Joe Jackson

Joe Jackson emerged in the late 70’s, along with Elvis Costello, Ian Dury and Graham Parker as British singer songwriters who had the talent, the tenacity and gall to sing about real life with wonderful lyrics and tuneful songs that still stand up gloriously today.

A sold out crowd in Milan welcomed him back in the beautiful ‘Teatro Dal Verme’ as he stepped out alone on the impressively big stage. Tall and distinguished in a dark blue suit he played five songs solo, gently feeling out the crowd and acoustics including a ‘New Orleans’ style version of Joni Mitchell’s ‘Big Yellow Taxi'.

Longtime bass player Graham Maby, and New York musicians Doug Yowell (drums) and the splendid Teddy Kumpell (guitar) then joined JJ and things really kicked off. Various songs were played from the latest JJ album ‘Fast Forward’ and tracks like ‘Poor Thing’ and ‘Kings Of The City’ are really good additions to the excellent body of work JJ has built up in his career.

The band were having fun onstage, seemingly surprised at the crowd’s attentiveness and enthusiasm and even if there were slight problems with the mix (snare drum mainly being too loud), the quality of the overall sound was top notch, especially the groovy funky guitar licks and delicate sound effects TK brought to the songs.

Highlights were the irresistible ‘You Can’t Get What You Want’, a snappy ‘One More Time’ and the magnificent ‘A Slow Song’. JJ was rather exhausted at the end but evidently elated that a “bunch of tarts” should still enthuse such rapturous applause and joy.

Joe Jackson solo

It's Different For Girls
Home Town
Take It Like a Man
Be My Number Two
Big Yellow Taxi
Fast Forward

Joe Jackson & Graham Maby

Is she really going out with him

Joe Jackson & Band

Real Men
You Can't Get What You Want
A Little Smile
Kings of the City
Poor Thing
Another World
The Blue Time
Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) (David Bowie cover)
Sunday Papers
Keep On Dreaming
Ode to Joy
Steppin' Out

Encore:

See No Evil (Television cover)
One More Time
A Slow Song