Joe Jackson North American Tour Comes to Harrisburg

My first taste of Joe Jackson came from a compilation album, ca. 1979 or '80. Dating myself, but the single "Is She Really Going Out with Him" introduced me, not only to the artistry of the man, but that which came out of the post-punk seventies, the New Romanic period, and what eventually got slapped with the label Alternative.

The thing for me was, after catching up a little later with the US radio hit "You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)," I began to slowly realize what serious pop music was about. The elements, and the art of putting together not only lines (and no, they don't have to rhyme!), but telling a story, and being able to get the music in your head, out.

This writer is a fan, of those qualities, but I'm no fanatic. I could not tell you every track of every recording, although I place Body and Soul as one fine recording, due to its songs, its recording techniques, and uncompromising sound. If you bounce around the catalog, I'm the Man, Night and Day and Look Sharp! stand the test of time, with hits such as "Steppin' Out" and "Breaking Us in Two" now standards. The scope of Jackson's influences are many, and the classical Symphony No. 1 won a Grammy.

Fast Forward marked a return in 2015, and while charting in Europe, didn't really dent in the US market, and to me, that's a shame. The recording showed Jackson in fine form, with his crafts and talents firmly in place.

The current North American tour is a short one, and Jackson admitted he could not recall whether he'd ever played in Harrisburg, PA before. No matter, for the intimate confines of the Whitaker Center downtown was the perfect place to catch Jackson.

The two upper levels of the theater in burgundy and gold offered exceptional views of the small stage, and the welcome lights that adorned the deck beneath my friends and I made for a warm atmosphere. Jackson noted from the stage the place reminded him of a pub he'd clocked into in 1980.

A note I've made in my reviews of primarily blues concerts in recent years, is the "graying" of audiences (credit to Bill Wax, former XM Radio Bluesville programmer and host for the term). Consider, however, that Jackson's first album came out in '78, his fans are going to be headed that way. The laid-back group that sold out the Whitaker on the night were a mix of casual gear and tour shirts (more Rolling Stones gear than any, hmmm...). The excitement was there, however, and the show that followed fit the atmosphere.

With a minimal backline, Jackson took his place at stage right, and began with a solo rendition of "It's Different For Girls." Longtime bassist Graham Maby casually strolled out, and joined Jackson for "Is She Really Going Out With Him?"

The newer members of the band followed; guitarist Teddy Kumpel (whose resume includes Feist and Rickie Lee Jones) handled the duties of Jackson's catalog with relative ease, and with his own twists. Drummer Doug Yowell, who performed behind Suzanne Vega, among others, played an energetic kit, and the four played a seamless set.

The trip through Jackson's four decades of recording included "Real Men" and "You Can't Get What You Want..." along with two tracks from Fast Forward, "A Little Smile" and "Ode to Joy," both of which stood well in the set.

Four new songs were included, and Jackson noted with bemusement how some concertgoers don't like that kind of thing. The rumbling "Big Black Cloud" touched on current times and Jackson's observation of how we seem to find even more things to fear. "Fool" tapped into Shakespeare, with a little dark humor, then back to the early work; "Alchemy" also did not surprise or the more lighthearted "Friend Better."

A solo "Be My Number Two," which included some improvisation and a key change, "Breaking Us in Two" also returned, an excellent cover of Steely Dan's "Night by Night," along with "Another World," "Sunday Papers," and Jackson would not have been able to leave us without the slower version of "Steppin' Out."

Jackson at times did seem a little out of breath, and stretching for his upper range at times. There were a couple of flubs, but Jackson laughed them off, and the audience was more than forgiving.

The set felt the right length; the encore provided Television's "See No Evil," which Jackson covered on Fast Forward, "One More Time" and fittingly, ended with "A Slow Song." A bit of theater as well, as one by one the band, faded away, leaving Jackson alone as he'd begun. Then he lifted his hands, and a loop continued to simple piano figure, and that was all.

Forty years of music, touring and performing are behind Jackson, along with collaborations, essays and writings, but the new songs show promise for what is coming next. Jackson and his band showed the joy that comes from concerts; you don't need too many special effects, dancers and the like. When you have the music, and those who can play it right, that is all you need.

To post a comment, you must register and login.