Jackson Browne @ Symphony Hall, 17th November 2014
I have always found Jackson Browne’s music to be a bit of a slow-burner, an acquired taste shall we say; songs that require more than one listen. He was also someone who in my younger days failed to inspire me, as I felt him to be a purveyor of music for the lifeless middle-aged. I am now middle-aged and lifeless and I now appreciate Mr. Browne for the world class songwriter he truly is. The way he approaches his subject matters and the totally originally melodies he hangs those words on, reveal more about the human condition than almost all of his peers. The fact that he still manages to produce timeless music outside of the merry-go-round that is popular music, and is able to fill the Symphony Hall is proof that his talent endures.
Jackson Browne now also has a band of such fine musicians that the quality of his songs does not diminish and often are lifted to greater heights. Lead guitar player Val McCallum particularly, plays solo after solo with such feel and originality it is stunning; he makes his telecaster sound like a lap steel, a banjo and a smoking axe, easily better than any guitarist that you would usually find on the best of lists. Also Mauricio Lewak on drums has a wonderfully soft touch, but knows when he needs to punch it. And with Jeff Young (keyboards and backing vocals) Bob Glaub (bass) and acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Greg Leisz (guitar, lap steel, pedal steel), this may be the finest band Browne has put together. Of course this is all about Jackson Browne and the mix is finely tuned to show his voice in the best light. As this is Symphony Hall, the sound is near perfect; it never gets turned up to eleven, just as far as perhaps four… maybe five, on a couple of occasions.
Jackson Browne plays two sets tonight, with no support; over two hours of music, covering his entire career from 1967 to the present day. For a first time listener you would be forgiven for thinking all the songs were from one album, as there is little to differentiate between Browne’s mellow, middle of the road, AOR sound throughout. The set list contains many tracks from the new album ‘Standing In The Breach’, and he cherry picks songs from his back catalogue (Looking East, Barricades Of Heaven, Doctor My Eyes, The Pretender, Running On Empty and Take It Easy). For an artist that has had few bona fide singles chart hits, it is noticeable that he has not considered crowbarring in crowd pleasers for the sake of it. You could be forgiven for levelling a criticism at the list of songs chosen as being mainly slow to mid- tempo, certainly no one stands up in the audience until the last song, Running On Empty. They do at least remain standing for the encore, Take It Easy, but they, like me, are either knocking on 50, or well passed that figure. The gig did remind me of a Jackson Browne track, sadly not featured tonight, The Load Out, where the writer reminds an audience of their jobs: “People you’ve got the power over what we do, You can sit there and wait or you can pull us through”. I can’t say that the mood is set by Jackson and we followed, or the audience slowed down the proceedings to a knee creaking pedestrian pace — I will say however, that every member of the crowd sat and listened throughout and a phone being held in the air recording the performance is kept to a handful during the rousing encores. I guess when an artist transfixes their audience, there is little for them to do than sit and enjoy the show.
Highlights for me are Your Bright Baby Blues (with the greatest/saddest lyric ever: “I thought I was flying like a bird, So far above my sorrow, But when I looked down, I was standing on my knees” — it gave me chills to hear this live) and You Know the Night, written via the Woody Guthrie estate and transformed by Jackson Browne from one of Woody’s letters. Interesting too to hear Jackson talk about early versions of the song that were fifteen minutes long and in need of serious editing; this final rendition is beautifully crafted.
This show is like Jackson Browne’s music — a slow burner. It really is for fans only. For those new to him, I would say play his music repeatedly until the next tour. It will really make more sense that way. For now, just enjoy the stunning musicianship and watch a master song-writing craftsman effortlessly bare his soul.
Review: Alan Neilson
Photograph courtesy of Sonic PR
loved your review, i have loved clyde jackson brownes incisive songwriting for decades, any talentless twat from the x factor can whine thru his nose for eternity, but never reach the depth of late for the sky, or the pretender, etc
the new album is astonishing in its depth, as you say – slow burner, and then some