LIVE: HOWARD JONES wsg RACHAEL SAGE – March 11, 2020

Photo credit: Todd Jolicoeur / Toddstar Photo

Venue: Saint Andrews Hall

City: Detroit, MI

Date: March 11, 2020

Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com)

Photo credit: Todd Jolicoeur / Toddstar Photo

80’s icon Howard Jones is out touring and putting an interesting twist on his set by featuring a three-man acoustic set featuring hits and favorites fro throughout his catalog.  Before the headliner took to the stage, we were warmed up with an amazing set from Rachael Sage, out promoting her latest release Character.  While I was peripherally aware of Sage, I fell in love with her after hearing a recent back story about her and recent track “Bravery’s On Fire.”  Once the stage was set, she took her place behind her keyboard, welcomed her cellist Dave Eggar, and thanked the crowd for coming out.  She quickly dove into tracks from her latest release Character and the rest of her catalog.  Rachael’s set seemed to fly by… not because it was short, but rather because it was truly enjoyable.  After seeing this opening set, I have made a personal vow to make my way to see her Ms. Sage perform each time she lands in Detroit.

Photo credit: Todd Jolicoeur / Toddstar Photo

Next up was the man of the evening… or should we say trio?  Howard Jones brought his catalog and his talent to Saint Andrews to perform an acoustic set that featured Howard on electric piano, with musical Robin Boult on acoustic guitar and Nick Beggs on chapman stick.  I was able to hear songs I was very familiar with swirled with tracks I was only peripherally aware of, and even a couple covers for good measure.  One of the high points for me was the inclusion of “What Is Love?” early in the set.  The song was as powerful acoustic tonight as it was the first time I heard the track.  Another great song tonight was “No One Is To Blame” that stirred the crowd as much as it did Howard, demonstrating the power of great music and its pull on the memory and heart.  A cool bonus was a cover of Kajagoogoo’s “Too Shy” that reared its head in the set as well as an amazing cover of The Beach Boys “God Only Knows” that opened the encore.  Jones’ care and treatment of the songs in the set, as well as the storyteller spin he put on a lot of the tracks made this a special night, and one that many of us in Detroit would remember and have to hold on to, as within days of this performance, a wave would wash over the city, the state, the country, the world – and that wave would bring concert going to a grinding halt.  Almost three weeks later and this show plays over in my mind (and I am sure the minds of others there that evening), as it is the last show I saw and will most likely see for some time to come.  I can only wonder now how much planning went into your set this evening as you ushered us out of the show and into the night and future full of questions and quarantine with the thought and words “Things Can Only Get Better” floating through our heads and across our lips.  Thanks for sharing your music, your stories, and your time with Detroit Howard… it is more important with each day that passes.

Howard Jones Setlist: Pearl in the Shell – Assault and Battery – Don’t Always Look at the Rain – What Is Love? – Specialty – At the Speed of Love – Too Shy – No One Is to Blame – Fallin’ Away – Exodus / Come Together – Oh! Darling – Hide and Seek – Like to Get to Know You Well – Hero in Your Eyes – Life in One Day 2.0 / Life in One Day – Everlasting Love – God Only Knows – Things Can Only Get Better

[Show as slideshow]

FULL SET OF HOWARD JONES SHOW PHOTOS HERE

HOWARD JONES LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

TOUR DATES

[Show as slideshow]

FULL SET OF RACHAEL SAGE SHOW PHOTOS HERE

RACHAEL SAGE LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

TOUR DATES

Category: Artist Spotlight, Live Reviews, Photo Galleries