MMJ and other things that Make Me Proud

I won't try to hide the fact that I have thrown myself on the altar-- I'm an MMJ disciple. And because I cannot profess to being objective when it comes to this deliciously hard-rockin' Kentucky outfit, this is not necessarily a review. It's an opportunity to share the thought that this band going in an unexpected (but welcome) direction with the release of their latest record, Evil Urges.

I mean, it would be easy to expect more hair-raising, head-shaking, ear-splitting, southern-fried rock anthems from Jim James and crew, but am I the only one who thinks this record sounds more like the Bee Gees were hanging out playing bocce with Beck when their friend Prince came over and they all started to get their modern-day soul-jam on? A tune like Thank You Too! is just too luscious to be crafted in this decade, or so I thought. I'm happy to be proven very wrong.

The show that My Morning Jacket treated fans to last week at Radio City Music Hall was a show that was as classy, mature, and truly awe-inspiring as the venue itself. The newer tunes are indeed slower than some of the epics we've come to love (like Lay Low or One Big Holiday), but nary a moment is wasted on these new efforts, and the sparse arrangements are rich when one knows just how much could have been packed in between each note. Had I been seeing this newer soul-licious version of MMJ in a hockey arena with a flask in my pocket, I admittedly might have wanted more head-banging. Seeing it at Radio City felt perfect, however, as the band seemed to channel tones that have echoed through the venue in days gone by.

The theatrical venue inspired whimsical frontman Jim James to explore its upper reaches, as you will witness as he serenaded the first balcony with some searing guitar riffs during a powerful Steam Engine, from their 2003 album It Still Moves. This song is a perfect example of how their gentle songcraft can suddenly accelerate into a blistering crescendo (which is the moment when James took advantage of his wireless setup to do some stairclimbing).



(all MMJ RCMH photos courtesy Dino Perrucci)

And to offer some alternatives to those who still want their rock a little more, well, raucous, I will give you two extremes of rock, both hailing from my native country. The first is Canada's heir to the Tragically Hip throne, The Constantines, and just witness how they not only heartily endure a vicious hailstorm at the Gorge, but get the crowd whipped into an astonishing frenzy as they endure getting pelted. (Highlight comes at 2:45 when keyboardist Will Kidman climbs the rafters... thanks for this one, Mary!)



The other extreme is something that I fully expected to bring me shame-- the worst cover ever performed is by a Canadian? According to Total Guitar Magazine, Celine Dion's version of AC/DC's You Shook Me All Night Long gets top honors in the dregs department. But before you concur, just check it out and tell me if this clip doesn't define "guilty pleasure"... Maybe I love AC/DC too much, or maybe the hilarity of Celine and Anastacia changing the lyrics to describe a man are too good to hate. I mean, "knocking me out with his American thighs"? Let's begin with Celine not only air-guitaring her entrance, but then somehow combining the air guitar with a can-can on one stiletto-heeled leg? This woman is a brave, brave performer, and I deem this is too good to pass up. So sue me.

'Scuse me while I Slip into My Morning Jacket...

It is a rare thing indeed when someone tells you that a band is about to melt your face off... and they're right. I had heard studio work from My Morning Jacket, and I suppose I can recall a few recommendations to see them live, but I was nowhere near prepared for the tower of sound that engulfed me on Nov. 30th at the Roseland Ballroom in New York.

First things first, of course, which brings us to the delicious opening set by The Slip, a trio who earns more and more of my respect each time I hear them. (Which, fortunately for me, is rather often these days...) The songs that comprise their latest studio effort, Eisenhower, are all remarkably stage-worthy, continually evolving, and are profound enough to provoke both your grey matter and your dance moves.

The band took to the stage adorned with furry wildlife as headgear: Brad Barr (guitar & vocals) played Moose, Marc Friedman (bass) was the Fox, and Andrew Barr (drums) took on the Wolf. The story goes that the pelts were acquired somewhere in western Pennsylvania, and there were multiple plush accessories purchased (including one for My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James, who brought his Bear onstage for portions of his set).

While Slip fans are now accustomed to getting their fill of Eisenhower's 'hits' like Even Rats, and Children of December, songs like Paper Birds are developing into incredible live adventures, and Airplane/Primitive might just be my favorite rock song of the year. Do yourself two favors: buy the album, and see the band, and you'll be a much happier person. New York, are you listening? The Slip will be playing their New Years show at (soon-to-be-closed for-renovation and returning-in-spring as the Williamsburg Music Hall) NorthSix in Brooklyn. You have been advised...

You can stream the set that The Slip played the following day for WXPN at Philadelphia's Electric Factory here.

Which brings us back to My Morning Jacket, where my face was just about to melt. I'm really at a loss for words to describe their impact, but what I can tell you is that I was captivated every single moment of the show. Not just entertained, but that kind of "I don't even want to have a sip of beer because I might miss something" engagement. I think it's safe to say my jaw was on the floor for the majority of the set, and I kept wondering "Where have I been? Why hasn't anyone told me about this breathtaking sound before?" The energy was powerful not only in the epic rock tunes (and these boys from Kentucky seem to know a thing or two about epic rock), but also in the seemingly mellow tunes which touched on everything from reggae riffs (Phone Went West) to easy listening elements (Lowdown) to jazzy romantic ballads (They Ran).

The show inspired that kind of striking-oil-eureka euphoria that a whole well of future musical enjoyment had just been tapped. While I was admittedly less flattened by the next night's show in Philadelphia, I can safely add this band to my list of not-to-be-missed concert experiences, and if you're reading this, you can't say nobody told you. San Francisco, are you listening? A three-night New Years run at the Fillmore. Consider yourselves advised...

You can stream My Morning Jacket's 12.01 Philadelphia show here, and you can also add it to your iPod through the Setbreak.com podcasting system.