Aah, where do I begin? I had the distinct pleasure of taking in what was to be my seventh Jackson Browne concert at the Tower Theater in Philly Thursday night. What could possibly be left to say about this truly amazing, genuinely one of a kind man? While he seems ageless from afar he isn't, but he has kept the boyish demeanor that endears you to him.
I expected to see him appear sporting a beard this time - a gray beard at that like he had at Sundance Music Festival, and on his new CD cover for Time The Conqueror. But he surprised me by walking quietly onstage once again, no introduction and no pretension; no rock and roll attitude or 'sit up listen now, I'm a big star' personae. Just his ever clean shaven face, giving the audience his patented shy 'hi'. He just did what he's done for as long as I've followed him - enjoyed his audience as much as they enjoyed him. He will laugh and talk with everyone and joke about himself as well.
He started the show with "Boulevard" and seemingly played without any set list, playing what pops into his head, although I'm sure there has to be a loosely structured one. He joked, “I’m struggling with the self-knowledge that I’m lazy enough to just stand up here and do whatever you tell me to do.” While he doesn’t quite do that, he will kid the person with the request that asking for a song was the best way to get him not to do a particular song. This song would then of course, show up a bit further in the program. But this is his style and it allows him to occasionally take requests from the audience, which gives him an opportunity to do the archival songs he may not otherwise get to do. No one comes away disappointed I can assure you of that.
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