Howard Jones Plays the Birchmere
The Birchmere, Arlington Virginia
October 3
Howard Jones began touring acoustic in 1996, then accompanied by percussionist Carol Steel, in support of the release of “Live Acoustic America.” I saw that tour when it came through D.C., where he played the “old Birchmere,” not long before that venue closed and re-opened, much expanded, down the same street. Playing the “new” Birchmere for the first time, now accompanied by guitarist Robin Boult who has been touring with him for years, Jones played two fantastic sets and told amusing stories between songs.
Having seen Jones twice previously on this tour, at the Avalon in Easton, Maryland in November 2006 and at the State Theatre in Falls Church in January 2007, it was good to see him change up the setlist a bit this time and throw in some surprises. Perhaps the most poignant was a trilogy he sang in honor of his three children. His oldest just graduated from university; his second just started university, and his third child is 13. He joked he wanted to retard his youngest kid’s growth so he never leaves home.
The first song, “Sleep My Angel,” from the 1999 album People is a lullaby to his children, inspired by the intense love he felt when they were born. The second two have not yet been released. “Ordinary Heroes,” reflects his emotion when his children went off to school and the worry a parent feels when the kids become teenagers. The third, “Soon, You’ll Go,” was brand new and the first time he’d performed it live, inspired by when the child is grown and about to leave home.
Intimate venues such as the Birchmere provide the perfect setting for storytelling and Jones was quite chatty with the audience. One amusing, ironic story preceded the song, “Life in One Day.” Jones said he’d played most of the songs from his then yet-to-be-released second album, Dream Into Action, for the record execs and they didn’t seem impressed. Ironically, as they’d listened to him play such songs as “No One is to Blame,” and “Things Can Only Get Better,” they didn’t believe Jones had any hits. Despite leaving the studio that day feeling quite anxious, "Life in One Day" was the next song he would write, a song with a tranquil message: don’t try to fit everything into one day. He added that following the release of that album, he became an overnight success, “a pop star,” yet he’d released a previous album at age 28, had been playing piano since he was 7, and played in various bands since he was 14.
The crowd snapped, clapped, and where prompted sang along to many songs. Most of his songs lend themselves superbly to acoustic arrangements although one he put in the set last night did not really work for me. “Look Mama,” one of five songs Jones played from Dream into Action, sounds best in its upbeat, electronic version.
Jones often incorporated jazzy riffs and sometimes pieces of other songs. “Everlasting Love” ended with elements of La Bamba and Twist and Shout. “Exodus,” from the album In the Running transitions into the Beatles’ “Come Together,” as the version does on Live Acoustic America.
When Jones emerged for his two-song encore, he asked would we mind if he played a cover, for he needed the practice in advance of a gig he will play at New York’s Carnegie Hall on October 10. “The song is by another Brit who wears glasses,” he said, then erupted into Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer,” which he performed beautifully. The October 10th show will feature numerous artists in celebration of the music of Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Jones concluded with “Things Can Only Get Better,” and the crowd “whoa whoa whoa”ed along then gave him a standing ovation.
Technorati tag:
Howard Jones
October 3
Recommended beverage to go with this show:
a pitcher of Starr Hill Amber
Howard Jones began touring acoustic in 1996, then accompanied by percussionist Carol Steel, in support of the release of “Live Acoustic America.” I saw that tour when it came through D.C., where he played the “old Birchmere,” not long before that venue closed and re-opened, much expanded, down the same street. Playing the “new” Birchmere for the first time, now accompanied by guitarist Robin Boult who has been touring with him for years, Jones played two fantastic sets and told amusing stories between songs.
Having seen Jones twice previously on this tour, at the Avalon in Easton, Maryland in November 2006 and at the State Theatre in Falls Church in January 2007, it was good to see him change up the setlist a bit this time and throw in some surprises. Perhaps the most poignant was a trilogy he sang in honor of his three children. His oldest just graduated from university; his second just started university, and his third child is 13. He joked he wanted to retard his youngest kid’s growth so he never leaves home.
The first song, “Sleep My Angel,” from the 1999 album People is a lullaby to his children, inspired by the intense love he felt when they were born. The second two have not yet been released. “Ordinary Heroes,” reflects his emotion when his children went off to school and the worry a parent feels when the kids become teenagers. The third, “Soon, You’ll Go,” was brand new and the first time he’d performed it live, inspired by when the child is grown and about to leave home.
Intimate venues such as the Birchmere provide the perfect setting for storytelling and Jones was quite chatty with the audience. One amusing, ironic story preceded the song, “Life in One Day.” Jones said he’d played most of the songs from his then yet-to-be-released second album, Dream Into Action, for the record execs and they didn’t seem impressed. Ironically, as they’d listened to him play such songs as “No One is to Blame,” and “Things Can Only Get Better,” they didn’t believe Jones had any hits. Despite leaving the studio that day feeling quite anxious, "Life in One Day" was the next song he would write, a song with a tranquil message: don’t try to fit everything into one day. He added that following the release of that album, he became an overnight success, “a pop star,” yet he’d released a previous album at age 28, had been playing piano since he was 7, and played in various bands since he was 14.
The crowd snapped, clapped, and where prompted sang along to many songs. Most of his songs lend themselves superbly to acoustic arrangements although one he put in the set last night did not really work for me. “Look Mama,” one of five songs Jones played from Dream into Action, sounds best in its upbeat, electronic version.
Jones often incorporated jazzy riffs and sometimes pieces of other songs. “Everlasting Love” ended with elements of La Bamba and Twist and Shout. “Exodus,” from the album In the Running transitions into the Beatles’ “Come Together,” as the version does on Live Acoustic America.
When Jones emerged for his two-song encore, he asked would we mind if he played a cover, for he needed the practice in advance of a gig he will play at New York’s Carnegie Hall on October 10. “The song is by another Brit who wears glasses,” he said, then erupted into Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer,” which he performed beautifully. The October 10th show will feature numerous artists in celebration of the music of Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Jones concluded with “Things Can Only Get Better,” and the crowd “whoa whoa whoa”ed along then gave him a standing ovation.
Technorati tag:
Howard Jones
posted by Dana @ 4:57 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home