Jackson Browne

Oct 3, 2008, The Arlington Theater, Santa Barbara, CA.

One thing about Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Jackson Browne - his voice improves with age.  Browne who turned 60 this month showed everyone at the Arlington that he still has "it".  "It" being both the talent and personality to hold an audience's attention for just over two hours.  Not that anyone who was there doubted that for the crowd was, pure and simple, big fans of his music.

With Browne's 17th album released just a few weeks ago,  "Time the Conqueror" the 6 member band played two sets and had a 15 minute intermission in between.  It was nearly a two and a half hour concert.  That's two and a half hours of live music by a 60 year old!  OK technically he is only 59 but will be 60 in a  few days.  Is jackson Browne getting younger?  The last time this author saw Browne in concert he played only an hour and a half.  That was some 20 years ago!  Sometimes, like fine wines, people get better with age.  His voice was as characteristically distinctive as ever.

"Time the Conqueror" is Jackson's his first new cd in six years.  While the cd is good, the crowd seemed anxious to hear old classics.  And who wouldn't want to?  Actually he did mix it up quite a bit and played some classiccs.  "Doctor My Eyes" had the crowd on it's feet as to be expected.  The six member band also played "Fountain Of Sorrow" always a beautiful song... and beautifully it was performed.  "Running on Empty", and "The Pretender" followed with more songs from the new CD.

Brown on several occasions made it clear that he doesn't really like explaining what a song is about these days.  Since he is known for writing political songs he admits he can sound like he's preaching and he never liked being preached to so he didn't preface each song with a lengthly explanation.  A good thing indeed.  Sometimes it's best to let the music carry one to special place of one's own...

During intermission guests mingled in the Arlington's covered patio/bar and talked politics and memories of when they saw Jackson Browne last. Needless to say it was quite crowded out there.

When the show resumed the band played songs that had more of a political edge to them.  Since we are 3 weeks away from an election the songs somehow became more meaningful in light of all the political sparring that has been going on lately between candidates.  "Lives in the Balance" was particularly moving and obviously against war.  "Drums of War", a new song was another politically charged piece that is against war.  Browne can, in his own way, usually without offending anyone, say what we all sometimes feel about a particular issue, including war.

While not everyone will agree with Browne's politics he makes one think while we're being entertained.  And I think we can all agree that that's a good thing.

Set list...

Boulevard
Barricades of Heaven
Everywhere I Go
Fountain of Sorrow
Off of Wonderland
Time the Conqueror
Live Nude Cabaret
Culver Moon
Giving That Heaven Away
Doctor My Eyes
(Intermission)
Something Fine
For Taking the Trouble
Lives in the Balance
Going Down to Cuba
Drums of War
Far from the Arms of Hunger
Just Say Yeah
The Pretender
Running on Empty
Encore:
I Am a Patriot