Review: My Morning Jacket

Photos by Keith Myers/The Star

A couple of hours before showtime, a bartender in Westport asked me what My Morning Jacket sounds like. I rattled off some terms: classic rock, Southern rock, indie-rock, country-blues -- a hippie-jam band that doesn't jam too much.

Several hours later, after watching the Kentucky boys roar through a 140-minute show at the Uptown, I'd add a few more words to that list: ferocious, epic, transcendent.

The Uptown wasn't sold out, but most of the nearly 1,400 fans who showed up seemed prepared for a spectacle. That's what they got: a near-perfect show that proved emphatically why this band has become the next big thing. Meet the new Wilco. (The only "flaws": Too much crowd chit-chat during "Look at You"; and the jam at the end of "Scream Pt. 2," which went on a little too long.)

Jim James is the leader of this five-man band, and he is a grand showman. He didn't talk much but when he did, he was humble and gracious to his fans and to our city. Mostly he let his voice, his music and his band do all the talking for him. His voice is an uncommon mix of rock and soul -- a blend of Neil Young and Boz Scaggs. Several times he sustained skyscraping notes that filled the cavernous room

He can be manic and animated: During a couple of songs he danced around in a cape. During several others, he raced back and forth across the staged, sometimes while playing guitar. During "Steam Engine," he disappeared then reappeared upstairs, in the balcony closest to the stage.

The four guys behind him are a monster force, especially drummer Patrick Callahan (a proud client of  C&C Drum Co., right here in KCMO). They showed off their chops all night, but prudently. By the time they'd finished their seventh song, only 45 minutes had passed.

The setlist featured 10 songs off the band's new record, "Evil Urges," including the title track, which opened the show. Over the course of the ensuing two hours, MMJ would draw tracks from all over its catalog, displaying an array of styles and flavors: "Highly Suspicious," an industrial- funk anthem that sounds like something Prince stitched together with Marilyn Manson; "Golden," a breezy country-soul ballad that shuffles like "Gentle On My Mind"; and several of its trademark country/rock hurricanes, like "Mahgeetah." They played that one halfway through the show, but the crowd went so berserk, it felt like a finale.

They ended with a five-song encore (trimmed from seven) that felt like one long maniacal eruption of song, dance, drums and guitars. At the end, the crowd on the floor was bouncing feverishly, like 1,000 people who'd just won the lottery. What they'd won was the chance to see a great band close up, before it gets too big for rooms like the Uptown.   

| Timothy Finn, The Star

Setlist: Evil Urges, Off the Record, Gideon, The Way That He Sings, Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Pt. 1, Masterplan, I'm Amazed, Thank You Too, Sec Walkin', Two Halves, Lay Low, Aluminum Park, Mahgeetah, Just One Thing, Look at You, Golden, Phone Went West, Steam Engine, Smokin' From Shootin', Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Pt. 2. Encore: Wordless Chorus, Highly Suspicious, Anytime, Run Thru, One Big Holiday.

Comments

[MSac]

I had high expectations and they blew them away. I know it's comparing apples to oranges, but Springsteen has big shoes to fill this weekend... best show of the year, and maybe the best show of the last five years. Unbelievable.

[Pat]

Spot on review Tim. Nice work.

[Julian]

Tim, did it top Foo or the Raconteurs for ya? I went to Foo and it topped them (this coming from a LONG time Foo fan). In my opinion, Arcade Fire at Starlight is the only show in recent memory that can hold up to that one.

[Tim Finn]

Great show, but it's a little easier to throw that kind of a knockout punch in a place like the Uptown than it is in an arena. However, I can absolutely see MMJ graduating to arenas like the Foos have. (I'd call it a toss-up between those two shows.)

[Julian]

Indeed, that is true. Where the Foo's excel in energy, sometimes I feel the song qualities (especially in Dave's voice) lack somewhat. Foo's are an all around great band and I've been waiting better part of a decade for them to make their way back here. So that show for me was without flaw - but I do know how Dave can get a little too worked up and it takes away from his voice. Jim James: never the case. I think that guy has the most impressive voice in rock music, today. The vocal exercise in "Wordless Chorus" on their live DVD is what sold me on them. That and "Run Thru" which was absolutely incredible last night.

[Julian]

But, if I had a choice, I'd rather see them play to a packed Starlight, than a half to three-quarters full Kemper or Sprint. Would love to see MMJ at an outdoor venue.

[kevink]

Made a 4-plus-hour drive to see them.

Amazing, amazing show.

I'm not sure, in the thousand some live music performances that I've been to, that I've ever been so captivated as I was during the encore. What an onslaught of noise!

[DanC]

One word I'd like to add to the article: pandelerium.

That was the best rock show I've seen in a long time. I put it up there with the White Stripes at Memorial Hall back in 2003. I couldn't keep up. It seemed like there were about 6 encores with the crowd trying to blow the roof off of the Uptown. Wow.

[wadkc]

Beat the Foo's? No, it did not. It was a great rock show though. I actually thought the more subtle songs were the best. Maybe my ears are different than most. I thought the harmonies were good but sometimes WAY off and almost punishing. His falsetto, while accomplished, wasn't spot on. I was standing stage left and I thought the treble was too bright. Maybe where I stood? The drums were out front in the mix which was cool.
I saw a lot of people in the beer line during the show and others milling about the venue, which I thought was strange. Maybe getting a break from the volume? I had plugs in but kept taking them out to check the sound... loud.

[Tim Finn]

The final 15 minutes or so -- the last three songs - were hellacious. I forgot to take notes. I just wrote: "floor blows up."

[Tim Finn]

Yeah, a little trebly. But that's almost a trait of theirs anyway. Mix sounded OK(vocals a little muddy) where I was, by the soundboard, and better when I stepped out from under the balcony overhang. It was loud. The lighting guy kept his plugs in all night.

[MSac]

Speaking of lighting... very impressive display last night. Now if I could only figure out the image behind them. Doorknobs? Eyeballs? Anyone?

[Julian]

eyeballs. the pictures are part of the "Evil Urges" artwork.

[smartman]

Maybe the best show at the Uptown since Zappa played there mid-80's-ish. Shows like MMJ are what the Uptown is best suited for. You can see it...hear it...feel it and smell it. It's the way live music is supposed to be. Let's hope the AEG / Cordish CARTEL don't keep paying too much for acts to play the Midland and try to put the Uptown out of business.

[Lauren]

It was awesome. I won tickets to see them (I was going to buy tickets anyways but whatever...) and I got to meet them before. They were so gracious and kind. One of the members told me that he has family out in Olathe (I think it was Two Tone). Anyways so nice, and probably one of the nicest crowds too, the douche bag count was pretty low. Amazing.

[Donkey Shane]

I'm a d-bag and I was there. But it was my day off.

[kevink]

I'll qualify this by saying I'm a huge MMJ fan, and that I thought last night's concert was amazing.

But as for best show at that venue?

That honor goes to a Muse concert in May 2005, and I doubt few people who were there disagree.

The entire floor was shaking. My friend suffered permanent hearing damage. It was on the "Absolution" tour and it was pure noise, bliss and a healthy dose of Matthew Bellamy sliding around on his knees in a suit.

[Tim Finn]

Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies Pixies

[wadkc]

Cheap Trick 1978!!

[Carl Raccuglia]

I hated every minute of it.
The best at the Uptown? Maybe
Blondie opening for The Kinks,
around 1977. But probably Dylan's
"Slow Train Coming" three night
stand, Dec, 1980. MMJ, never
again.
Carl R.

[doug]

MMJ are The Monsters of Folk

The Uptown will never be the same

I will never be the same

[Josh]

I'm jealous. My brother and I would have been there if the show would have cost $62 (the face value of the tickets.) But for over $80 after ticketbastard fees... that just places it outside of reasonable. A $30 show is in a much different sphere than a $40 show. Imagine this show description with people filled to the rafters. Thanks, Ticketmaster for destroying this show. I hope you enjoy your extra $12 from those who paid it.

[Bryan]

You gotta be buying tickets at the Uptown direct...you can't be handing money over to ticketmaster. Uptown could help out with this by either extending their operating hours past or before the current 10-4 time or being open on Saturday. Something tells me ticketmaster wouldn't take too kindly to this, thus...those wierd hours. Any info on this Tim?

[Bryan]

weird...sorry

[Tim Finn]

Ticketmaster has no power or authority in this. When I buy a ticket to a Sprint show, I walk up to the box office and buy one. No extra fees. Yes, it would be nice if the Uptown box office were opened longer and accommodated people who worked 9-5. But 10-4 isn't unreasonable. It could simply be a staffing issue. I'm guessing they don't sell a ton of tickets at that box office. The fee for the MMJ ticket (I got mine at Streetside the night of the show) was $8.15 -- about 27 percent of the ticket price ($31). That's a big jump.

[P Dog]

I became a fan about 8 mo. ago through a coworker and neighbor. Got tickets and enjoyed one of the best concerts I have ever seen. What a SHOW to see live!!! Well said...it did feel like I hit the lottery and got to see a big venue band in a small private showing!

[Patrick]

I've been waiting for MMJ since hearing the opening guitar for One Big Holiday some five years ago. They were phenomenal. My friend and I sit in the back row center of the balcony because honestly the sound is the best. As far as the best show at the Uptown it would probably be the best I've seen, followed closely by Wilco and then Everclear around 2001

[Sam]

My recording of the show is now available for download (it's legal and free)

http://www.archive.org/details/mmj2008-08-18