I was fortunate enough to see Bruce Hornsby perform once before, in Oakland in either 1991 or ’92, as keyboardist with The Grateful Dead. I was familiar with him due to his huge hit, “That’s Just The Way It Is,” from his first album, recorded in 1986, his biggest hit to date. That’s what you call starting with a bang!
His career started in 1974 when he played at fraternity parties in his older brother’s band. In 1977, he and his younger brother moved to Los Angeles, where they primarily played in clubs and bars. He also spent a few years as a session player and writing music for 20th Century Fox. In 1984, he founded The Range, eventually writing “That’s Just The Way It Is,” and the rest is musical history.
The Grand Sierra Resort continues to attract major artists from the golden years of rock and roll, including Bruce Hornsby and The Noisemakers, his newest band. 
Before a show begins, I like looking for a set list on the stage to get a cell phone shot. I can usually figure the songs out myself, but that can take a long time. There was no list on the stage, so I hit up the sound guy. He told me there is never a set list: “Bruce decides at the last minute what to play, and it’s influenced by requests from the audience.” That explains why fans put slips of paper on the stage before the show. Being unfamiliar with Hornsby’s newer material told me I was in for a challenge.
The room was about half to two-thirds filled. Hornsby and his band started up at 8:05 p.m., which was pretty much right on time. The sound was good, but I was challenged to understand the lyrics. Whether that was due to my damaged hearing or a bad mix, I don’t know. The lighting was basic. Other than fading out, changing color and coming back up, there was not much going on. They weren’t even using the large video screens at the sides of the stage.
The performance was primarily made up of long improvisational solos extending most songs. I enjoyed watching Hornsby “conducting” the band with quick finger points, head nods (both up and down), facial gestures and shoulder thrusts. At times, it looked like he was calling out directions, too. The musicianship was top-notch with regard to everybody up there.
Mid-show, Hornsby, Mailander and Wright sat together front and center and played a short set of dulcimer, mandolin and hand percussion music. After this, he brought out the accordion. When the crowd cheered, he said that was unnecessary since he didn’t play it very well.
I believe the truly committed fans love the extended improvisations and get wrapped up in them, but others, maybe not so much. It can be overwhelming for some listeners. Hornsby played with The Grateful Dead for a few years in the early ’90s, plus many more shows after he moved on from being a band member. I could hear the influence of the Dead in the soloing. The whole structure of the improvisations felt very Dead-like in style, and The Grateful Dead had a very Hornsby sound to them—your call.
Back in the “good old days” of being a professional musician before downloading existed, touring was by and large intended to build a fan base and help sell records, and some artists made a bundle at the same time. Now, it is a necessary revenue stream for many musicians. Most fans want to hear the hits, so the set list will be splattered with them, mingled with other worthy songs that are lesser chart toppers. There was an exceptional nod to the 25th-anniversary release of his album, “Spirit Trails.”
Even though Bruce Hornsby plays some hits, he leaves the setlist up to how he feels that day and what the attending fans want to hear. If that doesn’t work for some people, I guess “That’s Just The Way It Is.”
The Noisemakers
- Bruce Hornsby – Lead vocals, acoustic piano, accordion
- John “J. T.” Thomas – Keyboards, organ, backing vocals
- Gibb Droll – Guitars, backing vocals
- J. V. Collier – Bass
- John Mailander – Violin, mandolin
- Chad Wright – Drums
SETLIST
- See The Same Way
- Great Divide
- Funhouse
- Every Little Kiss
- Unknown
- The Road Not Taken / Working in a Coal Mine
- That’s Just The Way It Is
- Unknown, Part 2
- The Valley Road
- Pete & Manny
- Space Is The Place
- The End Of The Innocence
