July 24, 1980 review: Jackson Browne in the Aud

 


One of our favorites at the top of his game.

July 24, 1980 review
Jackson Browne in the Aud
Jackson Browne capped an excellent 2½-hour show in steamy Memorial Auditorium Wednesday night by unexpectedly calling out a couple of Buffalo’s best musicians to join his band for a second encore.
The surprise appearance of pianist Stan Szelest and drummer Sandy Konikoff electrified the crowd of 8,500. Earlier, Browne had stopped to give verbal tribute to the prowess of our home-grown talent.
“Do you know some of the best rock ‘n roll players come out of Buffalo?” he said. “There’s a whole raft of them. I figure it’s because it’s so goddamn cold in the winter you’ve got to choice but to rock your – off to keep from freezing to death.”
Browne was a pretty mean rock ‘n roller himself. A skinny heartthrob in jeans and sneakers alone in the middle of a wide-open stage, he was a far cry from the shy and furtive performer he was in the early days.
The guys in Browne’s Los Angeles-based backup crew were no slouches either. Perennial sidekick David Lindley embroidered Browne’s songs with fiddle and steel guitar of impeccable quality. Session ace Russ Kunkel was rock steady on drums. Organ and synthesizers were in the capable hands of Little Feat co-founder Bill Payne.
It was pianist Craig Doerge, however, who shined the brightest in his supporting role. His showy solos sent a thrill through song after song.
This was a highly adaptable ensemble, easily shifting from multiple guitars to multiple keyboards, from blazing rave-ups to intimate snatches like Browne’s and Lindley’s acoustic duet on “Cocaine Blues.”
A bonus was a three-panel screen that descended from time to time for color slide illustrations of “After the Deluge” (anti-nuclear rallies), “That Girl Could Sing” (shots of Browne’s fiancée), “Boulevard” (Hollywood night scenes) and “The Load Out” (the road crew). It also gave an extra dimension to the introduction of the members of the band.
The show built up momentum by starting out with old favorites – “Rock Me on the Water,” “The Fuse,” “For Everyman,” “Here Come Those Tears Again” and the brilliantly evocative “Fountain of Sorrow,” enhanced further by Doerge.
Most of the songs from Browne’s new album, “Hold Out,” were clustered in the middle of the set, followed by two of his biggest hits – “Doctor My Eyes” and “Running on Empty” – which brought the whole place to its feet.
The show, like the album, reflected Browne’s rediscovery of the surrender of love. He’ll be married when this tour ends.
* * * * *
IN THE PHOTO: Poster for Jackson Browne’s show in Rochester on the night before the Buffalo date.
* * * * *
FOOTNOTE: The critics gave Jackson Browne's "Hold Out" album mixed reviews, despite the fact that it was his only LP to reach No. 1 on the Billboard charts. "Boulevard," which was nominated for a Grammy, and "That Girl Could Sing" peaked at No. 19 and No. 22 respectively. He's received eight Grammy nominations in all, but has never won one.
The fiancée was Australian model Lynne Sweeney. They were married in January and had one son, then divorced in 1983 when he started seeing actress Daryl Hannah. That relationship lasted nine years.
Here's what setlist.fm has to say about what he played that night:
Rock Me on the Water
For Everyman
The Fuse
Here Come Those Tears Again
Fountain of Sorrow
Call It a Loan
You Love the Thunder
Cocaine
Rosie
Of Missing Persons
Late for the Sky
Before the Deluge
Disco Apocalypse
That Girl Could Sing
Hold Out
Boulevard
Doctor My Eyes
Running on Empty
Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate
The Pretender
Hold On Hold Out
(encore)
Hold Out
Stay (Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs cover)
The Road and the Sky

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