James Taylor at Fenway

Alternate title for this blog post:
The Coolest Day of My Life to Date

James Taylor, the OG JT, played last night at Fenway Park in Boston. James was born in Boston and is a diehard Red Sox fan, so it was really cool to get to see him at this particular venue (even thought it's a stadium I loved the whole experience and special meanings). He realeased a new album in 2015 and started this tour in April. Boston was the last stop of this tour and he doesn't have a future tour planned yet. 

Here's the complete set list:

Something in the Way She Moves

Blossom

Everyday
(Buddy Holly cover)

Walking Man

Handy Man
(Jimmy Jones cover)

Country Road

Shower the People

Carolina in My Mind

Fire and Rain

Angels of Fenway

(I've Got To) Stop Thinkin' 'Bout That

Sweet Baby James

Up on the Roof
(Carole King cover)

You've Got a Friend
(Carole King cover)

Mexico

Steamroller

Your Smiling Face

America The Beautiful

Shed a Little Light

Encore
Sun on the Moon

How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)
(Marvin Gaye cover)

Doctor My Eyes
(Jackson Browne cover) (with Jackson Browne)

You Can Close Your Eyes

So, as you can see, this was a pretty badass show. Stephen and I had cool seats on the lawn at Fenway (we were sitting in the equivalent of what would be right field for a Sox game). One of James' newer songs is called "Angels of Fenway" about the 2004 Red Sox season. Don't worry Grandpa Joe, I didn't cheer for any of the Red Sox stuff! I'll always have the longstanding ties to the Yankees, but it was cool to see this particular song performed AT Fenway. 

I saw JT in September of 2014 with Bubba and Jennifer- a 21st birthday present from me to them. It was a great show inside the Chesapeake Arena in OKC. He played for basically 3 hours straight and didn't stop playing until the lights came on. Last night he showed just as much energy - no intermission and about two and a half hours of music. My favorite song is a lesser known tune by James called "Shed a Little Light". It's such a niche song I didn't think he'd play it, but that didn't stop me from hoping. Alas, after the quintessential Taylor songs like "Sweet Baby James", "Carolina on My Mind", and "Fire and Rain" he played my unique little favorite!











Oh, and he came out for an encore where he played a few more songs including a duet of "Doctor My Eyes" with Jackson Browne! 

And did I mention that I saw his motorcade leaving? Oh yeah, that happened too. Stephen and I were taking a less populated street out of Fenway when some motorcycle cops turned on their lights and waved us out of the street. We were standing on the sidewalk with a few dozen other people on the street when James came riding out of the venue, window down, waving at us. Yep. Paperboy cap still on, James Taylor was smiling broadly and waving at us as he rode away with JT cranking in the background.