Fantastic Stories and Music with James Taylor at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ

As I made my way into the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel on Monday Night I realized that this concert was going to be a huge sell-out and there would barely be a seat empty. What drew thousands on a hot Labor Day evening? The iconic James Taylor was in concert and it was a treat for everyone. By the way, James is 75 and still had the energy to host an entire evening of music in 90-degree weather, god bless him.

Get our free mobile app

I sat totally glued to every word that James Taylor had to say Monday night because each song he did from his iconic catalog had an intriguing story to go with it and James brought us into each song with a short story on the song. One story I loved was how he opened the show with "Something In The Way She Moves" which he said he had to perform for Paul McCartney and George Harrison for the launch of the Beatles' new recording label "Apple Records" in 1968. Appearntly McCartney and Harrison liked it so much they signed Taylor. James was the first artist to be signed to "Apple Records" in 1968.

James also paid tribute to his friend Jimmy Buffett, who we lost just a few days earlier. Taylor played "Mexico" a song James wrote and often performed with Jimmy when they got together, it was a touching moment. Just one of the many highlights from a night with one of music's great songwriters James Taylor.

According to SetlistFm, here is the setlist for James Taylor at PNC Bank Arts Center 9/4/23 in Holmdel, New Jersey:

Set 1:

1. Something in the Way She Moves
2. Rainy Day Man
3. Copperline
4. Everybody Has the Blues
5. Mona
6. Some Days You Gotta Dance
7. Fiddle Solo
8. Sweet Baby James
9. Country Road
10. Steamroller
11. Mexico
    (Tribute to Jimmy Buffett)
12. Up on the Roof

Set 2

1. Secret o' Life
2. You Make It Easy
3. You've Got a Friend
4. Carolina in My Mind
5. Fire and Rain
6. Raised Up Family
7. Shower the People
8. Your Smiling Face

Encore

1. Summertime Blues
2. Shed a Little Light
3. You Can Close Your Eyes

It was a fantastic night of music and memories with James Taylor and another "bucket list" concert for me and my wife, April. Check out the photo gallery from the show below :)