DOCTOR MY EYES! WAS THAT REALLY JACKSON BROWNE ON STAGE WITH VENICE AT THE SANTA MONICA PIER?

Twilight Dance Series Opening Night Review

by Tomm Carroll

Saturday, July 3--The typical summer evening high clouds enveloped the Santa Monica Pier Thursday, but they could not dampen the spirits of the performers, organizers and audience members who turned out in force for the season opener of the 15th annual Twilight Dance Series of free concerts.

Following a festive opening night pre-concert party for the series sponsors, producers, staff and invited guests at the pier's historic Carousel -- which featured eats courtesy of neighboring restaurants the Boathouse and Rusty's (but couldn't they do better than bottled Budweiser?) -- there were the obligatory on-stage thank-yous and acknowledgments.  And then, young singer-songwriter Sally Taylor and band took the stage.

Daughter of the celebrated (if short-lived) union between musicians Carly Simon and James Taylor, Sally fortunately has inherited her looks and charisma from her mother, while apparently taking after her father in the introspective songwriting department.  She delivered a brief, low-key and well-received set of California-style folk rock, high-lighted by a memorable tune called "March Like Soldiers."

After a brief intermission, headliners Venice took over.  Led by the four brothers/ cousins Lennon, the near-homeboys delighted their many fans who turned out for the show with a healthy dose of selections from their forthcoming new album, Spin Art (due Aug. 24 on Vanguard Records), including the love song "Mary on My Mind."  During the raucous "Circus in Town," they threw in a couplet from Leon Russell's forgotten classic "Superstar."

Venice's exquisite four-part harmonies were in fine form, and often reminiscent of the amazing vocal intertwinings of Crosby, Stills and Nash, which is why it comes as no surprise to learn that David Crosby has called the band "the best vocal group in the country."

And while Crosby was widely believed to be the "surprise guest" rumored to make an appearance, it was in fact another California folk rock icon, Jackson Browne, who joined Venice for an extended encore. Standing beside his younger doppelganger -- lead singer Kip Lennon -- Browne had some surprised folks seemingly seeing double (and hearing quintuple) as he contributed guitar and vocals (sharing singer Mark Lennon's mic) on a "classic rock" medley of "Brown Eyed Girl," "Feelin' Alright," "You Can't Always Get What You Want" (during which Kip copped some impressive Jagger moves), "For What It's Worth" and "Walk on the Wild Side."

All in all, an auspicious opening for the 1999 Twilight Dance Series.