James Taylor - Live!
So, Bonnie & I checked out the James Taylor concert (on
Valentine's Day, no less) at the Orpheum in SanFran! Now, hear me out - I'm actually a bigJT fan, for those who didn't know! It's been a long while since I've been to see him - I'd seen him 3 or 4 times in Michigan, and he always puts on a great show. This one was billed as the "One Man Band", so I was intrigued at how that would take form.
Impressions - great throughout, and probably the most interesting arrangement of stuff I've ever seen him do. It wasn't quite one-man, he had LarryGoldings accompanying on keys, but that was it. Oh, and a video screen behind him. And an electric guitar on stage, I eagerly awaited seeing him bust that out. I can't recall the play-by-play, but here's what I got :
He came on to raucous applause, and started with 'Something in the Way She Moves' (Bonnie's favorite JT song). Then 'Never Die Young' (one of his more underrated songs, I think). Then a lengthy discourse, with associated slideshow, about the Frozen Man discovered in the Italian alps in the 90's, followed by the song (he did a lot of talking & it seemed very natural, almost stand-up bits in between, which was neat). Then a no-guitar song, 'Mean Old Man', introduced by a story of his father being an Antarctic explorer, and his mom having to raise the family. He
rolled out a big "wood-shop" player-piano-like drum machine - literally an automateddrumset on a platform. Then 'My Travelling Star' with a video projection of a choir recorded in his hometown. He did 'Country Road' in the first set somewhere, concluding with 'Steamroller Blues' on electric. As soon as he put the strap over his shoulder, I yelled a solo 'woot', he said "Oh, you like the guitar?"
Second set started with 'Secret of Life' (I think), and included : 'You've Got a Friend' with a reminiscing of the days he hung out with Carole King, Carly Simon, and he was Joni Mitchell's "bitch" (awkward, but people laughed). He recounted his memories of Nixon's resignation on TV, mused on Elvis' sideburns going down to the floor, and followed with 'Line Em Up'. He put the acoustic down for 'Valentine's Day'. The choir made a return appearance, on 'Shower the People', as did the drum machine and electric axe on some song about Pink's Chili Dogs. Thecappers (along with tales of wild parties in the UK and Spain in 1968) were 'Sweet Baby James', and 'Carolina In My Mind'.
First encore was 'Fire and Rain' and 'You Can Close Your Eyes'. Then one more - 'Copperline'. Overall, flawless as expected, but also enough unexpected to really keep it going to the end. Excellent!
Valentine's Day, no less) at the Orpheum in SanFran! Now, hear me out - I'm actually a bigJT fan, for those who didn't know! It's been a long while since I've been to see him - I'd seen him 3 or 4 times in Michigan, and he always puts on a great show. This one was billed as the "One Man Band", so I was intrigued at how that would take form.
Impressions - great throughout, and probably the most interesting arrangement of stuff I've ever seen him do. It wasn't quite one-man, he had LarryGoldings accompanying on keys, but that was it. Oh, and a video screen behind him. And an electric guitar on stage, I eagerly awaited seeing him bust that out. I can't recall the play-by-play, but here's what I got :
He came on to raucous applause, and started with 'Something in the Way She Moves' (Bonnie's favorite JT song). Then 'Never Die Young' (one of his more underrated songs, I think). Then a lengthy discourse, with associated slideshow, about the Frozen Man discovered in the Italian alps in the 90's, followed by the song (he did a lot of talking & it seemed very natural, almost stand-up bits in between, which was neat). Then a no-guitar song, 'Mean Old Man', introduced by a story of his father being an Antarctic explorer, and his mom having to raise the family. He
rolled out a big "wood-shop" player-piano-like drum machine - literally an automateddrumset on a platform. Then 'My Travelling Star' with a video projection of a choir recorded in his hometown. He did 'Country Road' in the first set somewhere, concluding with 'Steamroller Blues' on electric. As soon as he put the strap over his shoulder, I yelled a solo 'woot', he said "Oh, you like the guitar?"
Second set started with 'Secret of Life' (I think), and included : 'You've Got a Friend' with a reminiscing of the days he hung out with Carole King, Carly Simon, and he was Joni Mitchell's "bitch" (awkward, but people laughed). He recounted his memories of Nixon's resignation on TV, mused on Elvis' sideburns going down to the floor, and followed with 'Line Em Up'. He put the acoustic down for 'Valentine's Day'. The choir made a return appearance, on 'Shower the People', as did the drum machine and electric axe on some song about Pink's Chili Dogs. Thecappers (along with tales of wild parties in the UK and Spain in 1968) were 'Sweet Baby James', and 'Carolina In My Mind'.
First encore was 'Fire and Rain' and 'You Can Close Your Eyes'. Then one more - 'Copperline'. Overall, flawless as expected, but also enough unexpected to really keep it going to the end. Excellent!
posted by pegasusgiraffe at 9:03 AM
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