Concert Reviews

Taylor brought his songbook to life with the ease of a nomadic storyteller and a voice that fell somewhere between nostalgic folk and playful blues.

James Taylor and his All Star Band, with Tiny Habits, at MGM Music Hall at Fenway, Wednesday, Aug. 27.

Scattered whoops and catcalls rained down as James Taylor removed his signature blue blazer and folded it neatly off to the side, ready to launch into his next mid-tempo love letter to wanderlust. 

“You people are starved for entertainment,” the 77-year-old teased, ambling back to the microphone. “You’ve gotta get out more often.”

But if it was entertainment the crowd sought, Taylor was more than happy to deliver. The legendary folk-rock singer-songwriter and guitarist returned to the stage at MGM Music Hall at Fenway Wednesday for a second night on his tour with his All Star Band. It’s a more intimate venue (not a “sports palace,” as JT himself put it), and one Taylor seems to have gravitated toward in recent summers. 

After all, before his six Grammy wins and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, Taylor was a Boston-born tortured soul exploring his humanity and pouring his heart out in folksy, mellow, blues-tinged verse. Far more at ease now and only getting better with age, the longtime Berkshires resident peppered his set with humble and charming storytelling, self-deprecating shrugs, and plenty of nods to his local roots (“great to be back in the ol’ hometown,” he crooned affectionately as the show got underway).

Over the course of a roughly two-hour set, Taylor brought his songbook to life with the ease of a nomadic storyteller and a voice that fell somewhere between nostalgic folk and playful blues. The setlist featured a collection of travel-themed tunes, some rooted in the “Great Folk Scare of the early ’60s,” Taylor cracked, adding, “Terrible time.”

He opened the show with the appropriately titled “Wandering,” his voice a slightly gruffer, hoarser version of the honeyed “Sweet Baby James” who pioneered a certain American folk sound. Taylor found his footing as he melted into the bluesier “(I’m A) Road Runner,” keeping the energy up through later songs like the Latin-infused and brightly-lit “Mexico.” 

With such a mellow voice, there’s a concern Taylor could get lost in the powerful instrumentation and faster tempos. However, his All Star Band proved a well-oiled machine, its eclectic mix of industry veterans bringing the energy while keeping JT front and center. Saxophone great Lou Marini and backing singer Dorian Holley were particular standouts who helped keep the vibe playful and fun.

While Taylor’s age showed somewhat on the high notes of “My Traveling Star” and the chorus of “Carolina in My Mind,” his voice is still strong, still a pleasure. He recalled writing the latter on a small island in the Mediterranean, realizing how lucky he was to have been signed to the Beatles’ newly formed Apple Records while also homesick for his years spent growing up in North Carolina. 

The setlist was a satisfying mix of crowd favorites and deeper cuts from Taylor’s decades of songwriting. Behind him onstage, visuals of road trips, carnivals, and shooting stars flashed intermittently on the screen, adding to the sense of wistful nostalgia that saturates Taylor’s most recognizable tunes. 

As he introduced a song from longtime friend Carole King, Taylor also hinted at the greater political climate waiting outside the venue’s doors. 

“I know, no kings; this is Massachusetts,” he joked to raucous applause. “But just this one king: Carole ‘No Kings’ King.”

His voice was clear and bright through the Goffin/King-penned “Up On the Roof,” as well as a later cover of “You’ve Got a Friend” — King’s answer to Taylor’s own lyrics: “I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend.”

Leading into “Sweet Baby James,” he recalled a power outage that struck during the song’s “Stockbridge to Boston” line the night prior (Wednesday’s rendition went off without a hitch), and the crowd sang along through the chorus. 

A hush fell over the audience during the ever-haunting “Fire and Rain,” the band’s dreamy instrumentation painting the emotional turmoil of Taylor’s lyrics as vividly as ever. And while the audience stayed seated for the majority of the show, some of the more high-energy hits drew folks to their feet for dancing and standing ovations. If Taylor’s voice was a little drowned out during the intro to “Your Smiling Face,” he quickly made up for it. 

“Steamroller Blues” wasn’t as instant a crowd pleaser, but the band clearly had fun grooving and dancing across the stage. The bluesy number also saw JT at his loosest, scat-rapping and pulling faces at the microphone. 

It’s clear Taylor truly enjoys what he does, even after all these years; watching his band perform feels more like watching a jam sesh between longtime friends. Taylor’s wife, Kim, and son, Henry, joined him on stage throughout the show and stood by his side for the final song, the lullaby-like “You Can Close Your Eyes.” 

He was also joined by his opener, Berklee-bred folk-pop group Tiny Habits. If the largely Baby Boomer and Gen X audience didn’t quite see themselves in Tiny Habits’s Gen Z-themed compositions, they enjoyed the band’s mellow, breathy vocals and seamless harmonies nonetheless. 

And as he closed out his set, Taylor vowed to return to the MGM Music Hall this time next year, bringing with him his own singular way of making the past feel somehow distant, but within reach. 

Even at 77, Taylor has a commanding stage presence. His ability to sell out a venue — on a Wednesday night, no less — speaks to his timelessness. (As did the 20-something overheard telling his date on the way out, “You can enjoy the songs you don’t even know.”)

There are no mid-set costume changes, no elaborate pyrotechnics, no Benson Boone-style backflips. There’s simply James Taylor at his best: wearing his signature cap and blue blazer, perched on a stool and singing softly from the heart. 

Setlist for James Taylor at MGM Music Hall at Fenway, Aug. 27, 2025

• Wandering
• (I’m A) Road Runner (Junior Walker & the Allstars cover)
• Walking Man
• Stretch of the Highway
• Mexico
• My Traveling Star
• Carolina in My Mind
• Up On The Roof (Goffin/King-The Drifters cover)
• The Frozen Man
• You’ve Got a Friend (Carole King cover)
• Sweet Baby James
• Fire and Rain
• (I’ve Got To) Stop Thinkin’ ‘Bout That
• Shed a Little Light
• Shower the People
• Your Smiling Face

ENCORE:

• You Can Close Your Eyes
• Steamroller Blues
• How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) (Marvin Gaye cover) 

Abby Patkin

Staff Writer

Abby Patkin is a general assignment news reporter whose work touches on public transit, crime, health, and everything in between.

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