|
Fan Letters & Reviews September 2009 CONCERT REVIEW: August 25 at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, UT A wonderful evening in the mountains at Deer Valley. Beautiful setting for an end of the summer concert with JB. He sang beautifully, played beautifully, and seemed to be having a great time. Song list was the same as the past few concerts (although, for some reason, he skipped "Jamaica..."). It was rather cold, so Jackson dispensed with the intermission and played straight through - almost three hours total. I hadn't seen him for a number of years, so I was REALLY looking forward to this. He didn't disappoint. Now my rant: Why, when a concert is outdoors, do people (and most of the crowd was in their fifties or older) have to decide to become drunk clowns? A genius like Jackson comes to town maybe once every five years or so, and half the crowd, by the time he was into the concert 30 minutes were so drunk they didn't even realize he was singing, much less appreciate the talent, work, and beauty of his songs. Everywhere I looked, it was just a party. The two women sitting next to me never did pay any attention to the concert - I'll bet they couldn't name two songs he sang the whole night - before they were drunk, they just talked, eating their picnic food, drinking more and more wine, and by the time the concert really got going they could hardly stand up - and just giggled and laughed out of control. People, please, if you're going to a concert, go to the concert for its purpose - to listen and enjoy the artist. If you want to get drunk and party, stay home, or go to a public park and make fools of yourselves there. Don't dishonor and disrespect someone like JB, who is still cranking out amazing music, enjoying what he's doing, and don't disrespect the patrons who are attending with the intent of listening to one of the world's great artists. In spite of the above "whining", it was great to see Jackson in such great form, looking young, energetic, and singing some great songs. Nothing like Jackson live - but next time I hope he books an indoor venue - without the partiers. Thanks Russ, for your work on this site. Submitted by: mambosmith@gmail.com (TB) CONCERT REVIEW: August 25 at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, UT 
The most amazing Jackson Browne concert I have ever attended....and I've been lucky enough to see him about 50 times!!! My 16 year old son and I were actually able to get back stage and sit and talk with him for about 20 minutes!!! He is exactly like you would think he would be. Nice, personable, and the coolest guy in the world! The crowd was great and the venue perfect. Check out the picture! I've waited my whole life to meet him and my son made it happen.....guess I owe him big!Submitted by: kmartell@ordercsi.com (Kristee M.) CONCERT REVIEW: August 26 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO Time with Browne is well spent. By Ricardo Baca, Denver Post Music Critic http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_13212871 Submitted by: Your Webmaster CONCERT REVIEW: August 28 at Zoo Amphitheatre in Oklahoma City, OK Jackson Browne treats Oklahoma City audience to three-hour radiant performance. By Tricia Pemberton www.newsok.com/jackson-browne-treats-oklahoma-city-audience-to-three-hour-radiant-performance/article/3396786?custom_click=headlines_widget Submitted by: Your Webmaster CONCERT REVIEW: August 28 at Zoo Amphitheatre in Oklahoma City, OK Had last seen Jackson in Tulsa on the Fall 2008 tour, so my "Running on Empty" gauge was approaching the far right, which is not a good sign for us left wing baby boomers in the most conservative state in the country where last November 73% of the rednecks voted for John McCain. However, after tickets went on sale for OKC, I immediately scored 2nd row seats and began the wait for this incredible performer and person to arrive at the Zoo Amphitheater. However, the inept individuals who work for the promoter and set up the VIP chairs in the first 8 rows, had my seat to the far corner of the section, thereby making it very difficult, if not impossible, to see the show. I could only see Jackson when he played guitar and the only band member I was able to see the entire show was Kevin. If I wanted to see the rest of the band, I had to look up at a video screen at the far corner of the stage, causing immense neck pain which will probably necessiate my seeing a chiropractor later in the week. The set list followed what has been played all summer. Jackson sounded great on this "cool" beautiful Oklahoma night (translated meaning temperature at about 78 degrees). The band was tight and the lovely ladies on backup vocals sang their heart out for the crowd. Thanks, Jackson for all the memories over the past 35 years. Submitted by: k.camera@yahoo.com (Kodak) CONCERT REVIEW: August 22 at Maryhill Winery in Goldendale, WA ~ My spirit and soul have been completely renewed ~ As I reflect back on last weekend, I believe that the "Concert Gods" totally smiled down on this beautiful little venue ~ perfect weather, a little gusty at the beginning of the show, but it calmed down and was a fabulous evening under the stars. The scenery in this part of the Gorge is quite different; barren golden hills, with small niches of greenery down by the river bank where the grapes are grown. There are wind turbines that sit atop the hills and the slow movement of the blades (?) in the wind was a bit mesmerizing and really quite cool to watch. We rode school buses down to the winery which I found to be pretty humorous, card-carrying AARP members of the Northwest taking a field-trip to see a Jackson Browne concert! I have wondered if Jackson feels happy or proud that he has maintained his fan base (not that it really matters) as we have all grown older. It has been a long road that many of us have traveled together. Our stories/lives are so much the same and yet so different. Whatever our paths have been, we have always shared one common thread which is Our Music and the influence that it has had in shaping the adults we have become. Few artists have stayed the course and managed to keep up with the changing times; write music that is relevant and still sell out a concert tour. It was a privilege to see Jackson Browne and his band at this stage of his career ~ and I do hope that he takes it as a compliment that many of his fans are starting to turn a little gray! The concert was more than amazing. The set list seemed to meld a perfect choice of songs, and continues to define how timeless Jackson s writing is. I was hoping that he would do Rock Me on the Water and was pleasantly surprised early on. It seemed like a silent ripple went out through the crowd and that everyone was completely in the moment, while at the same time thinking back to where they may have been or what they may have been doing so long ago when they first heard this song. I think every pore in my body opened to take it in....it was absolutely beautiful, not only to listen to the song, but to watch Jackson perform it with such grace and emotion. There is such a deep sense of Spirit in so much of Jackson s music, and for me, it was a true gift to hear this song that evening. The new material was worked into both sets perfectly, and it was wonderful to listen to live. The lyrics from Time the Conqueror portray the thinking (brooding, funny, heart on his sleeve) man that we have come to know and love over the past 35+ years. I have to say that I think "Where Were You" (not performed) is possibly my favorite off the album. This sad, truthful account of misdeeds solidifies the essence of who Jackson Browne has, and always will be as an artist and socially conscious human being. I was unsure how burnt-out the band might be, but All of them were brilliant (or they made me believe that they were!). At one point Jackson went trolling for a Rosie fan, which I thought was funny. I didn't hear if he got a response, but someone must have asked for Load Out/Stay because he laughed and said that if they did it then that the show would be over, but said that they would do it later. He seemed glad to be there, which is really nice at the end of a long tour. As the evening went on, people were enjoying their vino a bit more, and the energy seemed to free-flow between the stage and the audience. It was great to see EVERYONE (well, there was one girl that got on the wrong bus) ROCK &and to watch Jackson smiling while having a good time with both his band and his fans. As the night went on, a lot of people came up front, and most of them sang and danced ~ some even barefooted ;-) throughout the rest of the second set. It was really nice that no one seemed annoyed with the crowd; overall, everyone was pretty chilled. It didn t matter for the last hour or so of the concert who you were dancing with & &.everyone was just having a great time! Looking back, all I can say is what a lovely tribute this was to this hard working group of musicians (us being seniors and all!). So, thank you Jackson Browne and your excellent band for going the distance! My husband and I had a fantastic time, long over-due and not to be forgotten anytime soon!!! Have a wonderful time when you get home, relax and enjoy your families. You all deserve it! PEACE Submitted by: francisx4@comcast.net (Julie) CONCERT REVIEW: August 29 at Orpheum Theatre in Omaha, NE Just a quick note of thanks for the inspiring concert at the Orpheum Theater in Omaha last night. We had sort of expected a somewhat dated performance since we fondly remember Mr Browne's music beginning in the mid 70's and later. What an impact!! Mr Browne seems timeless. The performance - by all members of the band - thoroughly entertaining. Thank you for putting our city in your tour. We hope enjoyed your stay as much as we appreciated having you here. Wishing you much success. Submitted by: kat.woman2@cox.net (Chris and Kathy B.) CONCERT REVIEW: August 31 at Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul, MN I'm glad to report another fine evening of Jackson Browne's music Monday night at the Minnesota State Fair. The band played a similar set as has been reported on this tour starting about 8:15 and ending about 10:45 with an intermission. Jackson seemed in great spirits, the band showcased its extraordinary talent and the crowd appeared to love it. A beautiful moonlit evening gave this concert another reason why I feel fortunate to be living in a time when we can all enjoy Jackson Browne's gift of wonderful music. Thank you again for your work on this website. Submitted by: benson@bevcomm.net (Kevin in Minnesota) CONCERT REVIEW: August 31 at Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul, MN I'm glad to report another fine evening of Jackson Browne's music Monday night at the Minnesota State Fair. The band played a similar set as has been reported on this tour starting about 8:15 and ending about 10:45 with an intermission. Jackson seemed in great spirits, the band showcased its extraordinary talent and the crowd appeared to love it. A beautiful moonlit evening gave this concert another reason why I feel fortunate to be living in a time when we can all enjoy Jackson Browne's gift of wonderful music. Thank you again for your work on this website. Submitted by: benson@bevcomm.net (Kevin in Minnesota) CONCERT REVIEW: August 29 at Orpheum Theatre in Omaha, NE Jackson Browne in Omaha: I parked the car about 6:30 in the southeast lot of the Omaha Orpheum where I knew from talking to the Moody Blues and James Taylor that Jackson would be coming out of a door there after the show. I found this out from a letter here 6 years ago from a lady that met & talked to Jackson Browne after his solo show here. I was at that show but I did not know anything about this place until then. Thanks to her letting me know about this it has worked for me twice before and we were in hope of making it three. I could not get in until 7:00 so we sat in the car to kill some time. I looked in the mirror and I thought I saw Jackson Browne walk behide the car with a lady then turn up the street. I jumped out and saw him going up the block and across the street. There was no way I could catch him and did not want to ,"run him down" so we waited. I knew he had to come back the same way so we sat there almost an hour. A little after 7:30 he came walking back with the gal he was with. We saw him coming and several people that were on their way to the concert met them on the sidewalk. They just walked right past him not knowing who he was. I did, same hair no beard again looking older but there still was no mistaking Jackson Browne. Went he got to us I shook his hand and asked if he would sign 2 CD's. He smiled and looked around and said "lets do this on the move because I could attract a crowd and not get out of here in time to start the show." He signed them both and I thanked him and shook his hand again. Then put them back in the car and we went in still on cloud nine! Once in there was no pressure to try and get him after the show but since we were parked there we tried anyway. About 20 to 30 mins. had gone by and there were 15 to 25 people there waiting there when he came out. He talked to everybody there and signed everything people had. I had him sign another CD cover and my ticket. Lori had him sign her ticket, the program she bought and for the third time at a concert this summer she got the paper set list on the stage,"James Taylor & Chicago the other two," and he signed that too. A guy from Lincoln had a digital camera and took a picture of both of us with Jackson. Me on one side Lori on the other with Jackson in the middle. We gave him my email and he said he would send it to us but so far nothing. Boy I hope he does. I bought my wife a digital camera about 4 years ago for Christmas but for some reason it was home Saturday night. Sir if you see this we would just love to have that picture. I told him after the show not to wait another 6 years before coming back and he seemed very surprised. "Six years?", he said, "Has it been that long?" We could hear the band playing next door at a bar called The Downtown Blues. He said is that a band I hear? I said yes and offered to buy him a beer if he wanted to go in. Everybody laughed and he said we have to hit the road yet tonight. As he left everybody thanked him and when Jackson got on the bus we all left a very happy group of fans. I never did get to the concert itself but it was nothing short of Great. He started right at 8:00 took a 10 min break and played until 11:00. He played all his big hits and in the several times I have seen him over the years he has never sounded better. This was one of the 2 or 3 best shows I have ever seen and talking to Jackson Browne twice and getting those autographs made the whole night even better. Thanks Jackson. I have always been a fan but to have a man that I have idolized this much for his music and views to be this nice was a thrill for all of us. Submitted by: tdfroyals@cox.net (Terry F.) CONCERT REVIEW: August 28 at Zoo Amphitheatre in Oklahoma City, OK I have seen Jackson Browne in concert 4 times since the release of "The Naked Ride Home" CD and this was the best performance yet. The Zoo Amphitheater in OKC is a great venue and added to the atmosphere of the show. He opened with "I'm Alive" and "Barricades of Heaven" and set the tone of the show perfectly. The sound crew and camera crew left something to be desired, but the band, back up vocalists and Jackson were on top of their game which made up for it. The crowd was a little slow to get into it but a rousing rendition of "About My Imagination" soon had everyone getting in to the groove. I was with someone who is not familiar with Jackson's music and admittedly was not excited about going to the show. Afterwards she couldn't stop raving about how good of a show it was. The next day she bought the "Best of" and "Naked Ride Home" CD's. Having opened for Tom Petty the first three times I saw him, I too was thrilled to finally see a full 2 hour performance of his music. I am not a big fan of his newest material, but was pleased with the songs he played from it and pleasantly surprised by his selection of older songs for the set list. Anyone who has the chance to see him on this tour will be glad they did. Thanks Russ for posting these reviews and I hope you enjoyed the OKC show as much as I did. Submitted by: humpdabump@gmail.com (Greg B.) CONCERT REVIEW: August 26 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO Hi Russ: Jackson's concert at Red Rocks on August 26th was truly surreal. What an amazing place to see a concert, first of all, and what a better way to spend an evening than with Jackson and his band? The band sounded great, starting off with Barricades of Heaven and The Late Show, complete with the car noises at the end of the song. Some of my all-time favorites included Fountain of Sorrow, The Pretender, Take it Easy, Running on Empty, and my beloved Load Out and stay for an encore. Other memorable songs include I Am a Patriot, River Opens For the Righteous, and I'll Do Anything. I was a bit sad he didn't play Sky Blue and Black or Late For the Sky, but it was such a great night. I had tears in my eyes on the plane ride home...it was that special. Thanks to Jackson for a lovely evening...I just love him and am moved every time my his cerebral lyrics. I had a ball, and so did my husband, dancing and singing all night long under the stars at Red Rocks. What a night! Submitted by: stephenleslie@sbcglobal.net (Dorina L.) CONCERT REVIEW: August 28 at Zoo Amphitheatre in Oklahoma City, OK The show up here in Oklahoma City was great. Perfect night and he played so many of my favorites. Much better then the show I saw in Dallas. He seemed like he was in a better mood and played a lot longer as well. Respectfully, Submitted by: durk.robert@gmail.com (Robert D.) CONCERT REVIEW: August 18 at Avila Beach Resort in Avila Beach, CA Review of Jackson Browne at Avila Beach Resort August 26, 2009 by C. S. Nicholson www.associatedcontent.com/article/2094361/review_of_jackson_browne_at_avila_beach.html?cat=33 Submitted by: Your Webmaster CONCERT REVIEWS: A Tale Of 3 Cities--Red Rocks, Omaha, and Minnesota State Fair concerts When the band joins Jackson on tour you have to try to get your fill of it so I decided to sample the difference a venue might make on a relatively unchanging setlist which was I'm Alive Barricades Of Heaven I'll Do Anything Fountain Of Sorrow Time The Conqueror Off Of Wonderland In The Shape Of A Heart Too Many Angels TNRH TIEZ Jamaica Rock Me On The Water (in Omaha and St. Paul) Dr. My Eyes/About My Imagination Lives In The Balance Going Down To Cuba Just Say Yeah The Late Show For A Dancer The Pretender ROE Redneck Friend (at Red Rocks) I Am A Patriot jam The Load-out/Stay Red Rocks--is iconic for good reason. You are embraced by high red stone bluffs and can get fantastic views of the lights below of the Denver metro area. The crowd indeed made the show with its friendliness, enthusiasm, and eagerness to have a great party full of early & often singing and dancing. Mr. Browne described having "heavy weather memories" of previous engagements there but we had a perfect night of cool mountain air. The music was as well-played and sung as everyone has described all along. One of my more vivid memories of the evening was listening to the Patriot jam of "come on, come on" and watching JB start dancing just a bit and then dancing a bit more. It reminded me of Steve Martin with his happy feet routine. The band on the bus was still watching "Idiocracy" during the load-out. Omaha's--show was in an old theater which did seem to keep people a bit more in their seats at first but the crowd was enthusiastic and we did get to the barricades to dance & sing along as the show progressed. Mr. Browne recalled his retro lamp buying success during a previous tour in Omaha's Old Market near the theater & told us he was feeling fantastic. I don't know if his timing was off or if Mauricio was tricking him or if JB was tricking Mauricio or if they have been doing this all tour but when JB reached to slam the car door shut in The Late Show he couldn't quite reach "the handle" a couple times which was humorous to see. By now the band on the bus was watching Conor Oberst on the video during the load-out. One of my favorite parts of touring Omaha was the Bob Bridge which is almost like walking on a guitar. Because it is a suspension bridge the deck vibrates like a guitar top and the cables also vibrate and thrum out a sound. It was fun walking over the river to Iowa and watching the children as they run in the park below. Minnesota's State Fair--is in St. Paul. It is hugely popular with almost 132,000 attending the fair the day of this concert and well over a million attending over the entire run. I anticipated the concert would be unique simply because of the setting but little did I know how marvelous the day would be. My hope is that the band got to sample some of the festivities--livestock, a parade, square dancers, horticulture, handicrafts, honey sunflower ice cream, etc. and that they got to skip the visit to the first-aid building we took part in. After recuperating with some farmer-to-farmer shade-grown songbird-friendly coffee in a cafe offering an Americana-roots band we were heading to the butter sculptures when we heard Time The Conqueror wafting through the air. Other soundcheck treats were Redneck Friend, Everywhere I Go ("looking for something good to eat"), and Somebody's Baby among the setlist songs. The concert vibe was almost a mix of the earlier two shows--outdoor casual with a bit of the indoor reserve. The crowd seemed to have a good sprinkling of younger people & the $40 tickets for all seats might have brought the casual fan or simply the curious to the show. Although Minnesota has plenty of liberals I didn't hear the usual cheers at the usual lines in Mr. Browne's political songs other than in determined pockets of fans. Both performers and audience could see the carnival lights, searchlights, and what JB called a cantaloupe moon. JB described being surprised by/pleased with the intimacy of the venue and wondered aloud if it was a "Scandinavian thing" to somehow have "intimacy in large groups". The band on the bus was watching "Purple Rain" during the load-out and anticipating driving all night to get to the show in Mankato (1 hour away) & JB wasn't sure if the music on the bus was reggae or polka. As the band left the stage for the last time this tour the surprise of a firework show began from quite near the backstage area. Wow. Thank you, Jackson, Kevin, Mark, Mauricio, Chavonne, Alethea, and crew for your tour. The setlists were well-chosen, the harmonies inspiring, the solos tasty, and your willingness to have a few words with the fans a gift accepted with pleasure. Submitted by: Happy Idiot CONCERT REVIEWS: August 25 at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, UT Wanting to see Jackson on his current tour, and wanting to get out of the heat of Houston, we flew to Utah to see him perform at the outdoor venue near Park City. This was my 8th time to see Jackson in concert and the most unusual. The venue is apparently run by the city for the benefit of the locals, and they are extremely unrestrictive as to what they allow people to do. For instance, coolers are allowed with alcohol and no search is made upon entry. You just get in line early and rush to the best spot you can find on the hill looking down on the stage and claim your territory. What amazed me is that you were allowed to stand within about 15 feet of the stage and watch from behind low level barricades. This is a viewpoint I had never experienced before, and being able to observe Jackson and the band with such closeness was a real gift. The crowd was somewhat subdued for the first hour until Jackson played one of his classics and then the energy level just took off. He seemed to be surprised at the intensity level of the crowd and ended up playing 2 hours and forty minutes with 2 encores. I felt he was rewarding the audience for the energy and love they were showing. For at least the last hour, the entire crowd of approximately 5,000 were standing and dancing. I watched from the side and was amazed by the way the audience was just surging forward, almost spilling over the barricades just trying to infuse energy and feeding off every note that was being played. I was like a private party for 5,000 of JB's friends. He seemed to be energized by the crowd and was having fun interacting with the band. While I wouldn't want to see Jackson play outdoors every time, it did lend a free flowing atmosphere that I had never before experienced. Can't wait to see him in December in Houston in what will surely be a very intimate setting. Submitted by: jbrownefan@yahoo.com GENERAL FAN COMMENTS: What a surprise! Jackson Browne is going to continue touring solo (It is One). Wish the concerts were near me. I would even settle for being bused in. Well, hopefully JB fans will keep all updated with pictures and reviews. Mohegan Sun is a nice place for a concert (hint). Submitted by: annee9722@aim.com A LETTER TO JACKSON BROWNE: Russ, I would like this submitted as an open letter to Jackson. I attended your beautiful concert in Santa Barbara, in August of this year. I was truly blessed to have you come over and shake my hand after your amazing rendition of The Pretender. Then, I was totally blown away when you gave me your Pick. All I can say, is you changed my life. I will always adore you. Thank you so much for your kind gesture. You have always been my favorite. Submitted by: ruafan2@aol.com (Marie K.) GENERAL FAN COMMENTS: Looking for Tickets Hi, If anyone has two tickets you can't use for the November 6th concert in Kingston, NY, please contact me at ghlwaddell@gmail.com. Thanks ! Submitted by: ghlwaddell@gmail.com (G. Waddell) Go To Jackson Browne Fan Letters and Reviews from October 2009 RETURN to Jackson Browne Fan Letters Page RETURN to Jackson Browne Home Page |