Jackson Browne is an acclaimed American singer-songwriter who has been performing for over 50 years. His concerts are known for featuring his vast catalog of folk and rock hits in an intimate, yet energetic setting. Fans can expect a Jackson Browne concert to last around 2 hours, not counting any opening acts. This allows Browne to perform 20-25 songs pulled from across his extensive career. The length provides a fulfilling experience for devoted fans while still leaving them wanting more.
Typical Jackson Browne Setlist Length
The main Jackson Browne set generally runs between 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes. This allows him to cover a wide selection of classics and deeper cuts that his fans hope to hear. He largely alternates between well-known radio staples like “Running on Empty” and “The Pretender” and rarer songs that aren’t played as often like “For a Dancer” and “Lives in the Balance.”
This set length is on par with what’s expected for legacy rock acts with catalogs spanning several decades. Fans are treated to all the hits they expect along with a few surprises and obscurities to keep things interesting. Browne’s sets are carefully curated to satisfy both casual listeners and hardcore devotees.
Number of Songs Played
Within his nearly 2 hour sets, Browne typically performs between 20-25 songs. This allows him time to incorporate musical interludes and storytelling between numbers. He draws from a deep well of over 300 original compositions along with some choice covers.
Some staples like “Doctor My Eyes” and “The Pretender” almost always make appearances. Others like “Fountain of Sorrow” or “Barricades of Heaven” rotate in and out of sets. He also mixes up arrangements to keep the performances fresh. All told, a 20-25 song setlist enables Browne to cover all the fan favorites while still including a few surprise choices each night.
Factors Impacting Jackson Browne Concert Length
Several factors account for the typical 2 hour length of a Jackson Browne concert:
Depth of Catalog
With over 50 years in the music business, Browne has released 14 studio albums and a number of live and compilation records. This gives him a vast catalog to choose from when compiling setlists. Even with 20-25 songs per show, it would take him all tour to get through his hundreds of tracks. Spreading the wealth allows for a varied setlist over a run of shows.
Storytelling
Browne frequently shares anecdotes and stories between songs during his concerts. Fans get to know more about his songs and career through these often humorous and candid tall tales. The storytelling adds context and helps pace the show, but also takes up time that could otherwise go towards more songs.
Collaborations
Browne loves collaborating with other artists, both as special guests at his own shows and on recordings. When he brings out guests like Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen or Lindsey Buckingham, it adds to the length of the concert. The additional interchange and duets delight fans but mean slightly fewer solo Browne tunes get played.
Audience Demographic
The bulk of Browne’s fanbase are Baby Boomers who grew up with his music. Out of consideration for their age, concerts typically finish by around 10:30pm. If shows went longer, it could be difficult for a portion of attendees to stay to the very end or get home at late hours. Keeping shows between 90-120 minutes ensures an enjoyable experience fans can actually withstand.
City | Venue | Date | Setlist Song Count |
---|---|---|---|
Portland, OR | Moda Center | October 1, 2022 | 21 songs |
Seattle, WA | Climate Pledge Arena | October 3, 2022 | 20 songs |
Vancouver, BC | Rogers Arena | October 5, 2022 | 24 songs |
Edmonton, AB | Rogers Place | October 7, 2022 | 22 songs |
Recent Setlist Lengths
To illustrate Browne’s typical setlist length, here is a table showing the number of songs performed at his last four shows on his recent tour:
As you can see, setlist lengths ranged from 20-24 songs over these shows, right in line with his normal concert duration. The variation allows Browne to swap different songs in and out night to night.
How Opening Acts Impact Jackson Browne Concert Length
In addition to Browne’s own set, the total concert experience is lengthened when there are one or more opening acts on the bill. Openers generally perform for 30-60 minutes before Browne takes the stage.
The number of openers depends on the tour, but commonly Browne has at least one supporting act to get the crowd warmed up. Past openers have included artists like Joan Baez, JD Souther, Marc Cohn, Shawn Colvin and Graham Nash. Their sets add to the total night’s entertainment.
So while Browne himself still sticks to a 90-120 minute set, having an opening act or two can extend the total concert experience to 3-4 hours including the openers’ sets and Browne’s performance and encores. Promoters consider this a full night’s worth of music at a reasonable price.
Example Show Schedule with Opener
Here is an example timeline for a typical Jackson Browne concert with one opening act:
8:00 p.m. – Doors open
8:30 p.m. – Opener starts (60 minute set)
9:30 p.m. – Opener finishes
9:45 p.m. – 30 minute changeover
10:15 p.m. – Jackson Browne begins his set (105 minute set)
12:00 a.m. – Jackson Browne ends his set
How Jackson Browne Concert Length Compares to Other Classic Rock Acts
Compared to some other veteran rockers, Jackson Browne’s typical show length is right in line. Here’s how his concert duration measures up:
Artist | Average Set Length |
---|---|
Jackson Browne | 90-120 minutes |
Bruce Springsteen | 120-150 minutes |
The Eagles | 90-120 minutes |
Elton John | 100-120 minutes |
Billy Joel | 100-120 minutes |
Fleetwood Mac | 100-120 minutes |
Springsteen plays particularly marathon shows, while Browne is at the shorter end of the spectrum. But in general these legacy acts play 90 minutes to 2 hours plus encores. This allows them to fit in all their biggest hits fans expect along with some album cuts. Browne’s show length fits right in with his peers.
How Long Individual Jackson Browne Songs Last
Within his full sets, most Jackson Browne songs themselves last 3-5 minutes. His massive hits like “Running on Empty,” “Somebody’s Baby” and “The Pretender” tend to run a bit longer, in the 4-6 minute range. Browne often extends songs by incorporating long instrumental breaks for guitar or saxophone solos. Ballads also tend to be on the long side, with sweeping arrangements.
On the other end, folky acoustic numbers like “Your Bright Baby Blues” and “That Girl Could Sing” are more concise at 2-3 minutes. The same goes for uptempo rockers like “For Everyman.” But the majority of Browne’s material clocks in at a radio-friendly 3-5 minutes normally. Spread out over 20-25 songs, this accounts for his total 90-120 minute setlengths.
Here are the approximate durations for some typical Jackson Browne concert songs:
Song | Length |
---|---|
Running on Empty | 5 minutes |
Doctor My Eyes | 3 minutes |
The Pretender | 6 minutes |
The Load Out | 5 minutes |
Somebody’s Baby | 4 minutes |
For Everyman | 3 minutes |
How Long are Jackson Browne Encores?
A signature part of Jackson Browne concerts are the encore performances at the end of his main sets. Encores typically last around 15-20 minutes and include 3-5 additional songs.
Browne’s most diehard fans refuse to leave the venue until hearing favorites like “Take It Easy,” “The Load Out,” and “Stay” in the encore segment. He rewards them by closing shows with some of his most anthemic hits. Encores punctuate the night on a high point and send fans out the doors happy.
In the total concert length, encores account for a modest but meaningful portion. Combined with the main set, they bring Jackson Browne concerts to the customary 90-120 minute total duration fans anticipate.
Conclusion
In summary, Jackson Browne concerts generally run between 90 minutes and 2 hours from start to finish. This fits standard expectations for classic rock shows allowing enough time to satisfy devoted fans. Browne’s own set clocks in around 105 minutes on average. When combined with one or more opening acts, the full concert experience lasts 3-4 hours. Within his set, Browne plays 20-25 songs pulled from across his career, with most tracks lasting 3-5 minutes. Encores then add an additional 15-20 minutes to close out the night. For 50 years and counting, this tried and true formula continues to deliver memorable shows for Jackson Browne audiences.