Review: Jackson Browne's Time The Conqueror Tour 2008

by Rick Landers.

Jackson Browne is back. The troubadour arrived in Washington, D.C. on September 15, 2008, to kick off his American tour at the Warner Theater. The place was packed with fans who cheered when he walked on stage and began a set that offered up some of his classics. But, for the most part, this was a setting where Browne wanted to highlight a set of songs off his new Time The Conqueror CD.

Few artists capture the romantic rhythms of the human heart like Jackson Browne. It’s been six years since we’ve heard any new material from Browne. And as he rolled out his new tunes, it was a pleasure to hear them all wrapped in the colorful tones of his warm musical serape.

Sporting a pair of dark shades and playing what looked like a '60s Teisco TRG-1, , Jackson lit into "Boulevard," with backup vocalists Chavonee Morris and Alethea Mills from his Hold Out album. The tune’s a cracker and the masterful backup vocals of Morris and Mills were belted out with sugar and cream the whole night. Like his hits, Browne himself seems timeless with a stage presence that’s young at heart and ageless.

“Barricades of Heaven,” was served up next. The tune’s about Jackson running up the road with his friend and the late great singer-songwriter, Jimmie Spheeris. Although many of Browne’s songs are bright and roadworthy, his head seems to return more often toward the darker recesses of love lost or friends removed.

Jackson stationed himself center stage and popped a keyboard to help push along the reggae motions of “Everywhere I Go.” The sound chopped through the Warner with its funky rhythm and had the crowd singing the whimsical lyrics. Next up was a crowd favorite, “Fountain of Sorrow,” from his 1974 Late for the Sky album. I love this song and even though Browne’s voice tends to wrestle with the sky high notes, years ago he found a middle ground that suits both his music style and popular taste. His storied vocals speak to us in a vocal range that’s within our reach, allowing us to sing along without feeling self-conscious and without hesitation. We get lost in them, only to find ourselves.

The Warner Theater crowd seemed fine when he left the past hits behind and ventured into his new stuff. He brought out a Fender acoustic to sing “Off Of Wonderland,” from his new CD, followed by the title track, “Time the Conqueror.”

Browne warmed the sold out house with song and patter. When several fans hollered out for his older songs he noted, “There is a set list.” He said that he’d worked without set lists for a long time and just went along with suggestions from audiences saying, “Lazy I guess. I’d rather be told. But, I need to nip that in the bud. So, that’s it, another new song.”

“Live Nude Cabaret” was followed by another newborn called “Culver Moon,” with the strain of a bit of organ funk and then “Given That Heaven Away,” that he called, “One of my favorite songs.” He was then ready to surrender another oldie and got the crowd on its feet with, “Doctor My Eyes.”

After a brief intermezzo he pulled out his quietly thoughtful tune, “Something Fine.”

The quiet didn't last long with backup singers, Chavonee and Alethea, belting out some exceptional vocals in a nicely arranged, "Lives in the Balance." The ladies were superb with vocals that enriched the tune, giving it more drive, more depth. Browne should keep this crew together and record this version with its haunting melodic aromas of the Middle East.

Back to Time the Conqueror tracks with "Going Down to Cuba," and then a bit of slide guitar and rakin' metal strings for the driving, "Drums of War," that's as much an anti-war song as a new anthem bearing down on universal skepticism of a nation's leaders.

"Drums..." got the crowd in a bit of a frenzy and there were shouts calling for "The Pretender," "Running on Empty," and "Red Neck Friend." Finally, a contrarian hollered, "Play whatever you want!" Jackson quipped, "We have a winner!"

Telling the crowd, "I love this song," Browne journeyed into a tune, "My Stunning Mystery Companion," from his The Naked Ride Home CD, that captures the singer-songwriter at his best and a lyric that forms a cocoon of love around a spiraling defeated soul.

What with all my expectations long abandoned
My solitary nature notwithstanding
You're the one who pulled me
Out of that crash landing
My stunning mystery companion

Stepping back to the piano, Jackson began to sing, "I'm gonna rent myself a house..." And that pretty much did it as far as vectoring the crowd back to their days of innocence. "The Pretender" was the lead in for Browne to park himself behind a beautiful Strat to pump out his mega-hit, "Running on Empty." The crowd loved it and the joint rocked.

Browne waved goodbye. But, of course, the fans were having none of that and demanded that he get back on stage for an encore. True to form, Browne ended with a freedom loving tune off of World in Motion, "I am a Patriot," an admirable planting of the flag that served up his thoughts about the true meaning of the democratic spirit.

Related Links
Jackson Browne
Jimmie Spheeris Memorial Gallery
Mike Davis Photography

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