When Joe Jackson told Undercover News this week that his fans can expect some unusual covers at his show he wasn't kidding. "From Abba to Frank Zappa" he said, he wasn't kidding.
Jackson is finishing up his American tour before heading to Australia next week.On the US tour, he has performed Abba's 'Knowing Me Knowing You' and Frank Zappa's 'Dirty Love'.
When I spoke with Jackson on the phone from San Francisco this week he warned that his setlist "will be old stuff, new stuff and some surprises. You've got to have the surprises or why bother going to the show. You might as well just stay at home and listen to the album. We do some pretty weird covers. Some of them are almost perverse".
He wouldn't say in the interview what the covers were, except to say, "I can tell you that we go from A-Z. Abba to Frank Zappa".
The Abba and the Zappa were both performed only last week in Seattle. He played David Bowie's 'Scary Monsters' and Duke Ellington's 'Don't Get Around Much Anymore' in Vancouver, The Beatles' 'Girl' in Dallas', Ian Dury's 'Inbetweenies' in Atlanta, Steely Dan's 'Reeling In The Years' in Milwaukee and Suzanne Vega's 'Frank & Ava' in Kingston.
Jackson fans will get a good dose of the songs they know, as well. 'Steppin' Out', 'It's Different For Girls', 'One More Time' and 'Is She Really Going Out With Him' makes the setlist each night.
'Real Men', 'Be My Number Two' and 'Breaking Us In Two' pop up at every other show.
The Joe Jackson Australian tour dates are:
May 19, Tweed Heads, Twin Towers?May 20, Brisbane, Convention Centre?May 22, Sydney, State Theatre?May 23, Sydney, State Theatre?May 27, Melbourne, Palais?May 30, Perth, Riverside Theatre.
