Friday, May 28, 2010
By Audrey McKenzie
Staff Writer
Lifelong fans of Carole King and James Taylor, who fondly remember listening to them as adolescents in the ‘70s, as well as younger fans who appreciate the duo’s unique style that has yet to be replicated, have long been waiting for the time that this remarkable duo will reunite. That time finally came.
King and Taylor’s concert at the Hollywood Bowl on May 15 was one of the most unique performances of their Troubadour Reunion Tour.
The Bowl was jam-packed from its first row to its last with excited fans, mostly men and women in their 40’s and 50’s, who were fans of King and Taylor when the singers began their careers in the ‘70s.
As the duo made its entrance and began its opening song, “Blossom,” the crowd cheered relentlessly. There was an incredibly relaxed and comfortable feeling between the audience and Taylor and King.
The duo constantly joked with each other, dancing around the stage and making impromptu changes to the show. This aspect of their performance made the concert feel almost like an intimate performance in a small venue, even though the Bowl seats nearly 20,000 people.
The Hollywood Bowl’s open, outdoor setting had an incredible effect on the performance, giving the atmosphere a relaxed and intimate feel despite the size of the venue.
The chemistry between Taylor and King was one of the most unique aspects of the show. The duo seemed very comfortable with each other and had amazing musical chemistry. They constantly made funny remarks and told stories reminiscing about times in the earlier years of their careers. This further enhanced the comfortable atmosphere.
As the show continued, the musicians switched off playing popular songs from each of their earlier albums. The show included King favorites “So Far Away,” “Way Over Yonder,” “Smackwater Jack,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” “It’s Too Late” and “I Feel the Earth Move.”
The majority of the songs performed by King came from her most successful and widely-known album, “Tapestry.” The free-spirited, soulful style for which King is so well-known showed through clearly in all of her energetic performances.
Taylor played many songs from early in his career, such as “Fire and Rain,” “Carolina in My Mind,” “Sweet Baby James,” “Mexico” and “Shower the People.” His soulful, folksy style complimented King’s performance flawlessly.
In addition to solo performances, the singers performed songs together from both of their previous works. Some of these performances included Taylor’s “You’ve Got a Friend” and King’s “Where You Lead,” a song well-known for being the theme of the popular television show “Gilmore Girls.”
Some of the strongest performances of the entire show were the ones that Taylor and King performed together. These pieces elicited the most praise from the audience. At the end of the show, they performed “How Sweet It Is” as their encore. The audience called them back again after their original encore and they performed “You’ve Got a Friend” and “How Sweet It Is” for a second time.
Taylor and King’s long-anticipated reunion far exceeded already-high expectations from fans. The venue was perfect for the duo, and the show was performed flawlessly.
Fans of Taylor or King should not miss this incredible opportunity to see this magnificent duo on tour. This performance makes it clear that this reunion tour was certainly worth the wait.
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