The Rearview Mirror: My Morning Jacket and Band of Horses at MSG, 12.14.11

PHOTO COURTESY OF BROOKLYN VEGAN (WWW.BROOKLYNVEGAN.COM)

Although it was a week ago now, the My Morning Jacket/Band of Horses show at MSG last Wednesday is still fresh on my mind.

The day began with a relaxing train ride along the Hudson River courtesy of Amtrak. We arrived at Penn Station around 4:45, checked into our hotel, met up with friends, and grabbed food and drinks at a couple taverns near the Garden. The pre-game couldn't have gone more smoothly -- I knew it was going to be a great night.

I wanted to be sure to catch all of Band of Horses set that started at 7:30, but I was more than disappointed with our sideview, stage right seats (the price you pay for waiting until a month before the show to buy tickets). After hearing Band of Horses' "Cigarettes, Wedding Bands" opener, I was determined to move. So we shimmied over a few sections and grabbed some empty seats so that we could at least see the screen behind Band of Horses (which played a fluttering photo montage of the band on tour and nature). And empty seats were easy to come by. With just a small crowd in the pit and a thousand or so scattered in the seats, the place felt empty and cavernous while BoH was playing. I don't think it's because no one knew who they were, it was simply too early for the New York City crowd. BoH still played like the place was packed to the gills, running through a "greatest hits" setlist, playing songs from all three of their studio albums in a little over an hour, not allowing much room for the intimacy you would expect, even during tender acoustic songs like "For Annabelle". They still sounded great, but I wasn't quite satisfied. But, I guess I can't expect much more; they were there to get the crowd primed for the main event, and lead singer Ben Bridwell was obviously stoked to have that pleasure, saying, "Man, we're so happy to be here in New York City for the last show of our tour. It's been an honor opening up for My Morning Jacket. Those guys are the best. The Jacket's up Next!" (or something like that). I was equally as fortunate to see them at all.

Anyway, here's Band of Horses' setlist:

Cigarettes, Wedding Bands
The Great Salt Lake
Is There a Ghost
The General Specific
For Annabelle
The First Song
Islands on the Coast
Older
No One's Gonna Love You
Infinite Arms
Ode to LRC
The Funeral
Am I A Good Man (I had never heard this one, a really nice surprise. He also brought out flute player/composer Brian Jackson)

By the time My Morning Jacket came on, I was on another planet, or at least in a new seat. We made our way "stealth-like" around the arena so we could get a front facing view of the stage -- and it payed off big time. The sound was infinitely better. The point in opener Victory Dance when the bass kicked in was so loud it made my hair stand up. Same goes for Circuital, when the band kicks in following the acoustic intro riff .. it was like ... holy shit awesome. Then, as few bands can do after hardcore rockers, they brought it back down to earth with the deep and tender It Beats 4 U. First light and I'm Amazed brought the tempo back up steadily, followed by the acoustic favorite Golden, which saw Jim James share the stage with Ben Bridwell - one of the highlights for sure. The rest of the first set was rocking and seemed to get better with each song. I was on cloud nine and didn't want to come down. Thankfully, after a short break, Jim James came back on, wearing his cape -- which is a sure sign of good things to come.

After a beautiful Bermuda Highway with Jim performing solo to open the second set, Wordless Chorus steered off into the dark and mysterious. Day is Coming was a nice choice for a follow up to such an ominous song. Then came a cover of Gil Scott-Heron's "The Bottle" (I had to look this up). I knew Jim and the band were fans of 70's soul/funk jams, and this was a rare treat, complete with the "Uno, Uno, Dos, Tres, Quattro" intro (Jim obviously enjoyed it). It also took full advantage of guest Brian Jackson's flute. Then came the two everyone was waiting for, Holdin' On To Black Metal and One Big Holiday: a live concert experience I'm glad I had a chance to see, and one as good as any these days.

I'll Be Home For Christmas with the Band of Horses fellas was a nice nightcap to a special evening.

MMJ's setlist:

Set I:

Victory Dance
Circuital
Beats 4 U
First Light
I'm Amazed
Wonderful (w/ Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses)
Steam Engine!!!!!
Outta My System
Dancefloors (with horn section)
Golden
Mahgeetah
Dondante (guest playing flute and keyboards; extended Carl sax)
Smokin' from Shootin'
RunThru into Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Pt. II
Off The Record
Extended Jam of Gideon closing first set

Set II/Encore:

Bermuda Highway to start the encore - Jim solo
Wordless Chorus
Day is Coming
Cover - The Bottle (1974, Brian Jackson and Gill Scott-Heron, composers; Brian Jackson on flute)
BLACK METAL with horns!
One Big Holiday
I'll Be Home For Christmas (with all of Band of Horses)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!

The Day Is Coming

2 round-trip train tickets, Albany-Penn Station: Check

1 Night's Stay at the Holiday Inn Express Madison Square Garden: Check

2 tickets to Band of Horses/My Morning Jacket 12/14 at MSG: Check

Indeed. The bags are packed and the anticipation is growing for my mid-week trip to New York City to see BoH and My Morning Jacket rock MSG. And what better time of year? The Big Apple dressed in holiday garb, and the bustle of the city made a bit more tolerable by jolly shoppers and holiday greetings (not you, homeless guy).

So the question you're probably asking yourself: Who am I more excited to see? Well, funny you asked. Both bands have a reputation for great live performances; but being that I've seen MMJ live on two occasions (see photo above from MMJ at Essex Junction in '10), I would have to say that I'm more excited to finally see Band of Horses. My last opportunity to see them was muffed when Kings of Leon cancelled their scheduled appearance in Saratoga Springs this summer. I'll also be interested to see how the softer songs of their newer album translate to the arena.

These are two rock juggernauts descending from the Black Forest of deep space to rock the Big Apple, and I'll be there to witness the hammer fall. Sure there will be tender moments (when Ben Bridwell reaches for the highs), but mainly, it's going to fucking rock my face.

So, check in late this week for some amateur photos and a recap of the experience. It should be epic.

- J

Can't Wait

My Morning Jacket UNSTAGED

Last night My Morning Jacket took to the stage in a much-hyped show at Louisville's historic Palace Theater. The event, directed by Todd Haynes, was live webcast. I experienced a pretty shaky webcast that led to me giving up after watching a beautiful version of Gideon and their new one, "Outta My System."

Watch highlights from the show at MMJs Vevo channel, including a version of "Wordless Chorus" with guest Erykah Badu (who also joined the band for MMJs "The Day is Coming" and two of her tunes, "Twinkle" and "Tyrone"). Watch it here.

Oh yeah, I'll be cozying up to the stage to watch My Morning Jacket at Mountain Jam this Sunday (Preservation Hall Jazz plays a set or two before so I'm sure they'll join). I'll also be catching Dawes, Avett Brothers, Edward Sharpe & Magnetic Zeros, Gov't Mule, Umphreys and many more. #pumped

Bon Iver, Bon Iver

Exciting news today as I've learned Bon Iver will release their sophomore album, self-titled "Bon Iver, Bon Iver," on June 21. My wishes have been fulfilled as all my favs are releasing new stuff this summer: My Morning Jacket, Fruit Bats, Vetiver, Fleet Foxes, the Beasties!, and, now, Bon Iver.

Track listing for Bon Iver, Bon Iver

A.
Perth
Minnesota, WI
Holocene
Towers
Michicant

B.
Hinnom, TX
Wash.
Calgary
Lisbon, OH
Beth/Rest


Listen on ...

- J

Free MMJ leading up to Circuital

Head over to My Morning Jacket's website where, for six weeks, My Morning Jacket will offer free downloads to celebrate the forthcoming album Circuital.

According to the site, "The first five downloads will be live songs taken from each of their shows at New York’s Terminal 5 this past October. Scroll over the poster artwork below for the download dates.On April 12th, the countdown ends with a new song from Circuital."

Give your email to receive all the music as it's revealed.

Review: My Morning Jacket @ Essex Junction, Friday, Aug. 20

"From the depths of Lake Champlain, to the shores of fair Vermont, we sang ye these songs." Courtesy of mymorningjacket.com

In the words of Jim James, a.k.a. Yim Yames, (queue spooky Twilight Zone voice): "All signs point to Essex Junction."

It was an epic late-summer affair at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction, Vt. last night.

For all intents and purposes, your standard county fairgrounds, the stage was set behind the large dirt track, grandstands and expo barns on the Midway Lawn, where the magic went down.

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals were a late add as opener. However, despite feeling good about getting an early start to our trip, we got stuck in a major traffic jam just short of the Vermont border for more than two hours and missed it completely. It was a one-car crash that resulted in only injuries, but backed up the busy thoroughfare into Vermont for more than three histeria-inducing hours! We turned around an hour into the gridlock, found an alternate route and, by the grace of God, made it to the fairgrounds just in time to have a beer before MMJ came on.

After driving 2 plus hours through rolling farmland and the scents it provided, we came over the crest of a hill and saw the lights of Essex Junction. It was a welcome site.
We arrived to find a crowd of about 1,500 friendly, flannel-clad 20-somethings moseying about the beer tent and lawn. Puffs of sweet smoke rose into the cool, crisp night, illuminated by a bright, three-quarters moon.

And did they ever come on.

My recollection of the set list is spotty. In my haste to make sure I heard the opener, I left my camera and note pad in the car. Thanks to a "Strict No Re-Entry Policy," I was left to my memory, which was of little use when I was so at the mercy of what I was seeing in front of me.

The space-cadet glow of the stage with the moon over head, mountains all around and Jim James advising the light guy to "Dim the lights, Marcus. ... Make it dark in here."

When they weren't crafting a spacey ambiance jam, they played their echo-induced rock with thunderous pulse, all exclaimed by Jim James' exalting howl.

Thankfully, I have some help with the set list thanks to a photo the band released on their site that shows the set list pinned on the wall near a ferris wheel (haha). But, I'm quite sure they strayed from the list. Unless I was on another planet (possible), they skipped over "Honest Man" "Easy Morning Rebel" and "Highly Suspicious." In their place were some extended jams, great segues, and amicable banter from James.

"It could be the 1950's, it could be the 1960's, it could be the year 3000 -- but it's right now."

Those words, the sights, the sounds, the smells ... This experience will stick with me for a very long time. Nothing short of magical.

Set list (prelim.)

Rollin Back>
Way He Sings
Anytime
Mahgeetah
It Beats 4 U
Circuital
Golden
Wonderful
Honest Man
I'm Amazed
Carried Away
Dondante
Smokin' From Shootin>
Run Thru
If You Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Part 2
End of Lay Low

Encores:

Wordless Chorus (Jim James wearing cape)
Off The Record
I'm Amazed
Steam Engine
One Big Holiday

I'm hoping a recording and more photos surface from this magical show. If they do, I will post them here.

- Cheers

From Luke's phone. Without it, I would still be driving in circles. Thanks Luke!

New My Morning Jacket: "Circuital" LIVE

This video of MMJ performing their new tune "Circuital" has surfaced on the wicky wide web via You Ain't No Picasso site, which is always scooping MMJ news.

I will be heading out to Essex Junction Friday to see My Morning Jacket at the Midway Lawn at Champlain Valley Expo. According to their site, it is a fundraising event for the Combat Paper Project.

Will definitely produce something for my blog so stay posted.

My Morning Jacket in the studio/Newport Folk

Rolling Stone reports that My Morning Jacket is back in Nashville recording their follow-up to 2008's Evil Urges!
They have performed some of their new material live the past year, including "Friends Again."
I have been living on the John Prine tribute album Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows that MMJ contributed to. John Prine welcomed James as well as other contributors to that album on stage with him for his set at the Newport Folk Festival last week. Listen to it here (Thanks to NPR.org!)
Yim Yames also performed an intimate solo set (with some help from Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore) Listen to that set, in full, here.

The Yim Yames Newport Folk Fest set list:

His Masters
Wonderful
Look At You
Tonight I Want To Celebrate With You
Bermuda Highway
Summer Never Ends (John Callahan, to whom James dedicated the show to)
It Beats 4 U
Wonderful Man
Bring Me Li'l Water Sylvie (Leadbelly)
Morning Of My Life (Bee Gees)
Golden
Where To Begin
Smokin’ From Shootin' (with Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore)
Gideon

On The Radar: My Morning Jacket

04/24/2010 Jazz & Heritage Festival - New Orleans, LA (photo by Jessica Morgan)

My Morning Jacket added some stops to the tail end of their summer schedule, including many in the Northeast. I'll be hitting up the show at the Midway Lawn/Champlain Valley Expo ... "Vermont's Premier Special Events Venue," in Essex Junction, Vt.

Finally going to get the chance to see a band that's been an endless source of inspiration.

Check out the rest of MMJ's summer tour here

A casual theory on pre-releases

I've been thinking more about how bands like MGMT, Dr. Dog and Band of Horses have been giving fans more than just a taste of new material, often offering up many new songs off an upcoming release for stream or download, or allowing fans to stream the album in full.

My theory on this is multifaceted:

It seems to me that these bands can do little to prevent new material from being pirated; so, to a record exec sitting in an office somewhere, rather trying to cover things up, why not use the web to your advantage and take the chance a song(s) will go viral.

Rather than just selling EPs on iTunes, throw it to the dogs and cross your fingers that it becomes the top hit on every music blog in the 'sphere. Package it with a video slide show or a full-blown, psycho-mind f***er music video like MGMT did and, suddenly, you've harnessed the power of the web and maybe even cut your losses.

Of course, despite how much is pre-released, the question still remains: How many people purchase your album when it's released.

Thoughts, comments? Like my photo illustration 'Kings of the Blogosphere?'

MMJ bust out!!

It is rumored that My Morning Jacket is recording new songs for its sixth album and the proof is in the pudding, as they busted out a new one, "Friends Again," during their current tour with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band (MMJ lead singer Jim James collaborated with them for a recent LP).

It's a pretty kick ass rock song. Bright and loose with a vintage melody to it that immediately reminded me of "D'yer Maker" (or Jamaica) by Led Zeppelin for reasons probably beyond the obvious.

Here "Friends Again" here

MMJ are slated to play Sasquatch Festival at the end of May, and Mile High Festival (Colorado) in August, before playing in support of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers in late August (not when Petty rolls into SPAC, however. We get CSN instead ... I've already got tickets).

Take Action, Get Tunes

Hey y'all,

Head Count, the environmental advocacy group that uses music as its springboard, e-mailed me and tipped me off to a pretty cool deal: E-mail your state senators urging them to vote in favor of climate change legislation and get a 17-track compilation CD, "Best of Bonnarroo."

Included is music from Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Gov't Mule, Phish, moe., Phil Lesh & Friends and many more bands, all of which pledged their allegiance to Head Count and do their part to promote climate action while on the road each year.

Here's the catch: Head Count provides a canned letter you can send without any thought and you'll be done if five minutes. However, they urge you to express your own thoughts about climate change. Include specifics like the town where you live and businesses around you that do their part to be green. Include these in the first few lines to maybe get the attention of the senators if they actually peer over the e-mails.

In my e-mail, I noted where I lived and that I look around me every day and see people who really care about the environment and would be devastated if they couldn't share the wilderness with their children and grandchildren.

That said, click the link below to do your part and download the MP3's:

http://action.headcount.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1766

Yim Yames

My Morning Jacket: Good coverage

Few would argue that in today's neo-folk/rock explosion, My Morning Jacket reins supreme; the "Big Bang" if you will. It began in 1998 in Lousiville, KY, and their popularity has been expanding ever since.

Courtesy of Rolling Stone

Frontman Jim James (or Yim Yames, depending) has become an iconic figure in music today and, with a scruffy beard and a set of pipes fit for a choir of angels, is revered by fans and fellow musicians alike. He (and the rest of the band) was even recently animated and featured in a November episode of "American Dad." James was the bromance of the main character in the show.

It took me a while to be bitten by the MMJ "bug." I saw them open for Pearl Jam in 2006 in Albany. I had been listening to their 2005 release, "Z," for a while and had been passing it around to friends. The band had a huge sound live and surpassed all expectations.

I was surprised when someone told me they began as a country band. In fact, I thought it was bullshit. So, I did some research and saw they're debut album was entitled "The Tennesee Fire." I wasn't sure what to expect. After listening to the brilliant mellowdramatic melodies on Z, a country album would have turned me off. Well, it turns out whoever told me that couldn't have been more wrong. Tennessee Fire is an album that captures the raw intensity of the band, and, while the song "From Nashville to Kentucky" has a little twang in it, was everything I hoped it was. It has some real gems on it, in fact. No Alan Jackson here ...

"Z" wound up on many "top 10 records of the decade" lists and the band's 2008 release "Evil Urges" continues to blow minds.

I saw a cool link on RollingStone.com this morning. It is a compilation of the cover songs MMJ has done over the years. The band is very liberal with its taping policy, so there are many live records floating around.

The fan site is called, You Ain't No Picasso.

Check out some of the covers, ranging from Dylan to Danzig, Lionel Richie to Kool and the Gang. "Don't Fear The Reaper w/ Wilco" is pretty core.

Enjoy!