This past weekend at Red Rocks was a perfect example about why there are those of us music fans who insist on seeing more than one show in row by certain bands. I have friends who look at me a little funny when I say I’m going to see a band twice or three times in a span of three or four days, and I have friends that give me that knowing look and are right beside me in line for the best space on each night. These latter friends get it, they are chasing “that show” too. They know that just because the Friday night show was good, it doesn’t mean that Saturday won’t be better.
That was exactly the case with My Morning Jacket last Friday and Saturday. The Friday show was good, in fact, the 35 minute segment that highlighted the second half of the set from “Gideon” into a massive “Dondante” and finally into “Golden” was damn near incredible. But, did it satisfy everything I was craving? Did it scratch that itch that had been building since this band last played on the The Rocks in 2019 (yes I went to both of those shows as well)? Quite simply, no, it didn’t. So, come Saturday afternoon, I was ready to do it again, and I’m VERY glad I did.
On Saturday the band delivered a three hour performance that touched on everything their fans hold dear. They opened the evening with the anthemic and angular “Holdin’ On To Black Metal” from 2011’s Circuital and kept things going with a take on “Spring (Among The Living)” that saw Jim James name check Red Rocks as he scatted a bit midway through the tune. It’s no secret that Red Rocks is a special place for James and this band, and the charismatic frontman wasn’t afraid to make that clear to the ravenous crowd on multiple occasions throughout the weekend.
An early “Mahgeetah” found unprepared fans running from concession stands with drinks sloshing on their shoes – or deserting the beer lines entirely – to be sure they caught this It Still Moves classic. I myself was climbing the stairs as Bo Koster played the intro to “Feel You” and I got a distinct Elton John vibe but dismissed it as the band slid into the sensually laid back ballad.
“Compound Fracture,” “What A Wonderful Man,” and “Lay Low” set the stage for Jim to pick up the acoustic and drop in the beautiful sing-along “Wonderful (The Way I Feel).” The vibe stayed mellow as the band ran through “Knot Comes Loose” and then we all couldn’t help but dance as James sang about feeling “Lucky to Be Alive.” Oh I felt lucky alright! I felt especially lucky when they dropped the tour debut of “Strangulation!” followed by the always monster “Run Thru,” but it was “Run It” that really got me as I’ve had that song running through my head since The Waterfall II dropped in the summer of 2020. Yes, I’m a sucker for 70’s AM Radio Rock vibes and my buddy Sean and I sang every word (my apologies to those standing around us)!
At this point we hit what many would say was the climax of the band’s four night Colorado run as they kicked off a 12 minute “Steam Engine” and led into “I Never Could Get Enough,” “I’m Amazed,” and “Complex” before yielding to yet another masterful jam vehicle that is “Phone Went West.” This “Phone” featured very appropriate, and somewhat comforting quotes from the 1939 Golden Oldie “We’ll Meet Again.” Hopefully sooner rather than later!!!
After a very well deserved encore break, the band returned with opener Joy Oladokun in tow and made my Elton John moment earlier in the night feel a bit prophetic as they laid down an absolutely stunning take on “Rocket Man” that featured Jim and Joy trading verses. This is a moment that will hang with me for a long time. The rest of the 35 minute encore was icing on the cake (albeit very delicious icing) as we were treated to “State Of The Art (A.E.I.O.U.)” followed by a “Touch Me Part II” that ignited a huge Red Rocks dance party on the shoulders of Patrick Hallahan’s driving beat.
Two glorious nights at Red Rocks concluded with “Wordless Chorus” and we all got to bask in the glory of 10,000 voices singing the same oohs and ahs. There were no lyrics to forget, or remember for that matter, there was just a shared moment of bliss as we celebrated a very special night at one of the most important places in the world.
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