James Taylor, Jackson Browne mark return of concerts at Fedexforum
Two of the most beloved artists of the ’70s singer-songwriter era, James Taylor and Jackson Browne, are on the road together — at last. Browne is serving as opening act for headliner Taylor on a summer jaunt, which was originally scheduled for 2020 and subsequently postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pair’s upcoming show at Fedexforum on Saturday will mark the first major concert event at the venue since early last year.
Here are five things to know before you go.
Both boomer generation favorites, Taylor and Browne have fairly long histories performing in Memphis, dating back to the 1970s.
Taylor has been a more frequent visitor to the Bluff City, starting with a 1974 debut at the Mid-south Coliseum. Over the years, Taylor has played just about every major venue in town — from Mud Island Amphitheater to the Pyramid, as well as Beale Street Music Festival. His last appearance came in 2017 at Fedexforum.
Browne, meanwhile, made his local debut in 1978 at the Mid-south Coliseum, and followed with a couple of more shows at the venue, before moving to Mud Island Amphitheater for sporadic appearances from the mid-’80s to mid’90s. In recent years, Browne has headlined a series of well-received concerts at Downtown’s Orpheum.
Sneak peek at the show’s setlists
Since kicking off late last month with a run of dates in the Midwest, the Taylor/browne tour has been winning raves from critics. Much of that is due to wellchosen setlists from both artists.
Browne has been playing a fairly tight opening set, covering 10 tunes and running just under an hour. The show includes a few songs off his new album, “Downhill from Everywhere,” but also covers his biggest hits (“Doctor My Eyes,” “Running on Empty”) and catalog classics (“Late for the Sky,” “Somebody’s Baby”). Browne, who has noted that he doesn’t open for just anyone, has been bringing Taylor out to duet on his hit “The Pretender.”
Taylor meanwhile has been doing a 17-song set, including encores, with a few variations in the song list. Although he released an album of American standards at the start of the pandemic, his sets have mostly relied on the expected ’70s hits (“Fire and Rain,” “Shower the People”) and later ’80s favorites (“That’s Why I’m Here,” “Never Die Young”). The show’s penultimate performance finds Taylor and Browne teaming up again, this time on “Take it Easy” — the Eagles’ hit that Browne co-wrote — before a finale featuring Taylor’s chart-topping rendition of Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend.”
James Taylor and Jackson Browne are no strangers to Memphis
The reviews
In most markets the Taylor/browne tour has been in — as it will be in Memphis — the first major concert to come through town since the onset of the pandemic. So far, after about half a dozen shows, the reviews have been overwhelmingly positive.
The Oakland (Michigan) Press captured the general response most critics have had, hailing the “Troubadours whose catalogs stretch back 50 years and straddle the line between Top 40 and Classic Rock… each came armed with potent repertoires and equally impressive bands, and with a gentle effect that fit perfectly into a sunny … summer evening.”
How much do tickets cost?
Standard admission tickets for the Taylor/browne concert range from $59 to $119. A look at Ticketmaster shows that sales for the show have been fairly brisk, but good seats remain at all price points. This includes a handful of exclusive front section platinum seats, which cost $650 each. To purchase go to Ticketmaster.com or contact the Fedexforum box office at (901) 205-2640.
COVID-19 policies at Fedexforum
Because this will be the first big concert for most people, Fedexforum has updated its rules and guidelines.
Facemask policy: Current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance for public indoor settings is that masks are recommended for all guests, but policy is subject to change with shifts in public health guidelines.
Bag policy and screening measures: The bag policy at Fedexforum remains the same (no bags larger than 14 inches by 14 inches by 6 inches are allowed) but X-ray machines are now used to screen all bags, in lieu of manual searches, including ladies’ wristlets and small clutches. There are designated express lines for expedited entry into Fedexforum for those choosing to forego carrying a bag.
Ticketing: All tickets, including those purchased at the box office, are delivered to guests by text or email at time of purchase and guests will selfscan their mobile device at entry. Ticketed guests must download the official Grizzlies Mobile App.
Early arrival: Fedexforum encourages early arrival for events, and all entrances will be opened to allow fans to spread out and reduce entry wait times.
Concessions: Fedexforum is now cashless and has contactless transactions at concession stands throughout the arena, offering guests the opportunity to scan their own cards or tap to pay with services such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. On the Fedexforum page within the official Grizzlies app, guests can also add funds to their mobile wallet for another tap-to-pay option.