I've been fortunate enough to actually meet Jackson Browne more than once in this life. He told me once should I ever wake up to go to a concert of his and come backstage.

Yesterday I acquired a Golden Circle ticket to the Avila Beach concert. I plan to drive in from Chicago and relive my vagabond youth.

The benefit is on October 29th for the developmentally challenged. Coincidentally, my autistic son, Michael, will be 16 on that date.

Here is a poem I wrote about Jackson in concert.

START IT UP

You get into
your playing like
a jet pilot
locking the hatch

Comfortably sung and
fitting well you
prefer piano but
guitar suits you

Wearing your space
like favorite jeans
each nuance rings
your expertise compels

You are proud
of what you
can do it
shows nicely done

When it's over
your fingers tingle
let's play on
more next time

Hi Russ,

I've enjoyed your website for many years, it's the only place for information of Jackson! Love the new look too!

I have two extra tickets for Jackson's show in Irvine, CA on August 14. My friends unfortunalty, have an illness in the family and are not able to go now.

They're Terrace section 11, row HHH, seats 23 and 24. They were $48.50 each plus the Ticketmaster nonsense charges, total $121.00. I'm willing to let them go for less to a deserving fan.

My email is pofin@yahoo.com.

Thanks a lot Russ. Keep us the good work,

Sincerely,

Any other amateur guitarists & JB-fans out there want to join me in lobbying for an authentic (i.e., including Jackson's alternate tunings where appropriate) guitar tab songbook to be based on the upcoming "Solo Acoustic, v.1" album ?

Even before the track list is known, I have no doubt there will be several songs included that I've always wanted to learn to play *authentically* solo/acoustic on guitar.

Any aspiring piano players likewise disappointed with the regular published song-book arrangements (that sound more like "elevator music" than Jackson playing piano in concert) ?

Russ: please offer your advice on how folks interested in a future "Solo Acoustic, v.1" (and later subsequent volumes :-) authentic songbooks can best make our interest/wish known to "Inside Recordings" or whomever needs to hear from us.

Thanks everyone,

as a multi instrumentalist, singer and songwriter i must tip my hat to you my brother. Ive lived my life trying to reach people thru music and it just seems to get harder and harder to get a message out without a gimmic and a bunch of bells and whistles. I have the utmost respect for you and all other musicians who manage to bypass the commercial capitalistic musical empire only to pour out your soul and wear your heart out on your sleeve. i kick myself for not being turned on to you sooner, i am of the younger generation half your age but thanks to lowell george, (one of my dearest guitar mentors and songwriters!) the Eagles and bonnie raitt i have been turned on to your music. Actually it was 'Fast Times At Ridge Mount High' that got me. ive only seen you once on the tour with hornsby,bonnie, shawn and david in NJ and WHAT A SHOW!!!!! words cant describe it! i remember a j.garcia encore (black muddy river i think) that brought tears to me and my girls eyes. not since Lennon has music brought forth such insight and political meaning. Power to the people! i can only ask to get around to playing the EAST COAST MORE OFTEN!! ;) CMON', I'll hook you and the boys up with a fat lobster feast if you perchance make it on up to maine!!!

SHARE THE MUSIC SHARE THE LOVE

in this months british edition of GQ Magazine there is a detailed list og the coolest albums in the world (or something like that) and LATE FOR THE SKY is at no 30. imagine my surprise to read about my all time greatest album in my son's mag. thanks russ for your continuing great work, hello to all of the Jackson people i have met through the years

best wishes

i saw jackson browne for the first time this last weekend in telluride colorado. i was blown away, he was awesome, gracious, a true rocker. I was so impressed by jackson browne and it truly was the best concert i have ever been to, and i have been to many over the years. he is a class act.

Jackson Browne's show on the 23rd in Telluride was phenomenal. The outdoor setting nestled, literally, at the base of mountains on three sides, with the sun setting and a cool summer night coming on, it was something god made for sure. No hand of man there. And Jackson's performance was filled with grace, fun, joy, humility, and a lot of rocking! I was still high from it long into Sunday evening.

It was great to see him having such a good time, playing, singing, laughing, talking sharing his friends (bandmates and Pat MacDonald) with the audience as well as his respect for life -- evident in his attitude, his songs, and the happiness he seems to have while performing. ÝAnd it was great to see it reciprocated by some really good fans of both him and of music. Some bands and followers have fans that can be really difficult to deal with, shoving for their space in front, a weird vibe of competition somehow; none of that where I was, just a lot of happiness, dancing, rapt attention and sharing the vibe with neighbors through smiles and pre-show chat and a gentle excitement.

You know, you read sometimes people saying things like "he's the real thing" and all but you don't really have to read that to know it. I mean, you know it of course by his songs, but action can often speak at least as loudly as words - his commitment to change being the obvious action. But you also know it by the way he is on stage - how he can laugh at himself, share the spotlight with others - his band, other acts, like Pat, Ýeven how he comes on stage - no introduction, he just walks on. To me, that says no pretense and a lot of humility. Very nice and inspiring to see in a performer.

He brought a band, a new drummer (Jamie someone I think he said), Jeff Young, Kevin McCormick, a guitarist named Val, Mark Goldenberg, and an awesome back-up vocalist and percussionist , Catherine Russell I think he said. (To any whose names I screwed up, my apologies.). So the mountains and streets of the four block-wide town of Telluride were definitely rocking. He must have played somewhere between 2 and 2 1/2 hours and it looked as though he would have kept on playing if he hadn't had to end it.

Here's what I remember: he opened with Night Inside Me and then went to Fountain of Sorrow. He also played (now I'm out of order): Naked Ride Home (he forgot the lyrics twice in it and was absolutely charming in dealing with it, especially since he was surprised that he forgot the lyrics to that particular song), Lives in the Balance, Late for the Sky, Culver Moon, About My Imagination, I Thought I Was a Child, For Everyman, For Taking the Trouble, Doctor My Eyes, Take It Easy, The Pretender, Running on Empty, Your Bright Baby Blues. He brought Pat MacDonald out for a great rendition of Memphis Blues (that sometimes had him laughing as though he might fall off his piano stool!), and then he ended the night - saying he was going to not bother leaving the stage and then coming back (yay, no bull!), he ended with I Am a Patriot. I know there was more, but I can't remember now...L

For me - a dose of a night like that once a week would be my version of going to church - and if everyone did it, then maybe the world would be happier!

Peace,

I too attended the KOTO DOO DAH in Telluride. Although I have seen him before this was absolutely the best concert I have ever attended, and believe me I have been to many. What a great talent Jackson is. I would go again if I could and I wish he did more shows!