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James Taylor at the Santa Barbara Bowl

May 27, 2025

James Taylor played the Santa Barbara Bowl (SBB) on May 13th and 14th. Taylor most recently performed at the SBB on May 31st, 2023. Last year, Taylor played the Hollywood Bowl and every time Taylor tours, you can expect a new show and different setlist from the previous one. Last year's show was broken into two sets, though this time around his performance was just one set. Not only were there a few changes to the setlist, but the first two songs of the encore had changed. Taylor played an incredible show of hits, covers, and rarities with his band. Opening the show at 7 p.m. was the trio Tiny Habits. Taylor took the stage at 8:20 p.m. and played an hour and 40 minutes.

His “All Star Band” really is elite with session greats Michael Landau (Guitar), Chad Wackerman (Drums), Jimmy Johnson (Bass), ‘Blue’ Lou Marini (Sax), Larry Goldings (Keys), and Luis Conte (Percussion). There were also four backing vocalists including Taylor’s son Henry, Kate Markowitz, Andrew McCuller, Dorian Holley, and Andrea Zonn. Wackerman is filling in for Steve Gadd while out with Paul Simon.

The 21-song setlist included many hits like “Carolina On My Mind,” “Mexico,” and “Sweet Baby James.” "Steamroller" featured Landau on one unforgettable guitar solo and Goldings on an organ solo. The visuals were spectacular with the screen above the stage changing for each song. This was also a night of storytelling, including a bit about how a contract Troubadour founder Doug Weston had artists sign to come back and play there even once becoming famous and working with Carole King.

On top of "Steamroller," during the encore, Taylor performed "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)” and “You Can Close Your Eyes.” From Taylor’s self-titled debut in 1969 to his latest album American Standard released in 2020, all have made the charts—with the highest being 2015’s “Before This World” at number one. Of all those albums, 15 went between Gold and Platinum in the U.S.

Taylor has been nominated for 19 GRAMMYs (and won six) on top of being a Kennedy Center honoree, Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, MusiCares Honoree, an honorary doctorate from Berklee School of Music in his hometown of Boston, MA, and is even an Emmy winner. Taylor is also a member of both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Setlist