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Concert: Bruce Cockburn
McDonald Theatre, Eugene, OR (31 July 2003)
Reviewed by Tim and Ananda Owen
Photos by Tim Owen
Bruce Cockburn, touring this summer in support of his 27th studio release, You've Never Seen Everything, lit up the historic McDonald Theatre in Eugene recently along with a full house of appreciative fans. Featuring most songs from the new CD, (as well as a selection of other faves and relevant works), Bruce appeared very relaxed and in charge of the new material. With a particularly casual demeanor he chatted easily with the audience and answered questions while tuning and adjusting monitors etc. When asked what he did in Eugene for the day, he divulged that he had picked up a 1961 12-string Gibson at a local dealer and was quite happy with it.
Back again are six year veterans with Bruce, the still young Ben Riley on drums and Steve Lucas on bass, providing a solid rhythm section with great jazz rock sensibilities. New addition and local NW talent Julie Wolf, (Laura Love, Ani DiFranco), provided keyboards and back up vocals, a real treat after ten years touring with neither keyboards nor female backups, which have become so present on Bruce's recordings, where he is able to recruit some of the best vocalists in the biz. The only trade off is that with a keyboardist we get less of Bruce's guitar fills, nuances and leads, but after collaborating with pianist Andy Milne on several songs from the new CD, Julie's presence made perfect sense and she rose to the occasion, providing some edgy solos, ethereal synth effects where needed (such as on the dark and eerie title track), as well as the sweet harmonies throughout.
Split into 2 sets, the first opened with "Tried and Tested," full of energy and featuring a repetitive, melodic guitar riff underscoring the spoken word style of the verses.
Older songs included the newly revived "Burn," which was brought back by the request of a 13 yr. old fan and further validated for attention by GW Bush, the smoldering "Mighty Trucks of Midnight" and a completely reworked arrangement of "To Raise the Morning Star."
Bruce opened the second set on charanga with the hauntingly gorgeous "Bone In My Ear," from Dart to the Heart, and held the crowd spellbound. Amazing to hear. The intimate and upbeat "Open" spiraled upward with a real sense of joy. Other new songs included the passionate driving blues of "Wait No More" and "Trickle Down," whose quick paced lyrics lend to the cynical feel toward the fast track exploitive corporate-based world economics.
Political anthems "Rocket Launcher," and later, for a first encore, "Call It Democracy," both churned, bringing home again the need to rise against the kind of underhanded tyranny dished out by the alleged "free world."
The nature of the new material, as usual with Bruce, vividly reflects the times, and this time with elements of smoldering darkness and alarming change, (i.e. "You've Never Seen Everything" and "Postcards From Cambodia") but also the constants of love, romantic or otherwise, as well as a deep faith spawning hope as in "Messenger Wind" and "Celestial Horses."
Bruce is like a warrior, always up to the challenge of bringing into the light the most difficult questions or issues, regardless how controversial or uncomfortable. Seemingly never at a loss for vivid verbal imagery, his occasional humorous infusions can go a long way to take the edge off. With the compassion and conviction with which he sings, the Bruce Cockburn live show experience, once again, never fails to deliver.
© 2003 - Tim and Ananda Owen