth the price of tickets alone. Fountain of Sorrow was also excellent. Gosh, they were all so good. Jackson was tapping his foot in the songs so loud. We were pretty high in the balcony and could hear it tapping just fine. It was pretty funny. We waited after the show at the bus but Jackson was already in there and didn't sign any autographs but the tour manager took my CD cover and said he would get it autographed then send it to me. Good enough.

The next night was even better. I have been to many concerts in my day but this one was easily the best I have ever seen. I yelled out "Call It A Loan" which he played. It was nice to be in such an intimate setting. Again, Late for the Sky was beyond description. What made the night was when he played "Alive In The World" during the encore. My wife was also happy because he played "Take It Easy" both nights which is her favorite song. I think there is already a set list for this show on the review page. The concerts were amazing. Do whatever it takes to see one of these acoustic shows. Until next time...Take it Easy.

dear russ, first, let me say , your web page has been the best thing for jackson concert info, and timely info has allowed me to obtain tickets to great out of the mainstream concerts.

now, my situation is this, and i don't know if you even do this, but i have 1 extra ticket to sept 2 show in stockton, 5th row, and was wondering if you would be willing to post this to see if anybody wants to purchase it ($40). i'm at alp@inforum.net, thanks,