The Joe Jackson Archive
You can read it in the Sunday papers...

Concert reviews

This page was last updated 26 April 2008. To send additions/corrections go to the contact page.


Rain Tour

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (US) 22 April 2008Milwaukee, WI, Pabst Theater, 21 April 2008

Songlines (US) 17 April 2008New York, NY, Apollo Theater, 15 April 2008

Montreal Gazette (CA) 3 April 2008Montreal, Metropolis, 2 April 2008

Jam! (CA) 2 April 2008Toronto, The Music Hall, 1 April 2008

Regioactive (DE) 15 March 2008Mainz, Phönixhalle, 13 March 2008

Main-Spitze (DE) 15 March 2008Mainz, Phönixhalle, 13 March 2008

Hamburger Abendblatt (DE) 12 March 2008Hamburg, Fabrik, 10 March 2008

Die Welt (DE) 12 March 2008Hamburg, Fabrik, 10 March 2008

FairHearing (UK) 6 March 2008London, Shepherds Bush Empire, 2 March 2008

The Times (UK) 4 March 2008London, Shepherds Bush Empire, 2 March 2008

The Guardian (UK) 4 March 2008London, Shepherds Bush Empire, 2 March 2008

Irish Independent (IE) 3 March 2008Dublin, Olympia Theatre, 29 Feb 2008

Tour 2007

The Independent (UK) 1 June 2007London, Carling Academy Islington, 24 May 2007

Joe Jackson Trio Tour

RockTimes (DE) 26 July 2006Mainz, Frankfurter Hof, 15 July 2006

Tour with Todd Rundgren

Santa Cruz Sentinel (US) 24 May 2005Redwood City, CA, Little Fox, 21 May 2005

Hollywood Reporter (US) 19 May 2005Los Angeles, CA, Wilshire Theatre, 17 May 2005

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (US) 15 May 2005Milwaukee, WI, Pabst Theater, 13 May 2005

Akron Beacon Journal (US) 4 May 2005Cleveland, OH, Playhouse Square Center, 3 May 2005

The Star-Ledger (US) 29 April 2005New York, NY, Beacon Theatre, 27 April 2005

News & Record (US) 23 April 2005Greensboro, NC, War Memorial Auditorium, 20 April 2005

St. Petersburg Times (US) 16 April 2005Clearwater, FL, Ruth Eckerd Hall, 15 April 2005

Volume 4 Tour

ABC - DIG (AU) 11 Sept 2003Melbourne, Palais Theatre, 11 Sept 2003

Undercover Music News (AU) 12 Sept 2003Melbourne, Palais Theatre, 11 Sept 2003

Stuttgarter Zeitung (DE) 18 July 2003Stuttgart, Freilichtbühne Killesberg, 16 July 2003

Eßlinger Zeitung (DE) 17 July 2003Stuttgart, Freilichtbühne Killesberg, 16 July 2003

The New York Times (US) 16 April 2003New York, Bowery Ballroom, 13 April 2003

Billboard (US) 15 April 2003New York, Irving Plaza, 11 April 2003

Washington Post (US) 8 April 2003Washington, DC, 9:30 Club, 7 April 2003

San Francisco Chronicle (US) 6 April 2003San Francisco, Fillmore, 24 March 2003

Star-Telegram (US) 17 March 2003Dallas, Deep Ellum Live, 16 March 2003

New York Post (US) 13 March 2003 – New York, Mercury Lounge, 11 March 2003

"Tuesday's performance was killer, from the 'Look Sharp!' opener through Jackson's fiery shouts of 'I'm The Man' which made you want to shout back, 'Yes you are!' [...] But playing the hits was the easy part. Where he and the band gambled and won was with the new material off this week's release, 'Volume 4.' "

Night And Day II Tour

Guardian (UK) 19 Feb 2001London, Royal Festival Hall, 17 Feb 2001

dotmusic (UK) 21 Feb 2001London, Royal Festival Hall, 17 Feb 2001

Die Welt (DE) 8 Jan 2001Leipzig, Gewandhaus, 6 Jan 2001

Boston Herald (US) 17 Dec 2000 – Boston, Orpheum Theatre, 16 Dec 2000

Lawrence Journal-World (US) 7 Dec 2000Lawrence, KS, Liberty Hall, 7 Dec 2000

RollingStone.com (US) 5 Dec 2000Atlanta, GA, Roxy Theatre, 2 Dec 2000

South Florida Sun-Sentinel (US) 11 Aug 1999 – West Palm Beach, FL, Carefree Theatre, 30 Nov 2000

Just-for-the-Hell-of-It Shows

The Village Voice (US) 11 Aug 1999New York, Joe's Pub, 5(?) Aug 1999 (scroll down to "Brutal Youth")

New York Post (US) 6 Aug 1999 – New York, Joe's Pub, 4 Aug 1999

New York Observer (US) 19 July 1999 – New York, Bottom Line, 12 July 1999

Heaven & Hell Tour

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (DE) 4 April 1998 – Frankfurt, Sendesaal des Hessischen Rundfunks, 2 April 1998

Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger (DE) 1 April 1998 – Cologne, Gürzenich, 30 March 1998

Süddeutsche Zeitung (DE) 31 March 1998 – Munich, Prinzregententheater, 29 March 1998

Chicago Tribune (US) 18 Feb 1998 – Chicago, Park West, 16/17 Feb 1998

Hamburger Morgenpost (DE) 13 Dec 1997 – Hamburg, Musikhalle, 11 Dec 1997

The Times (UK) 10 Dec 1997, p. 38 – London, Queen Elizabeth Hall, 7/8 Dec 1997

The Independent (UK) 10 Dec 1997, Eye on Wednesday, p. 4 – London, Queen Elizabeth Hall, 7/8 Dec 1997

New York Times (US) 13 Nov 1997 – New York, Supper Club, 10 Nov 1997

New York Newsday (US) 12 Nov 1997 – New York, Supper Club, 10 Nov 1997

The Weekend Australian (AU) 22-23 Nov 1997 – New York, Supper Club, 10 Nov 1997

Toronto Sun (CA) 8 Nov 1997 – Toronto, Phoenix Concert Theatre, 6 Nov 1997

Los Angeles Times (US) 4 Nov 1997 – Los Angeles, El Rey Theatre, 2 Nov 1997

Night Music Tour

Vancouver Sun (CA) 27 April 1995, p. C6 – Vancouver, Orpheum Theatre, 25 April 1995

"Joe Jackson may have been losing the battle with a throat infection Tuesday night, but he definitely won the crowd. Coughing, sneezing and finally losing his voice halfway through 'Breaking Us In Two,' Jackson showed the kind of courage that most performers seem to lose once they've reached a certain status. After all, who wants to show their weakness to the masses."

Calgary Herald (CA) 24 April 1995 – Calgary, Jack Singer Hall, 23 April 1995

Manchester Evening News (UK) 30 Jan 1995 – Manchester, Free Trade Hall, 28 Jan 1995

The Times (UK) 23 Jan 1995, p. 15 – London, Hammersmith Apollo, 21 Jan 1995

"Night Music came to life in a delightful piece of illustrative performance in which Jackson introduced 'The Man Who Wrote Danny Boy' by recounting his efforts to find out why 'Danny Boy' is his favourite song. He talked us entertainingly through the classic ballad, explaining its modulations and minor chords like the hip music teacher you never had."

Guardian (UK) 23 Jan 1995, p. II/10 – London, Hammersmith Apollo, 21 Jan 1995

Le Monde (FR) 19 Jan 1995, p. 33 – Paris, Casino de Paris, 16 Jan 1995

Q (UK) March 1995, p. 145 – Guildford, Civic Hall, 14 Jan 1995

Los Angeles Times (US) 16 Dec 1994, p. F-14 – Los Angeles, Wiltern Theatre, 14 Dec 1994

San Francisco Chronicle (US) 14 Dec 1994, p. E1 – San Francisco, The Warfield, 12 Dec 1994

New York Times (US) – New York, Beacon Theatre, 28? Nov 1994

Laughter & Lust Tour

Musik-Express/Sounds (DE) July 1991, p. 64 – Frankfurt, Alte Oper, 19 May 1991

Blaze Of Glory Tour

Süddeutsche Zeitung, Munich (DE) 20 Oct 1989, p. 48 – Munich, Deutsches Museum, 18 Oct 1989

East Coast Rocker (US) 6 Sep 1989 – New York, Beacon Theatre, 8 Aug 1989

Big World Tour

New York Times (US) 20 July 1986, p. I/42 – New York, Radio City Music Hall, 17 July 1986

New Musical Express (UK) 7 June 1986, p. 47 – London, Wembley Arena, 24 May 1986

The Times (UK) 26 May 1986, p. 15 – London, Wembley Arena, 24 May 1986

Musik-Express/Sounds (DE) April 1986 – New York, Sounds of Brazil, 2 Jan 1986

New York Times (US) 5 Jan 1986, p. I/47 – New York, Sounds of Brazil, 2 Jan 1986

Body And Soul Tour

East Coast Rocker (US) 27 July 1984 – New York, Madison Square Garden, 21 June 1984

"Jackson thanked 'all of you who have supported me over the last six years, those of you who have been with me since we played the Bottom Line.' This was not your typical monologue at the end of a show – this was a man who has made the decision to call it quits. Whether or not he stays out is another matter – time will tell."

New Musical Express (UK) 5 May 1984

Musik-Express/Sounds (DE) 6/84 – Offenbach, Stadthalle, 26 April 1984

Süddeutsche Zeitung, Munich (DE) 27 April 1984, p. 39 – Munich, Circus Krone, 24 April 1984

The Sunday Times (UK) 15 April 1984, p. 39 – Birmingham, 8 April 1984

Night And Day Tour

New Musical Express (UK) 22 Jan 1983, p. 33 – London, Hammersmith Odeon, 11 Jan 1983

The Sunday Times (UK) 16 Jan 1983, p. 42 – Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall, 10 Jan 1983

New York Times (US) 29 Aug 1982, p. 60 – New York, Pier 84, 27 Aug 1982

New Musical Express (UK) 28 Aug 1982, p. 46 – London, Hammersmith Odeon

Musik-Express (DE) Sep 1982 – London, Dominion Theatre

New Musical Express (UK) 10 Jul 1982, p. 39 – London, Dominion Theatre

Jumpin' Jive Tour

New Musical Express (UK) 5 Dec 1981

The Times (UK) 8 Sep 1981, p. 8 – London, Hammersmith Palais, 6 Sept 1981

New Musical Express (UK) 18 July 1981

The Sunday Times (UK) 5 July 1981, p. 41 – London, The Venue, 30 June 1981

Beat Crazy Tour

Musik-Express (DE) Jan 1981 – Hamburg, Audimax, 21 Nov 1980

New Musical Express (UK) 1 Nov 1980, p. 56 – Belfast, Ulster Hall, 20 Oct 1980

I'm The Man Tour

New Musical Express (UK) 14 June 1980

Muziekkrant Oor (NL) 9 April 1980, p. 43 – Eindhoven, Karregat, 22 March 1980

New Musical Express (UK) 8 March 1980, pp. 49,55 – London, Hammersmith Palais, Feb 1980

"Still, despite a power failure at the end, for sheer class and pure streamlined scathing delivery, the Jackson Band can scarce be beat. This is a great gig, and with entry restricted to 2,500, it's a sell-out."

Melody Maker (UK) 8 March 1980 – London, Hammersmith Palais, Feb 1980

"I liked [the way] he wrecked all the audience's preconceptions by announcing he wasn't going to play 'Different For Girls' because 'you've heard it enough on the radio and you're probably sick of it.' Instead he would concentrate more on new, unrecorded material."

New Musical Express (UK) 8 Dec 1979, p. 54 – Birmingham, Top Rank, 27 Nov 1979

"Then he goes over the top, chucks a stool at the drum kit, douses the audience with the remains of the bottle of beer that he's been swigging all evening and finally trudges off sweating and drained."

Sounds (DE) March 1980, p. 15 – Los Angeles, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 9 Nov 1979

Look Sharp Tour

New Musical Express (UK) 8 July 1979, p. 52 – Liverpool, Eric's, 29 July 1979

Melody Maker (UK) 8 July 1979 – Sheffield, The Limit, 28 June 1979

"Finally, two distinctive encores, of the Maytals' 'Pressure Drop' (which made the Clash's similar effort sound lame in comparison) and Fats Domino's 'Ain't That A Shame,' put the icing on the best gig in Sheffield for 15 months."

New Musical Express (UK) 5 May 1979, p. 56 – New York

Melody Maker (UK) 7 April 1979, p. 39 – London, The Venue

"He should forget that uncomfortable looking pin-stripe suit, though. It's not a very good joke, and it sets up an unnecessary constraint on his energetic style."

Concerts before the first tour

Melody Maker (UK) 3 Feb 1979, p. 27 – supporting Ian Gomm, London, Hope & Anchor, 23 Jan 1979

Melody Maker (UK) 13 Jan 1979, p. 27 – London, Hope & Anchor, Jan 1979

"Bringing Ian Gomm on stage for the three encores, which included a riotous version of 'Come On,' was an added bonus."

New Musical Express (UK) 13 Jan 1979

Lyric quote taken from "Sunday Papers"

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