Jackson Browne has penned and performed some of the most enduring country-rock songs of the last half century (“Running On Empty”, “Take It Easy”). But you might ask who that dude is standing next to him on stage? His name is David Lindley and–though he’s nowhere near as famous or handsome as ol’ JB–he fucking rules. Lindley was founder of sorely overlooked 60s group Kaleidoscope, the one psychedelic group that fully studied and embraced world music successfully. Back then, lots of shitty groups aimed for that Middle-Eastern-trip thing, but Kaleidoscope was the real deal and Lindley was the man. Besides backing up Jackson Browne for a decade, he was one of Warren Zevon’s best sidemen (next to Waddy Wachtel). On this tour, Lindley adds multi-instrumental elements to Browne’s classics, creating an arid desert mood for otherwise familiar numbers. BRIAN J. BARR

Fri., July 30, 7 p.m., 2010