6/17 Chicago comments

[rusty95]

I'm gonna go head and say it. 
After the unstaged event I was a little down on having to drive to Chicago after seeing such an epic event in the Ville'.  Boy was I wrong, the show last night blew Louisville out of the water.

The sound, the venue, the crowd, the band feeding off all this shit!

Wow, not sure how many more times I can get my mind blown.

Honest man, finally, thanks mmj.

[youreveningcoat]

And you got to hear 'Where to begin' you lucky bastard! That's gotta be in my top 3 favourtie MMJ songs  :D :D :D

[hiphopopotamus]

Milwaukee and Chicago were awesome.  2 nights of MMJ =  :D

[e_wind]

i agree. The encore in Louisville was the best encore I've ever seen, but the whole show in general in Chicago was the best sit down theater venue show I've seen from beginning to end. It was a great day all around.

[CHIMMJFAN]

Milwaukee and Chicago were awesome.  2 nights of MMJ =  :D

I concur!!!

CHIMMJFAN

[Rufus T. Firefly]

i agree. The encore in Louisville was the best encore I've ever seen, but the whole show in general in Chicago was the best sit down theater venue show I've seen from beginning to end. It was a great day all around.

other than it being quite a task to get a drink at that bar...that's a pretty lame gripe though, lol

[walterfredo]

Chicago was the best sit down theater venue show I've seen from beginning to end.

please tell me nobody was sitting down though?  I hate a sit down show!

[e_wind]

Chicago was the best sit down theater venue show I've seen from beginning to end.

please tell me nobody was sitting down though?  I hate a sit down show!

of course no one was sitting down, but i still prefer venues with GA pit areas.

[Crispy]

A lengthy review, in part making up for failing to write about Wakarusa:

I almost always have the same reaction during My Morning Jacket shows: this is my new favorite. Of course, afterwards that thought slides back and the show finds its place in the natural order, because nothing will ever be better than your first, and there was the T5 TTF show...and there was...ANYWAY, at the time, living in those moments that make up an epic Jacket show which you are celebrating with your friends who have the same ridiculous ecstatic expressions on their faces that I do on mine, you know it doesn't get any better.

After having a great time at the outstanding fundraiser and meet-up (WOOOO Maggie, et al), I arrived early enough to see Daniel Martin Moore and found my seat: all the way up every stair in the building to the top floor, and in the balcony set underneath and behind the very top balcony. The only other theater I had seen the boys at was Radio City and I was in the first mezzanine there -- so I remembered what happened that night, and I kept my mind open. The view to the stage was fine, but the overhanging balcony above my head had me worried about the sound, especially not being able to hear DMM very well over the pre-show talking crowd.

As I waited for Jason to find his way up, the XRT DJ introduced the band, and then it started: Victory Dance...and I was still in my seat along with every one else up there. Soon enough though, I was up and moving, and before I knew it, there was Jason with a big hug just as Carl began belting out those falsetto "setting sun!"s. CHILLS, man. The sound was great, loud and punchy, the Auditorium was incredibly beautiful, one of my favorite show buddies of all time was there rocking with me, and all was right with the world. We knew right then we were going to be treated to a great one, and yet we did not realize.
 
I am used to seeing the boys from below and from not this far away, but it is cool to see the stage from such a vertical vantage, and I drank in the view and the sweet sounds of Circuital and The Day Is Coming. Now, when we heard the Omnichord and the beginning of Touch Me, Jason and I looked at each other and remarked that we would not be getting the kind of setlist that there have been complaints(!) about. Sweet! Do NOT ever turn this feeling off. Wow, what a way to get this show going.

And goddamn, did it get going with Off the Record and Wordless, then First Light and Freak Out establishing themselves as up-and-coming face-melters. I'm listening to the FM recording as I write this, and the boys were just on fire, playing their hearts  out and having a great time. Tom and Patrick were really kicking it up, tight and steady, with some exploratory fills and notes I have not heard before.

Ohhhh...Wonderful. The golden rainbow. Jim pleading with the light guy, "Come on, we can do this!" Daniel Martin Moore. Everybody in the house singing along. SO WONDERFUL. Then Golden to top that off, and it was just so beautiful.

Gideon was the perfect way to throw some more of that intense energy on us, and then I'm Amazed got me thinking that Jim and Carl could go absolutely nuts with a guitar duel at the end of that one. Now they toss in a super gem: Where to Begin! And more chills as the power and emotion hit me hard.

More kickass rocking out on Anytime and Dancefloors (especially Tom, wow), and my favorite so far from Circuital, Slow Slow Tune. Each one of those crashes in that song knocks me out, so powerful. It was nearly impossible where we were to catch all of Jim's words when he was talking between Dancefloors and SST, and I told Jason, "I cannot wait to hear a recording so I can find out what the hell he's saying!" On to Moving Away, such a sweet, beautiful, sad but hopeful song, and more emotion was flowing again in the upper balcony.

OH MY SWEET JESUS, are you kidding me? When I heard Patrick pounding out that beat to start Honest Man, I almost lost it, screaming with Jason, and headbanging those crunchy first measures. Just an unbelievable amount of awesome mind-blowing RAWK. Along with Where  to Begin, a second rare SUPER GEM for this show. Apologies to the guy in the row in front of me, who received a bit of the beer someone handed to me as I went crazy, eating up the guitars, loving Bo's piano, fucking belting it out. Apologies also to the guy on my right, who never left his seat -- okay, I'm really just sorry for him for not getting it. Black Metal and Highly Suspicious were great fun rockers to follow -- I just love that scream and the "WOOO!" and Carl going nuts at the end of HS.

What?! One Big Holiday? This show is NOT over! Now we know we are going to get some madness in the encore. God, I love that moment -- WAKING UP -- screaming along with the crowd, watching and hearing and feeling the boys completely, absolutely tearing it up. And by the end of this one, after so much exertion, we're wondering if maybe it could be the end of the show. But of course the lights stay down and we're thinking we've got Steam Engine or Dondante on the way...or maybe both?

"I hope we all get to cross that golden rainbow together into the next dimension. Maybe we're already there..."

Steam Engine: astounding and new EVERY TIME. All the proof I need -- but Smokin' from Shootin' with the end of Run Thru (hoping we'll get the whole thing again soon), and then that unbelievable Mahgeetah closer proved it again: we are witnessing one of the most exciting, talented, and rewarding live rock bands in existence.

I got the feeling from this show that the band and Jim especially were feeling it extra much, it showed in the playing and the energy, and you can hear it in Jim's voice in the recording. You can hear him almost cracking with emotion, and there were four or five times when he let loose little laughs while he sang, as if he couldn't contain his joy. And that's exactly how I feel during these shows, each of which is always my favorite in those moments -- when I am lucky enough to be sharing wonderful space and time and music with this band and great friends.

[watchtower41]

Not to be a Debbie Downer, I'll be the first to agree that Chicago's sound and venue was better compared to Louisville, but the show as a whole... c'mon, Unstaged was about as epic as you can get.  3 hours, 10 minutes... 27 songs.  Chicago was an incredible show and I have no complaints, but it's very easy for me to rank Louisville Unstaged above.  That show was arguably MMJ's most hyped show ever, and they went above and beyond on all fronts.

Chicago was from top to bottom a face-melting rocker, and probably the best Mahgeeta I've ever heard, but Louisville was just too special of an experience. Maybe because I'm used to the beauty of Auditorium but that's my 2 cents.

[ericm]

Great review Crispy. 

I almost felt like I was there rockin' with you. ;) So glad you you guys saw such a great show, and enjoyed the hell out of it.

[Crispy]

Not to be a Debbie Downer, I'll be the first to agree that Chicago's sound and venue was better compared to Louisville, but the show as a whole... c'mon, Unstaged was about as epic as you can get.  3 hours, 10 minutes... 27 songs.  Chicago was an incredible show and I have no complaints, but it's very easy for me to rank Louisville Unstaged above.  That show was arguably MMJ's most hyped show ever, and they went above and beyond on all fronts.

Chicago was from top to bottom a face-melting rocker, and probably the best Mahgeeta I've ever heard, but Louisville was just too special of an experience. Maybe because I'm used to the beauty of Auditorium but that's my 2 cents.

If I was at the Louisville show, I'm sure I would agree with you. Not so lucky.

[kydiddle]

Nice review, Crispy!! As I'm giving the show a first listen right now, I can imagine you losing your sh*t many, many times over. :) Can't wait to rock out with you at Red Rocks! 

One comment about the show (or the recording I'm hearing now)....the Slow Slow Tune>Movin' Away>Honest Man>Black Metal might be the greatest run of songs since they've introduced the new material into the setlist. Man, it does something good for the soul. The slow, sensual goodness of Movin' Away into the ass kicking that is Honest Man. I can't WAIT to see how much they play with the setlists as they incorporate the new songs and shuffle things around to hit the sweet spots...mmmm

Also, that Where to Begin was insane. You folks are so lucky!!!!

[e_wind]

Not to be a Debbie Downer, I'll be the first to agree that Chicago's sound and venue was better compared to Louisville, but the show as a whole... c'mon, Unstaged was about as epic as you can get.  3 hours, 10 minutes... 27 songs.  Chicago was an incredible show and I have no complaints, but it's very easy for me to rank Louisville Unstaged above.  That show was arguably MMJ's most hyped show ever, and they went above and beyond on all fronts.

Chicago was from top to bottom a face-melting rocker, and probably the best Mahgeeta I've ever heard, but Louisville was just too special of an experience. Maybe because I'm used to the beauty of Auditorium but that's my 2 cents.

If I was at the Louisville show, I'm sure I would agree with you. Not so lucky.

The Louisville show was the most fortunate I've ever felt to be at a show. The setlist was great, the energy was great, everything was. The Louisville show, was, however extremely hyped up and all the great surprises weren't surprises and were expected (Badu/Tyrone). I went into the Chicago show with low expectations for the setlist, and I was sitting very far away, so I wasn't expecting for my mind to be blown the way it was. The Louisville show was a better show, but I had a better time at Chicago. Not to say I didn't have a good night in Louisville... that was an epic epic show, that I'll never forget.

[Crispy]

Nice review, Crispy!! As I'm giving the show a first listen right now, I can imagine you losing your sh*t many, many times over. :) Can't wait to rock out with you at Red Rocks! 

One comment about the show (or the recording I'm hearing now)....the Slow Slow Tune>Movin' Away>Honest Man>Black Metal might be the greatest run of songs since they've introduced the new material into the setlist. Man, it does something good for the soul. The slow, sensual goodness of Movin' Away into the ass kicking that is Honest Man. I can't WAIT to see how much they play with the setlists as they incorporate the new songs and shuffle things around to hit the sweet spots...mmmm

Also, that Where to Begin was insane. You folks are so lucky!!!!

We did indeed have our shit lost many times that night.  ;D Red Rocks is going to be SO kick ass -- for one thing, we're going to be closer to the stage! And I wonder what Super Gem they'll pull out of the bag for that one.

Also to e_wind: Mind also blown. Were you at Kasey's and did I miss meeting you again?

[Taterbug]

Nice review, Crispy!! As I'm giving the show a first listen right now, I can imagine you losing your sh*t many, many times over. :) Can't wait to rock out with you at Red Rocks! 

One comment about the show (or the recording I'm hearing now)....the Slow Slow Tune>Movin' Away>Honest Man>Black Metal might be the greatest run of songs since they've introduced the new material into the setlist. Man, it does something good for the soul. The slow, sensual goodness of Movin' Away into the ass kicking that is Honest Man. I can't WAIT to see how much they play with the setlists as they incorporate the new songs and shuffle things around to hit the sweet spots...mmmm

Also, that Where to Begin was insane. You folks are so lucky!!!!

We did indeed have our shit lost many times that night.  ;D Red Rocks is going to be SO kick ass -- for one thing, we're going to be closer to the stage! And I wonder what Super Gem they'll pull out of the bag for that one.

Also to e_wind: Mind also blown. Were you at Kasey's and did I miss meeting you again?

Great review Crispy,  Every time I see them I always say that was the best I've ever seen.   I felt like I needed a cigarette and a washcloth after the show. 

What crispy said, did you go to Kasey's before the show ?   I would have liked to have met you.

[rusty95]

Not to be a Debbie Downer, I'll be the first to agree that Chicago's sound and venue was better compared to Louisville, but the show as a whole... c'mon, Unstaged was about as epic as you can get.  3 hours, 10 minutes... 27 songs.  Chicago was an incredible show and I have no complaints, but it's very easy for me to rank Louisville Unstaged above.  That show was arguably MMJ's most hyped show ever, and they went above and beyond on all fronts.

Chicago was from top to bottom a face-melting rocker, and probably the best Mahgeeta I've ever heard, but Louisville was just too special of an experience. Maybe because I'm used to the beauty of Auditorium but that's my 2 cents.

If I was at the Louisville show, I'm sure I would agree with you. Not so lucky.

The Louisville show was the most fortunate I've ever felt to be at a show. The setlist was great, the energy was great, everything was. The Louisville show, was, however extremely hyped up and all the great surprises weren't surprises and were expected (Badu/Tyrone). I went into the Chicago show with low expectations for the setlist, and I was sitting very far away, so I wasn't expecting for my mind to be blown the way it was. The Louisville show was a better show, but I had a better time at Chicago. Not to say I didn't have a good night in Louisville... that was an epic epic show, that I'll never forget.

You're feeling me Eric, I guess the "blew it out of the water" comment was stemming from the high of the show I was still riding.

Louisville was definitely my favorite MMJ experience, but Chicago was better as far as energy and hearing the live music.

I don't think it was just a straight face melter at all.  I mean we did get Where to Begin, and Movin' Away, a special Wonderful, of course Golden, and a Slow Slow Tune that was out of this world. ( I will be putting that record on 30 years from now, Timeless)

Look we are comparing Oranges to Oranges here,  I think we can all agree that MMJ kills it each and every time.

[ALady]

Wait wait wait.

Rufus T. Firefly was at the bar?  Did we meet?   :o

[jordan]

One comment I'll add to this discussion is at the Louisville show many of the Circuital songs had never been heard live before by us fans and also the band had less practice time on the live version of the songs.  I saw the boys at that the Unstaged show and at 'Roo and I see these new songs evolving and becoming more and more exciting to experience live. This Chicago show is definitely one I will listen to over and over. 

[sweatboard]

I've seen the band 31 times and I would say Chicago was one of those flash of light shows that Jim has talked about.  In my opinion the best show this year and I hope they bring that energy and passion to the rest of the tour.  The festivals don't do the band justice, unless it's the midnight slot at Bonnaroo.