James Taylor returned to the Hollywood Bowl May 29th for his first show there since 2018. Taylor has played five shows there since his historic reunion with Carol King for three nights there in 2010. Taylor’s last L.A. show was at the Crypto.com Arena (Formerly Staples Center)In 2022. When it comes to singer-songwriters James Taylor has been one of the biggest over the last 50 years. Coming from an era with artists like The Eagles, Joni Mitchell, Warren Zevon, and Carole King, Taylor left a big impact on the singer-songwriter sound of the late 60s and early 70s.
His “All Star Band” really is an all star band with session greats Michael Landau (Guitar) Steve Gadd (Drums), Jimmy Johnson (Bass), Walt Fowler (Trumpet), ‘Blue’ Lou Marini (Sax), Larry Goldings (Keys), and Luis Conte (Percussion) There are also four backing vocalists including Taylor’s son Henry, Kate Markowitz, Andrew McCuller, Dorian Holley, and Andrea Zonn who doubled as the fiddle player and a back-up singer. The show opened with a video of Taylor performing “Something in the Way She Moves” This led into Taylor and his band coming out to perform that song followed “Everyday” (Buddy Holly) which was Taylor’s opening song in 2022. It was also a night of great storytelling behind the songs.
Taylor played a total of 21 songs broken into two sets including many hits like “Copperline,” “Mexico,” and “Steamroller.” “Steamroller featured Landau on one unforgettable guitar solo and Goldings on an organ solo. The visuals were spectacular with the giant screen above the stage which changed each song.
During the encore, Taylor performed "Shed a Little Light,” “Your Smiling Face,” and “You Can Close Your Eyes.” From Taylor’s self-titled debut in 1969 to his latest album American Standard released in 2020 all have made the charts with the highest being number one with 2015’s “Before This World.” Of all those albums 15 went between Gold and Platinum in the U.S.
Taylor has been nominated for 19 Grammys and won 6 on top of being a Kennedy Center honoree, Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, MusiCares Honoree, an honorary doctorate from Berklee School of Music in his hometown of Boston, MA, and is even an Emmy winner. Taylor is also a member of both the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Set 1:
- Something in the Way She Moves
- Everyday- Buddy Holly
- That's Why I'm Here
- October Road
- Copperline
- Secret o' Life
- Country Road
- Sweet Baby James
- You Make It Easy
- Sun on the Moon
Set 2:
- Carolina in My Mind
- Mexico
- Steamroller
- Fire and Rain
- Up on the Roof- Carole King
- You’ve Got a Friend (Carole King)
- Shower the People
- How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)- Marvin Gaye
Encore
- Shed a Little Light
- Your Smiling Face
- You Can Close Your Eyes
