Review & Photos by Luke Matthews

There are some concerts you don’t forget; the first time you see Paul McCartney, singing along with Tom Petty, or even seeing the full line-ups of The Eagles or Fleetwood Mac.

One could argue adding seeing James Taylor and Jackson Browne on the same stage to that list makes sense. The two Rock & Roll Hall of Famers visited Des Moines Wednesday night after a long tour delay thanks to, well you know. The over 8,100 in attendance (more than last time Taylor came to Des Moines) were treated to three-and-a-half hours of excellent folk and classic rock.

PHOTOS: JAMES TAYLOR AND JACKSON BROWNE AT WELLS FARGO ARENA

The night started off a little awkwardly with the long-haired, grayed Jackson Browne taking the stage and proclaiming, “Hello Grand Rapids!” The crowd murmured while Browne’s band prepped for the night’s first song. Browne shared a laugh with his drummer Russ Kunkel, then returned to the mic saying, “It finally happened.”

“I’ve been thinking of Michigan for three days now and it’s just been on my mind,” Browne continued to laughter in the crowd. “I know that this is Des Moines!”

The crowd was quick to forgive, especially when you start your set with a fan favorite like “Somebody’s Baby.” Browne glided through a smooth, polished 11-song set with the ease of a professional. Much of the early part of his set was slower-tempo tunes like “The Barricades of Heaven” and a title song from his latest release, “Downhill From Everywhere.”

The tempo of his opening set picked up once he got to the night’s second hit, “Doctor My Eyes.” Browne’s final two songs got a shot in the arm of star power as right before he began his hit “The Pretender,” he plainly told the crowd, “Hey say good evening to James Taylor,” as the night’s headliner casually took to the stage to join his long time friend on the aforementioned song as well as Browne’s closer, “Running on Empty.”

After a short break, James Taylor came back to take over for his headlining slot. He took to the stage playing a montage of many fans describing why they love his music and doing various covers of Taylor’s classics. The projections ended with Taylor seated deep on the stage and walking to the center microphone to begin “Country Road.” Taylor kept it somewhat familiar early in the show with hits like “Mexico” and “Copperline” played early.

Taylor had a first of several poignant moments in the show as he introduced “That’s Why I’m Here” as a song that was both about his fans and also about the death of his friend John Belushi. He dedicated the song to those starting out their journeys of “getting clean” while also saying that he’s, “still going to cater to those who are (effed) up.”

Taylor spent various breaks in the set to introduce his very large band which includes musicians that have played with him for decades and some that he’s known their entire lives, specifically background vocalist Henry Taylor, James’ son.

Taylor is sneaky funny. He took a moment to honor the electric guitar saying, “this is the electric guitar (shows off guitar). It’s much better than the old gas and steam guitar. We played in Pennsylvania and they were still using the old horse-drawn guitar,” much to the crowd’s enjoyment.

“Sometimes, the old jokes are the best,” he added.

The crowd was treated to a bit of a rarity in the setlist as Taylor chose to play “Up On the Roof,” a song made famous by The Drifters and co-written by his friend and often-times collaborator, Carole King. He then also treated the crowd to a slightly psychedelic rendition of “Steamroller.”

The latter half of Taylor’s set was the “old favorites” including “Sweet Baby James,” “Carolina On My Mind,” and his signature song, “Fire and Rain.” His performance of the latter was stripped down and featured Taylor seated at the front of the stage with only a spotlight above. It made for an intimate setting for a song that gives the same kind of goosebumps when you hear it live as does “Hey Jude” or maybe “Tiny Dancer.”

Taylor came back to the stage for a four-song encore that featured Jackson Browne as well as Taylor’s wife, Caroline, who sang background vocals for a performance of the Eagles’ “Take It Easy.” Browne had written the song with the late Glen Frey. The whole band stayed for a performance of Taylor’s other signature tune, “You’ve Got a Friend.” The last song of the night was a father and son number, “You Can Close Your Eyes” featuring Taylor’s son, Henry.

James Taylor and Jackson Browne are in the upper echelon of rock royalty. They’re both brilliant lyricists and musicians. It was truly a treat to see both men on stage together in one show. The two performers didn’t need anything flashy to keep the attention and adoration of the fans in attendance. They’re just two relics of when music was different and you could become a superstar without a gimmick. All you. needed were some good songs and the people with come. That they did, which recalls the chorus of Taylor’s “That’s Why I’m Here:”

“I said that’s why I’m here.
Got no other reason,
That’s why I’m standing before you,
That’s why I’m here.”

SETLIST: Jackson Browne

Somebody’s Baby
The Barricades of Heaven
The Long Way Around
Fountain of Sorrow
Downhill From Everywhere
The Dreamer
Until Justice Is Real
Doctor My Eyes
Late for the Sky
The Pretender
Running on Empty

SETLIST: James Taylor

Country Road
Copperline
That’s Why I’m Here
Mexico
You Make It Easy
Up On the Roof
Steamroller
Easy as Rollin’ Off a Log
Sweet Baby James
Fire and Rain
Carolina in My Mind
Shower The People
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)

Encore:
Shed a Little Light
Take It Easy
You’ve Got a Friend
You Can Close Your Eyes