The music that's written on your heart

James Taylor and His All-Star Band & Special Guest Jackson Browne

Victoria, B.C. / Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre - Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Over 5,000 music fans made themselves at home at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre after waiting the better part of two years to see singer songwriters, Jackson Browne and James Taylor in concert. Music that is written somewhere in your heart is always worth waiting for, and the mostly boomer audience were cool to wait out the worst of a pandemic, but clearly enthralled with the show that these 70’s legends brought to Victoria. For the first set of this double-bill, we were treated to the full depth of Jackson Browne’s voice and his songs that evoke powerful memories, since they have held our hands through many long road-trips, fuzzy late-night parties and still fit right in on our work playlists. He was subdued as a performer, but delivered the goods so well, if you shut your eyes you might think it was 25-year-old Browne on that stage. James Taylor joined Jackson Browne on stage for encores of The Pretender and Running on Empty and then moved into his set of classics. Songs like Fire and Rain and Copperline became fresh and new on stage for Victoria fans, with a big band featuring a range of backup vocalists and every type of horn you could name. Taylor’s dad jokes were just what the audience needed between songs, and the show finished big with Jackson Browne joining the stage for the last two songs and a warm farewell.

Mel Z