James Taylor and Jackson Browne concert photos

For most, Mondays are a day few look forward to. The fun and excitement of the weekend is over and for most it’s the beginning to a long work week. But if you had a ticket to Monday night’s Jackson Browne/James Taylor concert at Xcel Energy Center the weekend couldn’t end quick enough. After all, how often is the Twin Cities treated to two Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members on the same night and on the same stage?

First up was Jackson Browne. Jackson started his 11 song, 70 minute set with his highest-charting single, “Somebody’s Baby." Not a bad way to kick off the night. Cleverly and well positioned in his set were three songs from his recent Grammy nominated album, “Downhill from Everywhere” which was released this past July. The songs fit well in his set between his iconic hits but that meant he had to shelf a few of his signature songs like “Tender is the Night”, “For a Rocker”, “The Load-Out/Stay”, “Lawyers In Love”, “Lives in the Balance” and “That Girl Could Sing”. But what are you going to do when you have a half century of songs from 15 albums to choose from?

Jackson of course saved the best for last and as he started to perform “The Pretender” he was joined by James Taylor who was welcomed with a long and loud applause from the crowd.  Browne concluded the night with his signature hit “Running on Empty” which quickly turned into one large sing along right down to the last lyric.

After a 25 to 30 minute intermission it was time for James Taylor and his All-Star Band. The band included the likes of Lou Marini, Michito Sanchez, Steve Gadd and JT’s 20 year old son Henry on backing vocals.

Unlike Jackson’s stage, Taylor’s was a bit more elaborate.  It was anchored with a large oak tree on the left side of the stage with leaf-shaped lanterns that moved vertically to the tempo of the music.  Other sets on the jumbo screen featured sunsets and star lit skies giving the feeling of camping in the wilderness with a small fire while listening to the greatest hits of James Taylor.

The 17 song set started the night off with “Country Road” followed by “Copperline” off the 1991 album “New Moon Shine”.  Before the third song (That’s Why I’m Here) James paused to discuss the songs he just performed as well as the next one he was going to sing.  This carried on throughout the night when it came to his lesser hits but he failed to discuss the mega-hits.  I guess when it comes to the likes of “Fire and Ice” little has to be said that the lyrics don’t already tell us.

The second half of Taylor’s set was filled with the greatest hits that have made him a household name and landed him in the Rock & Roll HOF.  He started out with “Sweet Baby James” followed by “Fire and Ice”, “Carolina in My Mind”, “Shower the People” and “How Sweet It Is”.

During the encore James partnered again with Jackson Browne to perform “Take It Easy”, a song Browne co-wrote in 1972 with the late Glenn Frey for the Eagles first album.  It made for a great ending to the concert featuring two, 73 year old Hall of Famers who turned a mundane day of the week into anything but.

-Adam Grim