Post by bexface on Apr 2, 2003 16:24:40 GMT -5
Another consummate composer, musician, and performer came to the Detroit region last night. It’s funny how, after all these years, I am finally seeing the artists that I wanted to see 10-20 years ago (even more in some cases) but did not have the money nor the inclination to do so. I think Tori is responsible for this, for bringing music back to my life. But I digress…<br>
For those of you who don’t know him, Joe Jackson is one of those artists that defies a straight description. If you know his first few albums, you would say he borders on being a punk rocker. His music (from albums like “Look Sharp” and “I’m the Man”) has a fast bop-along nature to it, much like the (English) Beat or the Jam. Not getting as trashy as the Clash but still having that late 70s punkish twang to it. His later albums delved into jazz (like on “Night and Day”) or symphonics so you just couldn’t pigeonhole him if you wanted to. Just recently, he put out an album with the same band members from twenty years ago (called “Volume 4”) and it sounds like the stuff from the “Look Sharp.” Most excellent if you like good rock ‘n roll. (BTW: It is called “Volume 4” since this is the fourth album he has played with this particular set of musicians.)
Their show consisted half of the latest album and half of the traditional rockers from the 70s, along with some other odds and ends. Despite his age and looks, he rocks along much like Bowie would. A little twist here, a jump there, a grimace here, a beaming smile there. All in good fun. You can see the old geezers really enjoy what they’re doing. Really funny were the moments when he lost his place by missing a lyric or two. (Did that during opening tune when asking the sound crew (off-stage) to turn something down. Then cracked up realizing he hadn’t made it back to the microphone in time. He did this twice during “Is She Really Going Out With Him?,” again cracking up but having a great time.) “…Going Out With Him?” is probably his most well-known tune. So well-known that everyone knows the return phrases so he doesn’t even bother singing them or sings them a half-bar after the audience does. At one point, he just turned his microphone to the audience and started shaking a marocca, looking off to the side in a bored humorous fashion. Then he turned his back while singing the final lyrics. He also had lots to say. “Love at First Light” is a song about one-night stands, during that moment in the morning where one wonders if it really is just a one-night stand or perhaps the start of something more beautiful and permanent. He kept on mentioning being distracted by a big neon sign in the back advertising martinis (obviously, a fave drink of his!) A great similarity to Tori’s shows, he sends the band off-stage in the middle of the show for his own version of Roadside Café. While he did this, he mentioned that getting back together with this band was like doing cocaine. The “Café” composed of “Big World” (he introduced this as his only sentimental song of the night but that was not true), then a beautiful rendition of “I Feel Posessed” (written by Neil Finn), and then the classic “Steppin’ Out.” He is a great keyboardist and even reminded me of Tori with his sudden flourishes and transfer-left-hand-over-right-hand moves! Besides this, my most favorite part of the concert was “Fools in Love.” What I thought was a harmonica on his albums really is a small keyboard (less than one octave) mounted on a wind instrument (like a clarinet). (Does anyone know what kind of instrument this is?) After playing a decent solo, the band shifted to “For Your Love” (originally done by the Kinks?) which blew me away. Then he went back to finish his solo but cracked up while doing so and just put it away before they finished with the final chorus. During the last song before the encore (“Got the Time”), someone had obviously thought it fit to get him a martini, which he displayed proudly to us. Anyway, I would highly recommend anyone to see him live. He is a great performer and who knows if we will see him come our way anytime soon?
Bexface rating: 8.5 out of 10.
Setlist
Look Sharp!
Take it Like A Man
Awkward Age
Chrome
Fools in Love (with For Your Love bridge)
On the Radio
Is She Really Going Out With Him?
Love at First Light
Big World
I Feel Posessed
Steppin’ Out
Blaze of Glory
Still Alive
Beat Crazy
Little Bit Stupid
Sunday Papers
Got the Time
********
It’s Different for Girls
I’m the Man
Next up, Annie Lennox……
For those of you who don’t know him, Joe Jackson is one of those artists that defies a straight description. If you know his first few albums, you would say he borders on being a punk rocker. His music (from albums like “Look Sharp” and “I’m the Man”) has a fast bop-along nature to it, much like the (English) Beat or the Jam. Not getting as trashy as the Clash but still having that late 70s punkish twang to it. His later albums delved into jazz (like on “Night and Day”) or symphonics so you just couldn’t pigeonhole him if you wanted to. Just recently, he put out an album with the same band members from twenty years ago (called “Volume 4”) and it sounds like the stuff from the “Look Sharp.” Most excellent if you like good rock ‘n roll. (BTW: It is called “Volume 4” since this is the fourth album he has played with this particular set of musicians.)
Their show consisted half of the latest album and half of the traditional rockers from the 70s, along with some other odds and ends. Despite his age and looks, he rocks along much like Bowie would. A little twist here, a jump there, a grimace here, a beaming smile there. All in good fun. You can see the old geezers really enjoy what they’re doing. Really funny were the moments when he lost his place by missing a lyric or two. (Did that during opening tune when asking the sound crew (off-stage) to turn something down. Then cracked up realizing he hadn’t made it back to the microphone in time. He did this twice during “Is She Really Going Out With Him?,” again cracking up but having a great time.) “…Going Out With Him?” is probably his most well-known tune. So well-known that everyone knows the return phrases so he doesn’t even bother singing them or sings them a half-bar after the audience does. At one point, he just turned his microphone to the audience and started shaking a marocca, looking off to the side in a bored humorous fashion. Then he turned his back while singing the final lyrics. He also had lots to say. “Love at First Light” is a song about one-night stands, during that moment in the morning where one wonders if it really is just a one-night stand or perhaps the start of something more beautiful and permanent. He kept on mentioning being distracted by a big neon sign in the back advertising martinis (obviously, a fave drink of his!) A great similarity to Tori’s shows, he sends the band off-stage in the middle of the show for his own version of Roadside Café. While he did this, he mentioned that getting back together with this band was like doing cocaine. The “Café” composed of “Big World” (he introduced this as his only sentimental song of the night but that was not true), then a beautiful rendition of “I Feel Posessed” (written by Neil Finn), and then the classic “Steppin’ Out.” He is a great keyboardist and even reminded me of Tori with his sudden flourishes and transfer-left-hand-over-right-hand moves! Besides this, my most favorite part of the concert was “Fools in Love.” What I thought was a harmonica on his albums really is a small keyboard (less than one octave) mounted on a wind instrument (like a clarinet). (Does anyone know what kind of instrument this is?) After playing a decent solo, the band shifted to “For Your Love” (originally done by the Kinks?) which blew me away. Then he went back to finish his solo but cracked up while doing so and just put it away before they finished with the final chorus. During the last song before the encore (“Got the Time”), someone had obviously thought it fit to get him a martini, which he displayed proudly to us. Anyway, I would highly recommend anyone to see him live. He is a great performer and who knows if we will see him come our way anytime soon?
Bexface rating: 8.5 out of 10.
Setlist
Look Sharp!
Take it Like A Man
Awkward Age
Chrome
Fools in Love (with For Your Love bridge)
On the Radio
Is She Really Going Out With Him?
Love at First Light
Big World
I Feel Posessed
Steppin’ Out
Blaze of Glory
Still Alive
Beat Crazy
Little Bit Stupid
Sunday Papers
Got the Time
********
It’s Different for Girls
I’m the Man
Next up, Annie Lennox……
