He’s seen fire, he’s seen rain. He’s seen sunny days he thought would never end, and lonely times when he could not find a friend. And James Taylor is in the ongoing journey of a career spanning six decades and stoking a reputation as a pioneer singer-songwriter known for hiring a good band and putting on an engaging live show.
And we got another one at the Santa Barbara Bowl last Wednesday, confirming what we know of his profound artistry, even if not breaking any new ground.
When Taylor was previously at the Bowl — a particularly synchronistic venue for what he does, incidentally, where he pulled a two-night stint last year (see review here ) — Taylor opened with a handful of songs related to travel. In the 2026 model, he commenced on the theme of recovery and addiction-related songs. “That’s part of my story,” said the longtime clean and sober Taylor. The recovery portion of the evening included “Whenever You’re Ready,” “That’s Why I’m Here,” and “Rainy Day Man,” which he called, “a love letter to my dealer.”
