My Morning Jacket

(Jim James from My Morning Jacket)

My Morning Jacket ring the guitar-driven sweat out of songs.  The Louisville band builds songs up, only to punish them with joyful, explicit shredding.  They just can't seem to leave a song without a defining, soul-stamped moment, whether it be a perfect groove, a soaring yelp, or a thrashing instrumental breakdown.  Hands down MMJ is one of the best live rock'n'roll bands on the planet.

Jim James skulked around the stage, his hair melding into his beard, or vice versa, playfully leading out on his flying-V guitar with untold swagger.  The poncho didn't hurt.  A royal purple poncho slung over his shoulders like he was some regal guitar-slinger sent from the lands south to pillage and burn.

The set list was curated by local fans via Twitter, and The D Man thoroughly enjoyed the wide-ranging selection.  Few bands can open up their entire catalog for a potential spot in their set, as it speaks volume to their talent as musicians, in addition to their genuine willingness to embrace their fans.  The D Man even received a shout out from the band for providing one of their selected tunes.

To the set list!

• Evil Urges.
• Off the Record.
• Circuital.  Simply a great acoustic jam.  Like many of their songs live, it builds into a killer groove, and shows off each musician's strengths, in the pocket and getting somewhere.
• The Way That He Sings.
• Outta My System.  Did anyone complain that they shared this wisdom from their latest effort, Circuital?
• First Light.
• Lay Low.  Track 8 from the perfectly-sequenced Z.  How did I forget about this gem?  The back-end shredding went to another level, lifting everyone in the park with it.
• Holdin' On To Black Metal.  Stark the Vinyl Shark correctly pointed out this song was much better live.
• Phone Went West.  Showing off some of their reggae-tinged psychedelia.
• Golden.  A feeling in my bones, I've never felt before.  Pure steel-guitar bliss-out.
• Evelyn Is Not Real.
• I'm Amazed.
• War Begun.
• Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Part II.  The audience turned into a glowstick wonderland.  The band turned into a dark, groovy club reveling in dance music.  One of the best moments of the night.
• Mahgeetah.  The D Man requested this favorite twice over Twitter.  And he got it.  A few years ago, I took a few liberties and rated "Mahgeetah/Golden" as the #16 song of the decade, and rightfully declared the tandem as two of the best driving-on-the-open-road songs ever recorded.  If you had just one song to explain My Morning Jacket, this might be it.
• Dondante.  Aural, raging, guitar-explosions. Awesome.
• Gideon.
• Encore
• Victory Dance.
• Wordless Chorus.  No need for words.
• One Big Holiday.  I told everyone that this song enjoys one of the best guitar-intros of all time.  Did not disappoint.  Not. One. Bit.

Rizzo, Rip, J, The D Man, and Stark the Vinyl Shark.  

J even said something interesting last night, but I can't remember what it was.