My Morning Jacket – August 14th – Red Rocks

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My Morning Jacket, Aug 14, 2015, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, MorrisoPhotos by Mitch Kline

The Scene: As seems to be the norm this year, the afternoon weather pattern was not looking favorable for a Red Rocks show. Strong late afternoon thunderstorms rolled through the Denver metro, threatening to dampen pre-show spirits. But those storms made their way East just as we rolled into the Upper South lot, where we enjoyed a mellow lot scene under clear skies and cooling temperatures. The vibe, as always at a My Morning Jacket show, was all smiles knowing we were about to be blown away yet again by this band. And that’s how it went all night – smiles, high fives, fist pumps, and metal horns thrust into the air everywhere I looked.

Opener: Sylvan Esso. Electronic duo Sylvan Esso did a commendable job of warming up the crowd – a nearly full house by the time their set ended. Nothing against the band, they had plenty of energy, and their music was enjoyable, but I have to say that bar was set impossibly high by Band of Horses, who opened at my previous MMJ show.

My Morning Jacket: I’ve been blessed with more than my fair share of magical live music moments, many of them at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. But a My Morning Jacket concert is as close to a spiritual music experience as it gets for me. Not simply for a few moments – or a few songs – but for three solid hours. My Morning Jacket channels an incomparable energy, connecting with their audience on a level I’ve witnessed with no other band. With their latest studio effort, The Waterfall, already firmly placed toward the top of my album of the year list, and a vast cache of songs to chose from, it seemed highly likely this would once again be the top concert of the year. Let’s just be honest, this was a premeditated show-of-the-year for me.

From the opening “Wordless Chorus” to the closing feedback of “One Big Holiday,” MMJ dug deep into their vault, touching on all seven of their studio releases. As always, the band was dressed to the nines, and Jim James, The Jacket’s charismatic front man, prowled the stage in a black and neon jacket, eyes concealed by oversized sunglasses the entire night. Gracefully tiptoeing the line between pure rock and roll and jamband, MMJ routinely extends songs beyond the ten minute mark and did so on numerous occasions throughout their 28 song Red Rocks set. But, for me, the defining moment of this show, and perhaps all of the times I’ve seen this band, came when they kicked-off their seven song encore with “Wonderful (the Way I Feel).”  In a surprise move a spotlight lit up a second microphone and the following evening’s Red Rocks headliner Brandi Carlile came into view to share the lead vocals with James. The song, perhaps the most fitting of any song to ever be played at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, ended with Jim James requesting their lighting director to cut all of the lights in the venue while his voice alone, a deep and meditative “ohm” that he repeated for minutes, echoed off the famed walls. On a night overflowing with highlights, this was one of the most unique concert moments I’ve ever experienced. Six songs followed – some of their most beloved live songs – all of them played well beyond the intensity you’d expect from an encore, were icing on the cake. The final notes of “One Big Holiday” ringing in ears, we were once again reminded, “If we holler loud and make our way…we’d all live one big holiday”

Setlist: Wordless Chorus, Compound Fracture, Off the Record, Circuital, Believe (Nobody Knows), Bermuda Highway, I’m Amazed, Evil Urges, Dondante, Lay Low, At Dawn, In Its Infancy, Gideon, Tropics (Erase Traces), I Think I’m Going To Hell, Spring (Among the Living), Anytime, Steam Engine, Only Memories Remain, Phone Went West, Mahgheetah

Encore: Wonderful (the Way I Feel)*, Victory Dance, Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Pt. 1, Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Pt. 2, Highly Suspicious, Run Thru, One Big Holiday

* – with Brandi Carlile

Energy: A+
Musicianship: A+
Sound: A+
Stage Presence: A+
Set/Light Show: A

Overall: A+

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