Joe Jackson has always been the thinking person’s rock star. From the nervy new wave of “Is She Really Going Out with Him?” to the jazz-inflected sophistication of “Night and Day” and the orchestral ambition of “Symphony No. 1,” he’s spent nearly five decades refusing to repeat himself. His Hope and Fury Tour arrives at Rochester’s Kodak Center on May 16, and if the title is any indication, Jackson has plenty left to say.
Backed by a full band, Jackson’s live shows are renowned for their musical precision and unpredictability. He’s as likely to tear through a punk-edged rager as he is to deliver a tender piano ballad, and his between-song wit keeps audiences engaged throughout. The Hope and Fury Tour promises material spanning his entire career alongside newer compositions that prove his songwriting remains sharp.
Rochester has always been a good town for artists who color outside the lines, and Joe Jackson fits that bill perfectly. This is sophisticated, uncompromising music performed by one of the most underrated artists of his generation. The Kodak Center stage is exactly where it belongs.