Jackson Browne delights with low-key, superbly performed show at the Michigan Theater Wednesday

Wednesday's show was decidedly low-key, with Browne's more downtempo tunes the mainstay of the night. Alternating between keyboard and acoustic guitar (he had around 17 from which to choose), Browne started off with "Barricades of Heaven," which set the pace for what was to come. There didn't seem to be a set list; Browne would appear to start playing one song, then change his mind and go into another, sometimes responding to audience requests. Other highlights of the first part of the show included "Call It a Loan," Warren Zevon's "Don't Let Us Get Sick," "Bright Baby Blues" and the set-ending "Before the Deluge," which prompted a mini-standing ovation.

As strong as the first half was, the second was even better, including "Sky Blue and Black," the mariachi tinged "Linda Paloma" (complete with backstory of how he came to write the tune), "For Everyman," "In the Shape of a Heart," and a sublime rendition of the politically-charged "Lives in the Balance." A surprise was a superb cover of Lucinda Williams' poignant "Soldier's Song," from her new album, "Blessed."

Browne, who just returned from a number of dates in Canada, told the crowd he was pleased to be performing in an auditorium for a change. "I've been playing hockey rinks the last three weeks," he joked. His good-natured humor came through several times during the night, more than once directed at those shouting out song suggestions. "I'll play one of those … or none of those," he teased, flubbing a lyric occasionally as he honored some of the requests.

As the show neared its end, the pace picked up slightly with sunny "Travel to Cuba," and it took about two notes for the audience to recognize "The Prentender," one of Browne's biggest hits, performed definitively and which brought the crowd quickly to its feet. He came back to offer another hit, "Running on Empty," and although "The Load Out" might have been what was expected as the evening's final song, Browne surprised the crowd with a fine version of his "Late for the Sky."

All in all, Browne was in great voice. Sure, his pipes may be a little scratchier now, and he did miss a few notes here and there, but his voice was warm and somehow even his most familiar songs sounded fresh. Though some may have been disappointed that "Rosie," "Doctor My Eyes," "Stay" or "Tender is the Night" was missing from the set list, it seemed most of the crowd was OK with that, at least if the standing ovation was any indication. Clearly Browne is an artist who is about as far from running on empty as one can get.

Source: http://www.annarbor.com