Jackson Browne - Fan Letters & Reviews
August 1999
how many of us women would say or admit that we are but in love with the writer of beautiful love songs, sad songs, and great rocking songs and...with this very attractive & talented person.
i admit this. hope to purchase tickets to the santa barbara concert. welcome home jackson, a san luis thirty-something birthday girl!
Visit www.billboard.com/feature/emmylou.html for info on the new Emmylou Harris/ Linda Ronstadt album, and how it was partly inspired by a Jackson Browne performance.
(c) The Associated Press
By DAVID GERMAIN
BURBANK, Calif. (AP) - Jackson Browne, Shawn Colvin, Bruce Hornsby and Bonnie Raitt, whose paths often have crossed on tours and in the studio while working on one another's albums, have packaged their mutual admiration for a 22-show tour.
"These are my favorite singers and songwriters in the world," Raitt said in an interview with Browne, Colvin and Hornsby at NBC's "Tonight" show studio before a recent performance.
While it's a dream date for singer-songwriter fans to see so much talent on stage for three hours, the foursome say it's their chance to hit the road with people and music they love and respect.
"It is like running away with the circus," Browne said. "We're leaving all the responsibilities and the hard-fought-for control that you have and giving it up to people that inspire you and challenge you."
The tour, which begins Aug. 26 in Mansfield, Mass., and finishes Sept. 25 in George, Wash., grew out of benefit shows Raitt, Browne and Hornsby did together for Hurricane Mitch victims in December. They enjoyed themselves so much they decided to turn it into a longer gig.
"We had such a great time," Hornsby said. "Bonnie called me once a week for the whole month of January and said, 'We have to do this. It's too much fun, too much of a kindred-spirit feeling. We have to do this for real.'"
They invited Colvin to join them, along with David Lindley, a longtime Browne collaborator.
They've put together a five-piece band to back them and plan to perform a combination of one another's music and some songs by other musicians.
"It's not like a Vegas show. This is four people playing in a living room, basically, and inviting 15,000 people," Raitt said.
They'll be trading vocals on one another's songs, offering new takes on familiar material.
"They're like super versions of these songs because of the concentrated vocal power," Browne said. "Some of my songs are just better than they've ever been."
The friendship and good humor they hope will characterize the tour showed through during the "Tonight" show rehearsal, when the four and their backing band broke into a playful, funked-up version of "End of the Innocence" -- a Hornsby-Don Henley composition -- and a semi-bluegrass take on "Amazing Grace," complete with whoops and hollers.
All four said they were happy to back out of the leader's spot and blend into a band.
"Anything's a relief if you do one thing long enough," Colvin said. "If you play solo long enough then you get to play with a band, that's a relief. If you're with a band, then you get to play solo, that's a relief.
"If you do your own material constantly, then suddenly there's a world of other people's material that you admire and love open to you, what a relief. It's great for me to be a backup singer and a rhythm guitar player."
They'll be recording the tour and have talked about putting out a live album or video afterward. And Colvin said they even talked about extending the quartet's travels to Europe, Africa and Australia.
The group kicked around ideas for a band name in the vein of other super groups such as the Traveling Wilburys. In the end, they decided a name would have been too confining and would detract from "something as special as this," Colvin said.
Instead, they said, they've simply focused on the music and having fun with musicians they've long admired.
"All the practice singing along in the car with these people's songs is now paying off," Hornsby said.
NOTE: A full tour schedule and ticket information is available on the Concert Information Section of this website, including special Gold & Silver Cirlce tickets for many of these shows!
Visit www.usatoday.com/life/enter/music/lemindex.htm for a USA Today article on the group tour.
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
8-24-99
Jackson Browne, Shawn Colvin, David Lindley & Wally Ingram, John Trudell and Ulali to Perform at the 10th Annual Verde Valley Music Festival on Saturday, October 2, 1999.
Tickets On Sale August 28, 1999 at 10:00am
Sedona, AZ - The 10th Annual Verde Valley School Music Festival in Sedona to benefit the Native American Scholarship Project will take place on Saturday, October 2, 1999 featuring Jackson Browne, Shawn Colvin, David Lindley & Wally Ingram, John Trudell and Ulali. The benefit begins at 12 Noon at the Warren Hamilton Amphitheater located on the campus of the Verde Valley School. All performing musicians are donating their time and talent in support of the Native American Scholarship Project.
General Admission tickets are $35 and go on sale Saturday, August 28 at 10:00am at all Dillard's outlets statewide as well as Corral West in Frontier Village in Prescott, Jessie's Music and Video in Cottonwood, and Bike and Bean in Sedona. To order by phone call Dillard's at 602-503-5555 or 800-638-4253.
In 1990, Jackson Browne organized the Verde Valley School Music Festival in hopes of enabling Native American students to attend the Verde Valley School through the Native American Scholarship Project. The idea to create the Native American Scholarship Project arose because at that time, Native American scholars had an alarmingly high first-semester drop out rate compared to the other minority college students. It's a big step from Native communities to the college classroom. The Verde Valley School helps prepare these students for college by providing them with the knowledge and skills they will need to continue their education. It's always been the dream of everyone involved that the Verde Valley School will not only help successfully place Native American students in college, but that once they graduate, the students will take their knowledge and skills back home to share with their communities.
Concert Shuttling
A free shuttle service will bus concert go-ers from a general parking area in the Village of Oak Creek, three miles from the school. Please carpool to the parking sites to save energy and help reduce traffic congestion. For safety reasons, it is imperative that all concert go-ers use the shuttle bus system instead of walking or biking to the concert site.
Concert Guidelines
The Verde Valley School Music Festival is held on a high school campus. Please do not bring drugs or alcohol to the festival. Individual sized picnic coolers are permitted, as are low backed beach chairs. No cans, bottles or deck/lawn chairs please. The parking lots open at 9:30am. Festival gates open at 10:30 am. The music will begin at noon and is expected to finish before sunset.
For additional information about festival or special patron tickets contact the Verde Valley School Productions at, 520-284-1982.
Hi all,
Just arrived home from the show at 2:20am. It was worth the way i'll be dragging at work tomorrow.
The show was in one word, GREAT. If you don't want to know Jackson's set list don't read any farther.
So your intersted?
The show started promptly at 7:30 with David Lindley and Wally Ingram taking the stage. They played a set of 4 songs including Meat Man and Cat Food Sandwiches. Jackson came on stage about 7:55 and performed a song I'm not familar with, with Lindley. Shawn Colvin came out on stage for the start of Everywhere I Go, to be by everyone else by the end of the song.
I'm not familar with much of the songs by Raitt, Colvin or Hornsby so I'll just give you Jackson's songs, I the order I remember them.
Not Everyone was on stage for every song. They keep switching around. Bonnie Raitt's father was in attendance and interduced to the crowd. Much more but I have to get to bed so I can get at least 3hrs of sleep.
there is no way I can give a complete setlist because they played for just short of 31/2 hours (7:30- 10:50) they started right at 7:30 with 2 David Lindley/wally Ingram songs and then came Jackson to sing come all ye fair with David then the band came out and they did Everywhere I go and from then on it was a wonderful mix of songs played by all and assorted combinations on an equal measure of each of the artists songs. seemed like mostly bigger hit songs
Some songs I remember:( this is not the order this is just what i remember and may not be spelled right or actual correct title so bear with me)
All i can tell you it was great- SO GREAT- I'm still in awe the music the sound was stunning tonight. the grooved so well together. nothing i can say can really explain the "magic" of the mix.
if you are going get there on time it started at 7:30 promptly
please excuse all gramatical erros in this post - it's late very late......
Enjoy!!!!
The talents of Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Bruce Hornsby, Shawn Colvin and David Lindley combined on Thursday August 26th at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield, MA in a magical evening. The concert certainly showcased the amazing talents of these individuals without one person dominating the show. A true synergy took place with the overall quality of the show being more than each person could have provided by himself or herself. The concert was unique in that one supporting band supported all the musicians and no defined set was played by anyone other than an opening 3-song set by David Lindley. Instead everyone played together in an even flowing set that must have amounted to at least 30 songs.
The show opened with David Lindley showing that he can play anything with strings as well as anyone. His talent has to be one of the most under rated in all of music. After about 4 songs Jackson came out to join him on an acoustical version of "Everywhere I go" As the song progressed, they were joined by Shawn, Bruce and finally Bonnie. It has never sounded better.
I canŐt get into the playlist for the whole show, because it is so long, but the songs Jackson chose were:
All of the songs he chose sounded as good as I ever have heard them but the highlights were Barricades of Heaven, World in Motion (both acoustical), The Pretender (very anthem like-truly excellent) and Running on Empty. The crowd response to the latter two was amazing and as good as the other songs were I could not help wondering what response he would have got for Late for the Sky, For Everyman, Take it Easy, Fountain of Sorrow, Sky Blue and Black, Too Many Angels, Etc,Etc. In general, people seemed to be disappointed that he did not bring out more of his "chestnuts" but he did do an excellent job on all of his choices.
Other highlights of the show included anything by Bruce Hornsby, who played all of his hits, Bonnie and Bruce together on "I canŐt make you love me" and the playing of David. Between David and Bruce all of the songs sounded just superb.
Overall, it was a great show, although anyone looking for a Jackson Browne greatest hits show would be disappointed. Overall, I personally enjoyed it as much as last yearŐs Bonnie/Jackson tour, but this show was just as good, just different.
If you like these five great performers it is a must see experience.
Last night, I attended the Jackson Browne/Bonnie Raitt/Bruce Hornsby/Shawn Colvin concert at the Tweeter Center (Great Woods) in Mansfield, Massachusetts. What a fantastic performance! I cannot imagine that anyone wanted the evening to end. The performances were evenly divided between all four artists (plus David Lindley, who did an opening set and played with the band intermittently). All were obviously thrilled to be playing together, and did backup for each other on almost every selection. Jackson Brown began the show with "Everywhere I Go," a terrific beginning during which he was joined by Colvin. He also sang "The Pretender, "Running on Empty," and "Somebody's Baby," among others. The evening continued until 11 pm without intermission, just wonderful and varied performances by all four, together and separately. What a combination!
Stolen from the BOSTON HERALD:
Bonnie And Pals Raitt High MarksBonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Shawn Colvin, Bruce Hornsby and David Lindley, at the Tweeter Center, Mansfield, last night.
It was a band that set the gold standard for American pop rock. The names tell part of the tale. Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Shawn Colvin, Bruce Hornsby: three decades of cogently rootsy, intelligent pop.
But this was also a wonderfully organized three-hour show that was more than the sum of its starry parts. It was a true group effort with a smoothly shifting talent roster. There were duos, trios, striking harmonies, a mutual appreciation society.
"This is a present to ourselves," said Raitt. "I'm having the time of my life!" (It was also a family affair: her father, John Raitt, took a bow from the back of the stage.)
Colvin, the "youngster" of the group, was just as thrilled. "If you told me a few years ago I'd be playing with these people, I'd have just died," she said before the whole crew joined her for a moody, elegant version of "Shotgun Down the Avalanche," a still dramatic song from her coffeehouse era.
The only weakness of the night was a preponderance of mid-tempo mellowness that sometimes seemed closer to L.A. soft-rock than roots-savvy pop. Bruce Hornsby wasn't advertised as a headliner because of a recent, conflicting South Shore gig. But between piano, accordion and vocals, he dominated the night.
As gifted and distinctive as he is, his plush jazz pop diffused some of the soulful blues-folk energy. It must be noted, though, that radically revamped jazzy versions of "The Way It Is" and "Mandolin Rain" were adored by the crowd of 9,000.
The scope of the show was so wide momentum was sometimes sacrificed. The balladry by Colvin worked well, with "Polaroids," and "Mona Lisa," effectively moody. Raitt's "Nick of Time," self-accompanied on piano, was devastating.
The uptempo, urgent material by Browne was also a tonic, with David Lindley wailing like an inspired banshee on steel guitar and a crazy array of stringed instruments. "The Pretender," "Running On Empty" and "World in Motion" were especially tasty. Lindley, who opened in frisky duet with drummer Wally Ingram, was as swampy down-home as Hornsby was uptown sophisticated.
All I can say (as you've heard from a couple others above), is if this show is in your area - get tickets.
There was so much talent on this stage (along with guitars - I've never seen so many guitars).
No one stole the show. Everyone was in top form. Mostly played their "hits" and I was a bit disappointed Jackson didn't sit at the piano at all. Bonnie sang Nick of Time playing piano. But Bruce stole the show on piano.
Lindley added a wonderful dimension to everyone's music. He did have red polyster pants with a black/red flowered shirt. Bonnie had a green camisole with green silk shirt and black capri length pants. Shawn was dressed in all black, and Jackson had grey pants with a cotton shirt which was black and appeared to be small checkered. I was about 10 rows from the stage.
Although I didn't hear this group when they were on Leno, and the posts to the list weren't favorable, the group does End of the Innocence in a brilliant fashion at this show. NO LET DOWNS HERE.
There was a beautiful duet with Bruce Hornsby and Shawn Colvin which Bruce said they recorded. Anyone else going to these shows - would you kindly let me know what that song is. It's absolutely beautiful.
Bonnie's voice was more amazing than any of her records give her credit.
They all complimented each other. Each one was truly having "fun" with this show. Even Jackson was more talkative than his usual and he attributed it to being with all his friends on stage and having fun.
Jackson (in my opinion) was the one who really got the show going. He finally got EVERYONE to get on the feet with Running on Empty and The Pretender. None of his old music.
Hope I gave this list another glimpse at what's in store for them. Again, all I'll say is GET YOUR TICKETS if you are able.
What an amazing night. The harmony, the piano, the guitars and the steel guitars too! I don't want to disappoint all you fellow Jackson fans, but he flubbed the words to the Pretender! Small price to pay.
The show was evenly distributed and made the most of each talent. Shawn Colvin sang like an angel. Bruce Hornsby must have his fingers in ice. Bonnie Raitt was superb, and so personable. Jackson, well, we all know Jackson. He's one of a kind. I can only imagine this show will be better with time, and what a good time they are having.
I am disappointed is that Jackson Browne didn't play Fountain of Sorrow with Bruce Hornsby playing piano. Also, I thought for sure that Bonnie and Jackson would do Rock Me on the Water. Maybe they'll read this and those choices will end up on the album or video. Anyway late at night from upstate New York,
Worst seats in the house, literally last row balcony (never again will I phone in for tickets!!)! Rained all the way there and all the way back...BUT....it didn't rain at SPAC so we sat outside, stars came out, temperature was perfect, the crowd was psyched, little kids were dancing in the aisles, the sound was phenomenal (SPAC can sometimes be a little fuzzy, 2 years ago I couldn't understand Jackson Browne or Shawn when they were speaking, tonight it was DIGITAL); virtually every aspect of the concert was perfect. New video screens , either this year or last cause they were not there 2 years ago. Beautiful night, might have been a different "state" than that from which we came.
There were no showboats, but every one of them busted his/her butt to do the next number better than the last, and they succeeded. I can't give you a set list. I can only tell you that they were having so much fun, it was magical (move over Elton, you have company.) At one point Bonnie said, "We're having a party here, glad you could come." I think she meant it from the heart. I knew almost nothing about Hornsby and I'm an instant convert. David was in even finer form than usual (and I didn't even know Wally was gonna be there!!! Great surprise!) Jackson Browne and Shawn (is there something going on there?) were having a ball. She could not stand still, danced all night. If someone doesn't tape Jackson Browne singing Pretender on this tour , it's a crime. Never heard him sound better.
This rates as one of my top 3 concerts of all times. I rarely let my fragility interfere with my life but I had to quit before they did....3 hours before they even left the stage to come back for more. At least 3:15 but my body had to take my fried brain home at that point so I don't know how long they kept it up. If you were on the fence about this mixed bag tour, GET THE HELL OFF IT!! You will never forgive yourself if you miss this.
Peace to all who cross this path.
As noted by others that have already written, the concert with Bonnie, Jackson, Shawn, and Bruce was a magical evening. All artists shared their own music backed up by a great band and harmonies. The obvious chemistry between Jackson and Shawn and between Jackson and Bonnie is unavoidable to notice. The show started promptly at 7:30 with David Lindley and Wally Ingram. I have sen Jackson 4 times now, and I have never seen him perform live with David. That alone made the concert special. Jackson came out at about 8:00, and it caught many offguard. Hundreds of people rushed to their seats at that point. They all bid their goodbyes at 10:30, but came back for a full 1/2 hour after a thunderous standing ovation. I went mostly for Bonnie and Jackson, but the whole show was well worth it. All the artists seemed to stick to their "hits". I enjoy so many songs by Jackson other than the big ones. I was a bit disappointed that they all didn't sing "Angel From Montgomery" at the end as they did on Bonnie Raitt's "Road Tested" CD and video. If you have a chance to see this ssow, don't miss it! :-)
The Jackson Browne et. al. concert in Wantagh, NY was an unforgettable experience. Three hours and forty minutes of non-stop music without an intermission. The previous posts regarding the concerts did convey the spirit of friendship on stage. Just ten points I remember which were not mentioned:
We just got back from the show in Saratoga Springs and oh, what a show it was! Here's a partial set list.
Set List:
David Lindley and Wally Ingram opened the show with Meatman (a song written by Jerry Lee Lewis, David said) and followed it up with Catfood Sandwiches, a hilarious take on the food that David said had been served backstage at a concert venue ("not this one") in the past. A true story, he added, penned by Lindley himself. Next it was Well, Well, Well (by Danny O'Keefe and Bob Dylan) and a fourth song that was not familiar to me.
Jackson then took the stage (amidst cheers) and launched into Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies with David singing harmony. Wonderful. I really enjoyed this one which I'd never heard before. Also, it was a real treat for me to see Jackson and David perform together. (Though I'd seen David do a live show before (The Very Greasy Tour in '88) and I've seen Jackson perform many times, this was the first time I had the opportunity to see them do a show together.)
Everywhere I Go with Shawn Colvin on backing vocals was next. Very nice. I thought the different combinations all worked so well, whether it was Jackson with Shawn or Bonnie with Bruce or even all four of them singing together. They just sounded so great. Rounding out the six musicians were George Marinelli on guitar, Kevin McCormick on bass and Fritz Lewak on drums.
Hats off to Bonnie for coming up with the idea for this tour. Bonnie said she had wanted to do this for some time but conflicting schedules in the past had always prevented it from coming to fruition. It was great for all of us that her dream finally became a reality. And I think, for her, it had its rewards, as well. "I've wanted to play slide guitar with David Lindley all my life," she said at one point and on Thing Called Love she finally got her chance. They were oh, so amazing.
What the musicians brought to one another's songs was something quite remarkable. I've always loved Jackson's solo acoustic Barricades of Heaven but the version he performed tonight with Shawn on backing vocals and David on fiddle was so beautiful. Though he didn't play piano at all at this show, we did get a chance to see him....on percussion (!). Hmmm. Was he actually playing that shaker or just holding it? I'm not really sure.
Apart from the many, many musical highlights there were, as well, the jokes and comments we've all come to expect at these shows. Prior to World in Motion, Bonnie declared, "Jackson's got great taste in guitars". Then, with his guitar in hand, she added, "there's nothing like some familiar wood." Jackson laughed and responded, "She can't help herself."
The comments were flying tonight. Bonnie said "we're having a party up here" and, at times, it appeared they were. But besides the obvious camaraderie, there also appeared to be a sense of mutual admiration for one another, which was expressed at various times throughout the evening. As the line-ups changed, the various performers would leave the stage and then reappear a few songs later. At least that's how it appeared initially. After a while I noticed, though, that they did not actually leave the stage but instead took a seat behind the equipment, where they would look on with admiration at whoever happened to be front and center at that time. At one point I saw Jackson in the shadows applauding (along with the audience) to a song that Bruce Hornsby performed. At another point, following a favourable crowd response to a Shawn Colvin song, I heard Bonnie say, "She's my favourite, too."
This show also provided me with an opportunity to see Bruce Hornsby perform live for the first time. He certainly did not disappoint. Lost Soul and Rainbow's Cadillac (I'm not sure about these titles) really showcased his talent and what a talent he was! His performance of Rainbow's Cadillac with Bonnie was just incredible.
On Nick of Time Bonnie took to the piano, adding that she wanted to show the "big boy" what she had learned in piano lessons. This one featured Jackson on percussion (the shaker) and backing vocals and Shawn on triangle and backing vocals. Really wonderful. There were just so, so many remarkable performances at this show. I HOPE they follow up the tour with a live album.
I Believe I'm in Love with You with Bonnie singing lead, Bruce on harmony and Jackson on guitar received a standing ovation, and deservedly so.
The Next Voice You Hear with Shawn on backing vocals was very nice, although it's not one of my favourite Jackson Browne songs. I agree with the person who said they would have loved to have heard Rock Me on the Water. With Bonnie and Shawn doing backing vocals, I think it would have been incredible. But don't get me wrong. I was not in ANY way disappointed with the song selection. It's just that they all sounded so good together that it only left you wanting for more.
They all joined Bonnie for a wonderfully inspired version of Something to Talk About. Then Jackson left and Bonnie and Bruce joined Shawn for a beautiful version of Shotgun Down the Avalanche. Though it seemed they tended to favour their more recent material, they did manage to include some of their older songs as well. (I was hoping Shawn would play Steady On (a favourite of mine) but she didn't. In my opinion she more than made up for it, though, with this one and Diamond in the Rough.)
What followed was, indeed, one of the MAJOR highlights of the show --- Bruce Hornsby's The Way It Is. The ten minute piano intro was positively awe-inspiring. He had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand after this one. No surprise. This one brought down the house.
I wondered how anyone could follow that. Well, Jackson managed it with an absolutely UNBELIEVABLE version of the Pretender, which received a standing ovation. His vocals were SO amazing, SO inspired on this. I've heard several versions of this song (and very good ones at that) but this was by far THE best version I've ever heard. It really seemed that this group of musicians brought out the best in each other. Some truly, truly inspired performances.
Shawn followed with a terrific Diamond in the Rough, which I think received a standing ovation, as well (if it didn't, it should have).
Running on Empty. Jackson fluffed on the words here, but the song received a standing ovation, nonetheless. Musically, it was GREAT.
1st encore
The Valley Road with Bruce Hornsby. Wonderful
2nd encore
A Shawn Colvin song (Polaroids, I think) with Bruce accompanying her on piano. The first time I'd heard this song. What a song! From here they went directly into a medley that included Just My Imagination, Heart of the Matter and (I think) Every Little Thing
Mercury Blues! Oh, how I'd hoped to hear this one. David took the 1st verse, Jackson the second (wow!) and Bonnie the 3rd. I loved it!
The End of the Innocence. Better than the Leno appearance, although it seemed that Bruce began winding down one verse too soon. (It WAS late, after all). Either that or there was one VERY long pause after the second verse. Eventually they picked it up and carried on. Regardless, it was lovely.
If it was true, as Bonnie or one of the others said, that there were times when they were just winging it, it was done with such aplomb that you couldn't really tell. They are all such accomplished musicians that despite numerous line-up changes throughout the show, transitions appeared smooth and effortless. And this was only the second show of the tour! (I'm sure the crew deserves credit here)
As well, it appeared that they gave their all as artists, providing us with so many outstanding performances. I think that it would be an absolute crime if they do not follow up this tour with a live album. There was just such an incredible amount of talent here. And beyond that a sense of mutual respect and admiration for one another that served to further enhance the show.
Thanks, Russ, for posting the info on this one. I don't live near Saratoga Springs and know for a fact that I would never have known about this tour had you not posted info on this website.
And to those people who have not yet seen this show: If you have the chance, don't pass it up. I doubt an ensemble as fine as this one will ever pass this way again.
Since I've been to the show at Jones Beach the other night, I can't stop thinking about Jackson. What a unique performer -- all of them really, that they can work so together on all their music. Jackson and Bonnie did not try to take over the show, they acted like one band. On the down side, I am now in dire need of a pure Jackson show.
P.S. HE LOOKS GREAT!