To quote one of my favorite Joe Jackson songs, “Nineteen Forever”: “Wouldn’t it be a drag to be like you, settling down and having kids and telling them what to do? Well, I’m gonna stay nineteen forever."
When I was barely past 19, I stood mesmerized at stage-front in a club in Washington, D.C., watching this pale twitching punk bark out smart lyrics, instructing us all to “Look Sharp” over the musical accompaniment of bassist Graham Maby, drummer Dave Houghton, and guitarist Gary Sanford. And more than twenty-nine years later (wow, TWENTY-NINE YEARS!)—save for the absence of Sanford and the addition of Michael, my good friend and kindred Joe fan—here I was again, with Jackson, Maby, and Houghton serenading me as I photographed and listened.
I’ve been in the audience several times during those 29 years, and Jackson’s shows have never disappointed. Sure, there was a time in the early '80s when Joe delved into his more “jazzy hip” persona, and I shrugged. And there was a time in the late '90s when Joe revealed a semi-classical side, and I wasn’t thrilled. But the last few years and albums have brought back the Joe I knew and loved—sharp, biting, affably cynical yet tender, with his easy mix of rat-a-tat rockers and poignant ballads.
Between songs, some audience members in the sold-out Calvin Theater (many of whom seemed to have attended a pre-concert “Drink A Lot Before the Joe Jackson Show” party) would scream out requests. After one such outburst, Joe smiled and said, “We change the set list from time to time, depending on our mood, but one thing we never do . . . is requests.” This subtle putdown of the screamers brought a cheer from the rest of the audience.
The sound and music were surprisingly full from the spare three-piece group. Houghton’s electronic drums pushed songs forward on the rhythmic, thundering waves of Maby’s bass. Brand new songs such as “Too Tough,” “Citizen Sane,” and “A Place in the Rain”—all from the recently-released Rain—dovetailed smoothly with Jackson classics. During the last few tours, Joe has established a habit of always playing a “cover” song during his shows; on this tour, selections have included “Scary Monsters” by David Bowie, and “Knowing Me, Knowing You” by Abba. The Northampton audience was treated to a salsa version of “Reelin’ In the Years,” by Steely Dan.
Although the inebriated middle-aged woman behind me was annoying as hell—talking loudly(!) on the phone(!) to her kids during a song(!)—when she screamed “Joe, you’re a genius,” I did have to agree with her. Very few artists last 30 years, and even fewer last them as well as Joe Jackson.
Set List:
1) Steppin’ Out
2) Another World
3) Too Tough
4) Citizen Sane
5) Real Men
6) Going Downtown
7) King Pleasure Time
8) On Your Radio
9) Solo (So Low)
10) The Uptown Train
11) Obvious Song
12) Reelin’ In The Years (Steely Dan cover)
13) It’s Different For Girls
14) Take It Like A Man
15) One More Time
16) A Place In the Rain
Encore:
1) You Can’t Get What You Want
2) Is She Really Going Out With Him?
3) Slow Song
