After a brief intermission, Bruce Coburn comes out donning a mohawkish haircut, parachute pants, and Klondike boots just in case anyone was not aware that he’s from the Canadian province with an ax to grind against the warmongers and tree loggers of this world. Some of his songs are like he’s gone to combat for Greenpeace, spouting explicatives, and even writing a song about a rocket launcher. That’s the one side of Bruce, while the other is an affable, loving imitation of the late John Candy. Sweet-and-sour, you might say. But an award winning songwriter and wordsmith, the likes of Gordon Lightfoot and Neil Young.
As he got rolling into his set doing Night Train, his backup band of Jeff Pevar and wife Inger Nova, came pulsing into the rhythm, Jeff- sounding his bass like a cello coming into view through the fog as Inger chimed with background vocals and her own percussion section. Although Jeff was featured a lot on several bass guitars in his collection, he also had some fine guitars, dobros, mandolin, and even a ukulele I think! They never overpowered Bruce, but were the perfect flawless accompaniment for his kind of roots music mixed with ethereal jazz.
Bruce, as usual also played many instruments and had a variety of guitars set up within reach for him. He used a chrome dobro resonator guitar to perform his cover of the Blind Willie Johnson song ‘Soul Of A Man,’
One of my favorites- “If a Tree Falls” Is a warning about deforestation, first heard in 1989, still resonating like a message still needing to be heard. But no rocket launcher song tonight. He even did a World War II number that our parents once slow danced to- “As Time Goes By.” It jived with Livingston Taylor’s version of- ‘If I only had a Brain,’ sorta. He mixed old and brand new songs effortlessly and the crowd was appreciative of even unheard songs from his latest album. A great combination of originals and covers that thrilled the night and felt more like a fireside chat than a bonfire of hit songs.
Bruce switched acoustic guitars, including his distinctive green Manzer, brought out a small green 12 string charango and even settled a mountain dulcimer across his lap. Each instrument adding that musicianship and his trademark songwriting to the sets. “Wondering Where the Lions Are” and “Pacing the Cage” were two standouts that got the crowd all worked up into a blissful reminiscent buzz. Bruce is from another space-another time that had all the earmarks of a protest singer with a polished sound of roots to rhythm band.
“Mama Just Wants to Barrelhouse All Night Long” sent things out into the night, like the wood smoke you could smell walking out of the Art-Deco Chevalier theatre. It was the perfect finish: like cognac after a full two our set of 20 songs. At 81 years old, his voice is still strong and his picking still packs a punch. This is a short tour this fall, which resumes in the spring from Canada into the US again. If it comes into town anywhere near you within a two or three hour range, it’s worth the drive to see this nostalgic folk singer who’s got a punky edge to his music and a great backup band that compliments his music to the high heavens. You will not be disappointed..
Livingston Taylor
Livingston Taylor’s nine song set was like a carney pre-emptive strike to warm up the crowd. It worked. Livingston, who has been in the music business for 57 years, about as long as his brother James has, is a charmer. He’s got all the bells and whistles of a stand-up comic mixed with a funky crooner and a wicked soprano compliment to his agile picking. He has actually had an amazing career as a sideman and a really cool crowd pleaser. For many years he was a Berkeley College teacher. As he whipped us up after the first song, he did an amazing routine of storytelling and guitar picking and crowd pleasing as much as I’ve ever seen in any opening act in 60 years. At one point, he told the crowd how he’d become the voice of Winnie the Pooh for a new updated AI version of this kids classic fairytale story. So as he’s telling us how they chose him to be the voice of Winnie the Pooh, he’s cracking jokes that had us on the floor about not wearing pants like Winnie and dosing out on sugar and honey. How can you not love this guy.
Livingston Taylor Setlist-
I Belong
Carolina Day
Over the Rainbow/ If I Only Had a Brain
I Must be doing something right
Start all over again
Songbird
Never lose hope
Poo Corner- Kenny Loggins
Railroad Bill
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Setlist: Greg Ray Dunnett
Show Review by Greg Ray Dunnett:
After a brief intermission, Bruce Coburn comes out donning a mohawkish haircut, parachute pants, and Klondike boots just in case anyone was not aware that he’s from the Canadian province with an ax to grind against the warmongers and tree loggers of this world. Some of his songs are like he’s gone to combat for Greenpeace, spouting explicatives, and even writing a song about a rocket launcher. That’s the one side of Bruce, while the other is an affable, loving imitation of the late John Candy. Sweet-and-sour, you might say. But an award winning songwriter and wordsmith, the likes of Gordon Lightfoot and Neil Young.
As he got rolling into his set doing Night Train, his backup band of Jeff Pevar and wife Inger Nova, came pulsing into the rhythm, Jeff- sounding his bass like a cello coming into view through the fog as Inger chimed with background vocals and her own percussion section. Although Jeff was featured a lot on several bass guitars in his collection, he also had some fine guitars, dobros, mandolin, and even a ukulele I think! They never overpowered Bruce, but were the perfect flawless accompaniment for his kind of roots music mixed with ethereal jazz. Bruce, as usual also played many instruments and had a variety of guitars set up within reach for him. He used a chrome dobro resonator guitar to perform his cover of the Blind Willie Johnson song ‘Soul Of A Man,’
One of my favorites- “If a Tree Falls” Is a warning about deforestation, first heard in 1989, still resonating like a message still needing to be heard. But no rocket launcher song tonight. He even did a World War II number that our parents once slow danced to- “As Time Goes By.” It jived with Livingston Taylor’s version of- ‘If I only had a Brain,’ sorta. He mixed old and brand new songs effortlessly and the crowd was appreciative of even unheard songs from his latest album. A great combination of originals and covers that thrilled the night and felt more like a fireside chat than a bonfire of hit songs.
Bruce switched acoustic guitars, including his distinctive green Manzer, brought out a small green 12 string charango and even settled a mountain dulcimer across his lap. Each instrument adding that musicianship and his trademark songwriting to the sets. “Wondering Where the Lions Are” and “Pacing the Cage” were two standouts that got the crowd all worked up into a blissful reminiscent buzz. Bruce is from another space-another time that had all the earmarks of a protest singer with a polished sound of roots to rhythm band. “Mama Just Wants to Barrelhouse All Night Long” sent things out into the night, like the wood smoke you could smell walking out of the Art-Deco Chevalier theatre. It was the perfect finish: like cognac after a full two our set of 20 songs. At 81 years old, his voice is still strong and his picking still packs a punch. This is a short tour this fall, which resumes in the spring from Canada into the US again. If it comes into town anywhere near you within a two or three hour range, it’s worth the drive to see this nostalgic folk singer who’s got a punky edge to his music and a great backup band that compliments his music to the high heavens. You will not be disappointed..
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States I'm In
Livingston Taylor
Livingston Taylor’s nine song set was like a carney pre-emptive strike to warm up the crowd. It worked. Livingston, who has been in the music business for 57 years, about as long as his brother James has, is a charmer. He’s got all the bells and whistles of a stand-up comic mixed with a funky crooner and a wicked soprano compliment to his agile picking. He has actually had an amazing career as a sideman and a really cool crowd pleaser. For many years he was a Berkeley College teacher. As he whipped us up after the first song, he did an amazing routine of storytelling and guitar picking and crowd pleasing as much as I’ve ever seen in any opening act in 60 years. At one point, he told the crowd how he’d become the voice of Winnie the Pooh for a new updated AI version of this kids classic fairytale story. So as he’s telling us how they chose him to be the voice of Winnie the Pooh, he’s cracking jokes that had us on the floor about not wearing pants like Winnie and dosing out on sugar and honey. How can you not love this guy.
Livingston Taylor Setlist- I Belong
Carolina Day
Over the Rainbow/ If I Only Had a Brain
I Must be doing something right
Start all over again
Songbird
Never lose hope
Poo Corner- Kenny Loggins
Railroad Bill