Concert Review: Jackson Browne at the Mann
Jackson Browne played the Mann Music Center on Sunday, July 17, 2022. He had a five-piece band with two female background singers. His voice was in fine form and the setlist was very satisfying, playing a lot of his early works. Setlist below from setlist.fm
The weather was dry and hot with a slight breeze if you were on the lawn.
Browne has a close relationship with the city of Philadelphia. He mentioned a few times how many memories he has here. His first support came from airplay on WMMR where DJ Ed Sciaky championed his music enthusiastically. Then there were the Main Point shows where he won fans over.
For me, I was a big fan while in high school. I bought his second album For Everyman at EJ Korvettes in King of Prussia, (for $3.87) took it home and played it over and over on my turntable. I learned all the words – and what words they are! To me, Jackson Browne is one of the best lyricists I know. He’s a deep thinker.
The highlight of the show for me was “Take it Easy,” his biggest hit song that he co-wrote with Glenn Frey of the Eagles. The Eagles version is slightly different. For Jackson’s version, it opens his “For Everyman” album with it and the song doesn’t end. It goes right into the second track – a song called “Our Lady of the Well.” It was so wonderful to hear the two songs live the way he recorded them. Gorgeous.
“Take it Easy” was the first encore and the entire crowd was on their feet singing along. It was a real communal experience. I was back on the lawn at that point because there was a nice breeze. Being among fellow JB fans in that setting with nothing but the sky above us is such a beautiful experience. We are fortunate to have the Mann Music Center here in Philadelphia to see shows like this. The official name these days is TD Pavilion at the Mann.
David Lindley, Jackson’s longtime musical companion was noticeably missing. But the five piece band was solid and I especially enjoyed the female back-up singers.
The summer tour is in support of Jackson’s 2021 Grammy-nominated album “Downhill from Everywhere.” He played the title song fourth in the set. He introduced it by talking about an oceanographer he met who discovered how much plastic we’re putting in the oceans. He said to Jackson, “It’s downhill from everywhere.” (The popular statement is “It’s all downhill from here.”)
He also played Little Steven’s “I am a Patriot” which ended the first set before the intermission. I had heard Pearl Jam’s version of that song recently, but it was originally released in 1984 by Steven Van Zandt of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band on his solo album Voice of America.
To see all tour dates, go here.
Setlist
Set One
Somebody’s Baby
The Barricades of Heaven
The Long Way Around
Downhill from Everywhere
Fountain of Sorrow
Rock Me on the Water
In the Shape of a Heart
Before the Deluge
I am a Patriot (Little Steven song)
—intermission—-
Set Two
You Love the Thunder
The Dreamer
Until Justice is Real
For a Dancer
These Days
Redneck Friend
Doctor my Eyes
Late for the Sky
The Pretender
Running on Empty
Encore:
Take it Easy
The Lady of our Well
Encore 2
The Load Out/Stay
