July 12th

  On July 12th, 2008 I saw James Taylor play Rexall Place in Edmonton. Had front row seats for this one. And when James took a short intermission half way through the show, he sat on the edge of the stage and signed autographs. How cool is that!

June 7th

 June 7th, 2016 I saw James Taylor in concert at Rexall Place in Edmonton. This was such a great show!

James Taylor and Jackson Browne Live in Edmonton May 9th 2022

Well, after three years of sitting on these tickets this show finally happened. Originaly scheduled for April of 2020 and having bought the tickets well in advance it was a long wait. I honestly didn't think this show was actualy going to happen. But it did, mind you, when we originaly bought the tickets, the opening act was supposed to be Bonnie Raitt. But after all the postponements and delays, Bonnie Raitt was no longer on this tour. This was a disappointment to me as I was really looking forward to seeing her in concert again. The new opener now was Jackson Browne, which is cool too. I went to this show with Janis and my buddy Buzzard. This would be my second time seeing Jackson Browne in concert. The first time I saw him perform was a solo show, this time around he had a full band with him, which I enjoyed much more then solo. Jackson opened the show with the song "Somebody's Baby". Janis right away piped up saying this song is from the movie "Fast Times At Ridgemount High" and she would be correct on that. I actually had to look that up to see if she was right, and yup, she is. Jackson played for about an hour and sounded great, enjoyed his set very much, especially with a band. Other songs i recall him playing were "Fountain Of Sorrow" and "Late For The Sky" from the album Late For The Sky. It was also nice that he didn't do a lot of preaching about environment issues like he did the first time I saw him. Like my buddy says "I came to hear you play music not preach to me", so thankfully there was very little of that. Jackson Browne is a well known environment activist. James Taylor joined him on stage to play "Pretender" and "Running On Empty" a great way to end his set. Jackson Browne at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

Headlining the night was James Taylor and His All-Star Band. This would be my third time seeing James Taylor in concert. I guess you could say James Taylor's music is a guilty pleasure of mine. His laid back style of music is soothing and so great with a great band backing him up. James just comes across as a very genuine man. His hour and half long set was full of hits like "Sweet James", "Carolina In My Mind", "Fire And Rain" and some cover songs of Carole King "You've Got A Friend" and "Up On The Roof" as well as a Marvin Gaye song "How Sweet It Is (Be Loved By You)" and then during his encore Jackson Browne joined him on stage for the Eagles song "Take It Easy". Early in the show James thanked the crowd for hanging on to their tickets for three years. I thought that was good of him to acknowledge how long we had waited for this show. At 74 years old, Taylor's voice is still very strong. Janis, Buzzard and I all really enjoyed this double bill. Good times!!! James Taylor at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

T-shirt front.

T-shirt back.

James Taylor Live in Edmonton June 7th 2016

On Tuesday my love Janis and I went to the James Taylor concert at Rexall Place in Edmonton. What better way to celebrate our 12th anniversary then a James Taylor concert. This was my second time seeing James Taylor in concert, the first time was great but this was even better, part of that would be because I know his music better now then I did eight years ago when I last saw him. I felt like the youngest person at the show as this was an older crowd for sure.

The best way to sum up a James Taylor concert is Class Act!!! The man is not only talented as a guitar player and singer songwriter but he is also a gentleman, funny, gracious, humble and very generous as he donated all the proceeds from the Edmonton and Calgary shows to the Fort McMurray fire aid.

James is on the road touring for his new album Before This World his first new material album in thirteen years. Touring with James again is his seasoned All-Star band which includes Michael Landau on guitar, Steve Gadd on drums, Jimmy Johnson on bass, Blue Lou Marini of SNL fame on horns and many more. Just a great back-up band all very professional and looked to having as much fun as James is performing together.

At 68 years old James Taylor has still got his smooth vocal delivery. They played all the hits including Fire & Rain, Sweet Baby James, You've Got A Friend which was dedicated to the city of Fort McMurray, Angels Of Fenway a great song about the curse of the Bambino and the Boston Red Sox baseball team, Mexico, Carolina In My Mind, How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)a Marvin Gaye song. he also told some great stories between songs, one story being about traveling to Europe at a young age and getting the break of playing his songs for Paul McCartney and George Harrison of the Beatles. He eventually got signed to the Beatles Apple Records, the first artist signed to the label. James did two sets on this night. He joked at the end of the first set, saying he didn't know why they took this 20 minute break as all he does is stand behind the curtain and look at his watch the whole time. Well that wasn't true as during the intermission James didn't leave the stage at all instead sitting on the edge of the stage signing autographs and taking selfies with many in the audience, and having fun doing it. Again very classy.

Both sets of the night were well over an hour. The audience was eating up his tunes, singing along, and near the end of the show when they let the crowd move up to the stage, some dancing broke out, as the songs got a little more rocking as well. Something that did bother me about the show was people in the crowd yelling out songs they wanted to hear. Give it up people, he didn't ask for requests, and yells of I Love You James, shut the fuck up people you're embarrassing. I like an enthusiastic crowd but that is a bit much. But James Taylor just rolled with it having fun and handling it professionally, saying thank you and yes I will be playing that song eventually. I just find it bothersome hearing that shit during a performance. All and all though a great show that I enjoyed immensely. Good times!!!

James Taylor at Rexall Place in Edmonton.

Setlist.

First Set

Wandering
Secret o' Life
Everyday
Walking Man
Today Today Today
Country Road
The Frozen Man
Copperline
Carolina in My Mind
Up on the Roof
Fire and Rain
Shed a Little Light


Second Set

Instrumental
Snow Time
You've Got a Friend
The Promised Land
Shower the People
Angels of Fenway
Sweet Baby James
Steamroller
Mexico
Your Smiling Face

Encore
Knock on Wood
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)
Wild Mountain Thyme

T-shirt front.

Back.

19 Years Ago Today...July 12th

It was nineteen years ago today that I saw I Mother Earth with openers the Headstones play Peoples Pub here in Edmonton, a great double bill of two wicked Canadian bands.

Also on this day eighteen years ago, I saw Toronto band Glueleg play Peoples Pub.

And on this day five years ago, I saw James Taylor play Rexall Place here in Edmonton.

Concert Shirt Of The Day May 15th (James Taylor)

Today's t-shirt is from the James Taylor concert my buddy Hurl and I went to in 2008 at Rexall Place in Edmonton. My friend Buzzard got me in to James Taylor a few years ago, I wasn't planning on going to this show til the last minute when I was able to score front rows seats. He put on an excellent show and am now a bigger fan of his after seeing him play live. James Taylor played 2 sets, and during the intermission he signed a few autographs from the front of the stage. I was lucky enough to get him to sign my ticket stub. Great show and a good time. I would go see him in concert again for sure.

Front.


Back.