My last significant memory of Howard Jones -- before tonight’s
acoustic show at Shank Hall -- was sitting in the back of my parents’
then-futuristic Toyota van, circa 1985.
I think we were cruising around Mequon when I declared, to no one in particular, “Howard Jones is my favorite
musician!”
That was a long time ago, but rest assured, the synth pop pioneer
sounds just as good as ever -- and in some ways, even better when he’s
unplugged.
If you, like me, picture Howard Jones as the guy in the video with the
spiky hair, standing on a huge stage, dwarfed by about seven
synthesizers -- then the setting for Wednesday’s show might seem out of
place.
This arrangement featured just Jones and skilled guitarist Robin Boult.
Stripped down but still powerful, the duo spent about 100 minutes working
through Jones’ repertoire in a nice two-set performance.
Apparently, VH1 Classic presented the concert, and it felt just like an
episode of “Storytellers.” Jones explained the roots and inspirations
behind his songs, jumping between old and new. He played well-known
songs and lesser-known tunes, including "Like to Get To Know You Well"
and "Pearl in the Shell.” Toward the end of the first set, he shifted
to his big hits, delighting the giddy crowd with “Everlasting Love” and
“Life In One Day.”
In the second set, HoJo played flawless versions of "No One Is To
Blame” and "What Is Love,” returning for an encore with “Things Can
Only Get Better” and “New Song.” With just a piano and a guitar, his
skills shined more brightly than I remembered -- but it’s possible I
wasn’t listening with a critical ear when I was 11 years old.
In case you’re wondering what the new material from Jones sounds like,
think Paul McCartney meets Sting meets Colin Hay. Sometimes it works,
sometimes it doesn’t.
But Jones continues to take the advice from "Life In One Day” and
doesn’t take himself too seriously. Though he could’ve skipped
the renditions of "Come Together” and "Twist and Shout,” this acoustic
show was quite a treat. And the cozy venue certainly beat his
last stop in Milwaukee at the State Fair.
I’ll be the first to admit: the nostalgia factor brought me in, but the
musicianship and classic reworking of Jones' '80s hits left me smiling
and singing along. Howard Jones may not be my favorite musician
22 years later, but Wednesday night, he wasn’t half bad, either.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
