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JACKSON BROWNE
+ The Waifs
+ Vika and Linda
+ Liz Stringer
@ A Day on the Green
Sirromet Winery,
Mount Cotton, QLD
Saturday 2 December 2023
(Live Review)

Review by Marlena Katene (Website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube)

Photos by Sonia Bettinelli

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Jackson Browne / Photo – Sonia Bettinelli

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Driving to Sirromet Winery Mt Cotton, I immediately knew tonight’s Jackson Browne performance was going to be a little different to my regular concert experience.  Tonight I was going to be schooled by a musical genius. This education can only be taught by a singer-songwriter with over 50 years’ experience in the industry across a repertoire of 15 albums.  With generations of fans entering the venue tonight we knew were in for a performance like no other. 

Dressed in a simple jeans and checkered shirt, Jackson Browne entered the stage solo with his guitar. With a simple yet warm greeting “So happy to be here, thank you all for coming out tonight”.

His first song ‘Don’t Let Us Get Sick’ (Warren Devon cover), highlighted that tonight the guitar riffs and his soulful voice were to be the sole reason the thousands of people still turn out in droves to support his music. Even after all these years the crowds tun up in their thousands and sing along to every song.  

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Liz Stringer / Photo – Sonia Bettinelli

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Liz Stringer / Photo – Sonia Bettinelli

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At the conclusion of his first song, his sensational two backing singers and five-piece band joined him onstage and got straight into ‘Downhill from Everywhere’ and ‘For Everyman’.  These two songs really highlighted the tight-knit groups combined talent, clear long term connection and the close relationship they have formed.  

Introducing ‘The Justice Is Real’ Browne opened up to the Audience saying, “This song is about a problem we have had in our country that has been there since the beginning really. Actually, it is a global problem too. It was in the world before it was in the United States. This is a song we want to dedicate to everyone working for racial justice in our world”.

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Jackson Browne / Photo – Sonia Bettinelli

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The crowd listened in silence and hung on to every word, as this powerful ballad was played. With this silence the audience got to appreciate every aspect of not only Browne but his backing singers and band.  Browne said, “This stage sounds good…It looks like the stage we set up in Perth but sounds a whole heap better”.

Acknowledging the support act ‘The Waifs’ Browne shared how he watched them side of stage.   

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The Waifs / Photo – Sonia Bettinelli

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The Waifs / Photo – Sonia Bettinelli

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“I love how natural the Waifs are…. how effortless . I couldn’t understand a word they were saying ya know, but I know you guys could!”  Then he joked that “My  son found out there was a Hip Hop beat to this next song I am about to play, but I don’t play that version. This song is called ‘The Long Way Around”.

While I appreciate the odd cover for some songs (in different genres), one could not imagine this song being changed from the way it was played tonight. 

While mainly a subdued and quiet audience there were moments of amusement. After around half an hour it was clear of one audience member had a favourite song. Positioned behind the sound desk she yelled “Play ‘The Pretender’!” To which Browne responded “I can’t hear you from that far back” and the crowd laughed.

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Vika & Linda / Photo – Sonia Bettinelli

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Vika & Linda / Photo – Sonia Bettinelli

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After a second attempt he then puts his hands in air and shakes his head “What?”.  A third time she repeats at top of her lungs “Play ‘The Pretender’!”

Browne responded “Ok, now that time I heard you. I suppose we can just do this”.  

He puts down his guitar and walked over to the piano.  After a slight confusion from his backing band with swapping guitars around, he jokingly bantered “And this is why we have set list”.  

This laidback nature is something the crowd clearly enjoyed and added to the two hour experience we shared. 

During the performance of ‘The Indifference Of Heaven’ after the first chorus, he interrupted the band by saying, “Stop stop stop…… how can you get through a whole verse, then realise that you are in a lower key?”.  This was followed by an outburst of laughter throughout the audience.

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Jackson Browne / Photo – Sonia Bettinelli

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After restarting the song Jackson stumbles with the words, but like a consummate professional continues with the song. Within seconds he is back on track and the crowd were none the wiser or concerned. 

After a great night of other classics such as ‘Too Many Angels’, ‘Call it a Loan’, ‘Doctor My Eyes’ and more, the crowd were not ready to go home yet.

The Encore included ‘The Load-Out/ Stay’ and ‘Take it Easy/Our Lady of the Well’.

Watching Jackson Browne live in concert was a refreshing concert experience for me.  It was an older crowd that were more interested in tapping their toes to the melody, hugging their partners and swaying to each and every tune. The audience were truly living in the moment and creating memories, rather than recording every single moment on their phones. I saw people dancing and swaying in the isles knowing each of Jackson Browne’s songs word for word. Being a younger person in an older crowd, tonight I saw how music careers were formed well before I was born. When one has a natural talent this is all that is required to perform, entertain a crowd and create a true musical career.

Thank you Jackson Browne for a great night of entertainment.   It is one I will remember.

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Jackson Browne / Photo – Sonia Bettinelli

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Follow JACKSON BROWNE
Website – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram
Spotify – Youtube – Apple Music – TikTok

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Jackson Browne / Photo – Sonia Bettinelli

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Press Release 28th May 2023 (below) HERE

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AMNPLIFY – DB