Joe Jackson is “Steppin’ Out” once again.
For the first time since 2022, the ’80s icon is back on the road, this time with his ‘Two Rounds Of Racket Tour’ with special guest Max Champion, who also happens to be his alter ego.
And if you want to see the oddball co-headliner tour in support of their jubilant, throwback 2023 album “Mr. Joe Jackson presents Max Champion in ‘What A Racket!’” in New York or New Jersey, you’re in luck.
As of now, Jackson — and, umm…Champion — have five shows in the Big Apple and Garden State these next few weeks.
First up, the “Is She Really Going Out With Him” hits Albany’s The Egg on Friday, May 31.
After that, he’ll swings into Tarrytown’s Music Hall on June 1 and New York City’s Apollo Theater on June 7-8.
The 69-year-old hitmaker ends his NY/NJ run at Red Bank, NJ’s Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre on Thursday, June 13.
For those who can’t wait to see what tricks Jackson and Champion have up their sleeve, it isn’t too late to scoop up last-minute tickets.
At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on seats was $34 before fees on Vivid Seats.
Other shows start anywhere from $49 to $291 before fees.
Curious how much tickets will cost at the concert closest to you?
We’ve got everything you need to know and more about Joe Jackson and Max Champion’s ‘Two Rounds Of Racket Tour’ below.
All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation.
Joe Jackson tour schedule 2024
A complete calendar including all North American tour dates, venues and links to the cheapest tickets available can be found here:
| Joe Jackson tour dates | Ticket prices start at |
|---|---|
| May 31 at The Egg in Albany, NY | $62 |
| June 1 at the Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown, NY | $120 |
| June 3 at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH | $90 |
| June 4 at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston, MA | $75 |
| June 7 at the Apollo Theater in New York, NY | $104 |
| June 8 at the Apollo Theater in New York, NY | $98 |
| June 10 at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C. | $62 |
| June 11 at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia Beach, VA | $60 |
| June 13 at the Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre in Red Bank, NJ | $143 |
| June 14 at the Grand Opera House in Wilmington, DE | $65 |
| June 16 at the Cahn Auditorium in Evanston, IL | $161 |
| June 17 at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, WI | $55 |
| June 19 at the Uptown Theater in Minneapolis, MN | $53 |
| June 21 at the Paramount Theatre in Denver | $34 |
| June 22 at the Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe, NM | $291 |
| June 24 at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, AZ | $49 |
| June 25 at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, CA | $90 |
| June 27 at The Magnolia in El Cajon, CA | $76 |
| June 28 at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco, CA | $82 |
| June 30 at the Revolution Hall in Portland, OR | $73 |
| July 1 at the Moore Theatre in Seattle, WA | $61 |
(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and include additional fees at checkout.)
Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand.
They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event.
Joe Jackson set list
What does a Jackson/Champion show look like?
Well, based on a recent rundown from Setlist FM, here’s what you can expect to see at one of the pair’s live concerts:
Set I: Joe Jackson Solo
01.) “Dave”
02.) “A Little Smile”
03.) “A Place in the Rain”
04.) “Obvious Song”
05.) “You Can’t Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)”
06.) “Real Men”
07.) “Steppin’ Out”
08.) “It’s Different For Girls”
09.) “On Your Radio”
10.) “Waterloo Sunset” (The Kinks cover)
11.) “Hello, Hello, Who’s Your Lady Friend?” (Harry Fragson cover)
12.) “My Old Dutch” (Albert Chevalier cover)
Set II: Songs of Max Champion
13.) “(Overture): Why, Why, Why?”
14.) “What a Racket!”
15.) “The Bishop and the Actress”
16.) “Health & Safety”
17.) “Think of the Show! – A Thespian’s Lament”
18.) “Dear Old Mum – A London-Irish Lament”
19.) “The Shades of Night”
20.) “Monty Mundy (Is Maltese)!”
21.) “Never So Nice in the Morning”
22.) “The Sporting Life”
Encore
23.) “Is She Really Going Out With Him?”
24.) “Worse Things Happen at Sea”
Joe Jackson new music
On Nov. 24, 2023, Jackson released his 21st studio album “Mr. Joe Jackson presents Max Champion in ‘What A Racket!’”
Comprised of 11 kitschy tracks, the concept album is performed by fictional late 19th century/early 19th century music hall performer Max Champion (Jackson) and a 12-piece orchestra.
The Champion character, born in 1882, is supposed to be related to the music hall composer, singer and comedian Harry Champion. As for Max Champion, he allegedly died fighting in World War I and his songs were lost to the sands of time. This is where things get confusing. Supposedly, Champion’s sheet music was found between 2014-19 and there was enough material for Jackson to record an album.
“These were wonderful songs in their time, but they’re surprisingly modern, too,” Jackson said in a press release. “Sometimes it’s almost as if Max is speaking, from his London of the early 20th century, directly to us in the early 21st.”
As for the music, it’s a departure from the catchy new wave you know and love from Jackson’s catalog. Yet, there’s still a lot to like. Think Disney villain ballads, Broadway musicals and flamboyant showmen and you have Max Champion.
“(Overture): Why Why Why” is a rousing crowd pleaser, “The Sporting Life” will send you in a time machine to the 1910s and “What A Racket!” is a true shot of fast and frenetic pop adrenaline.
For us, the rousing, melancholy “The Shades Of Night” is the ambitious album’s true highlight. It’s gorgeously arranged and a bit silly to boot.
All in all, the album is a big swing and mostly lands. If you want to hear for yourself, you can check out “Mr. Joe Jackson presents Max Champion in ‘What A Racket!’” in its glorious entirety here.
’80s rockers on tour in 2024
Quite a few of Jackson’s contemporaries from way back when (that is, the 1980s; not Max Champion’s from the 1910s) are still kicking it on the road this year.
Here are just five of our favorites you won’t want to miss live these next few months.
• Sting
• Elvis Costello with Daryl Hall
Who else is pounding the pavement? Take a look at our list of the 50 biggest concert tours in 2024 to find out.
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed Bruce Springsteen and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.