I can recommend spending a cool Friday evening seeing Jackson Browne at the Chateau Ste. Michelle winery in Woodinville, WA. At 61 and performing before an audience of his peers, Browne might have been expected to take it easy by running through a brief set of favorites. But, like more musicians than we care to admit, Browne is a consummate pro who delivered a confident set played by an outstanding band. Though not blessed with great stage presence -- Bruce Springsteen would have had us on our feet pumping fists all the way through "The Pretender," while Browne all but tossed away the crowd-pleasing lines -- he performed both the confessional and topical songs with convincing intimacy.
He reached back as far "Doctor My Eyes," but didn't lose anyone's interest during a impressive rendering of "Giving That Heaven Away" from Time the Conqueror (2008). In between, we got "Take It Easy," an acoustic version of "For Everyman," "Fountain of Sorrow," "For a Dancer," "Bright Baby Blues," "The Pretender," "Running on Empty," "In the Shape Of a Heart," "I'm Alive," "I Am a Patriot," and many others. "For A Dancer," "I'm Alive," and "Take It Easy" stood out for me; T. was especially taken with "I Am A Patriot" and its hybrid of gospel and reggae.
Luckily, guitarist David Lindley -- who now looks like a cross between Ben Franklin and a Disneyland character -- reunited with Browne for this tour. His lap steel and violin remain the bedrock of Browne's sound: I've seen Jackson with and without Lindley; there's no question that songs convey their intent more successfully when Lindley helps put them across.
So, excellent show; don't miss miss Jackson when he comes to a town near you. He's still got it.
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