Leeds

[e_wind]

well, they embelished a bit then, said the venue was smaller than that. Still 800 people is tiny. My next show is Madison Square Garden and I'd guess there will be 15,000 people there haha. Last year I saw Jim and Patrick do a benefit show here in Louisville at a venue with a 600 person capacity. That was one of the best nights of my life.

[GO4IT]

MMJ took the stage about 8:50

Yeah, it was 7:50, not 8:50 that they took the stage in Leeds.

I was rushed at Manchester airport trying to post this due to an interesting odyssey trying to get back from Leeds to catch a 13:45 flight out of Heathrow.  The early (way too early) bus from Leeds to Manchester got seriously lost.  We ended up in some small neighborhood and got stuck on the narrow street.  Two people with i-phones ended up guiding the bus driver (totally clueless) to the next few stations. People destined for Manchester Airport were freaking out but I ended up making the flight and also the connection to the States which, very fittingly, left from non other than Terminal 5.

[MarkW]

I was rushed at Manchester airport trying to post this due to an interesting odyssey trying to get back from Leeds to catch a 13:45 flight out of Heathrow.  The early (way too early) bus from Leeds to Manchester got seriously lost.  We ended up in some small neighborhood and got stuck on the narrow street.  Two people with i-phones ended up guiding the bus driver (totally clueless) to the next few stations. People destined for Manchester Airport were freaking out but I ended up making the flight and also the connection to the States which, very fittingly, left from non other than Terminal 5.

Glad you made it, and good to meet you at Leeds.  Perhaps we'll meet again at MPP some day...

[SaraBananaBear]

Okay here goes, confessions of the bananabear Pt. 1... If I don't make sense, or say something inappropriate it's probably because English isn't my native language, please forgive me. Also, this might be a bit redundant to longtime fans, again please bear with a woman completely awestruck by how awesome this band really is.

Sunnyday and I arrived in Leeds on the 3rd to get some time to get over the jetlag (it's like the third time I use that joke, but I still find it funny so bear with me ;)) and for Sunny to do some serious shopping. It was really nice to walk around Leeds and see all the beautiful old buildings and all the owls.

We were supposed to meet fellow forum friends GO4IT and MarkW before the show and so we did, though we arrived a tad later perhaps... After some serious drinking (mostly Sunny and I) we made our way to the venue and got some excellent spots right at the rail, which was really nice, both because you can see what's going on on stage and in my case, I could also put my cup of water down on the ground without someone spilling it, or perhaps I should say, without someone other than myself spilling it... ooops!

The Head and the Heart were amazing, I'm so glad MMJ decided to have them as openers at Somerset, I fell in love with them at Latitude festival and they were just as wonderful to watch this time around, with beautiful vocals and joyous playing mixed together in a bright and happy swirl of music. Down in the Valley gave me chills and the end part of Rivers and Roads with the drums and the vocals is just brilliant.

Then came MMJ, cue hard time to find words to express that experience... Where to start... Victory Dance is such an excellent opener, okay so I've never heard any other opener, but I still stand by that statement damnit! ;) Another favorite for this show (though truthfully all of it was one big favorite moment) was seeing It Beats 4 U live, I've never realized how Tom's all over that song, but it was amazing to see! How he even manages to move his fingers that fast, I will never know. And At Dawn was a special moment as well, I really like the drums on At Dawn, they feel a bit Timpani-ish (If that makes no sense, well, I'm just a poor layman, what do I know?  ;)) and I'm really fond of that. Really I could go on to name every song they played really, so I'll just stop here with the song excitement and say that OH MY GOD! This band... this band, well you all know of course, but I'm still amazed every time, in every format.

I was surprised by how much Carl just... moves or however you'd describe it, it's like this massive wave of energy coming from him to an extent which I hadn't previously picked up from Okonokos or other videos. Again, noticed this at Latitude and Somerset as well of course, but equally amazed each time, that man is on fire! Tom seems a bit more calm and collected to me, just as much energy, just more focused somehow. And Patrick, oh Patrick, one journalist wrote a while back that "Patrick Hallahan drums like Shiva, multi-armed and out for destruction" and I don't think truer words were ever spoken. He seems like a force of nature, alive with energy and passion. He's like a big lion! And Bo has so much going on I can't even keep up, but I especially like him on Moving Away, there was one interview where he described himself as the color guy who adds frosting on top of the cake, but on Moving Away, I think he's the cake! And Jim of course, there's so many nuances to that voice, it soars, it screams, it whispers, it woohoos, he can really do anything with it and still have it sound like the best thing you've ever heard. I'm also astonished (just trying to think of another word other than amazed ;)) by how in tune the band is with each other and you can somehow feel that bond, but still feel included, it's a thing of magic.

Okay, end rambling, onto Pt. 2. 

[Fully]

so I'll just stop here with the song excitement and say that OH MY GOD! This band... this band, well you all know of course, but I'm still amazed every time, in every format.

I hear you. That's the way I feel when I see them too :D :D :D :D

[Penny Lane]

Awe..ramble on, SBB! Love reading your recap!

[headhunter]

keep it coming, gotta love the happy recap.  awaiting part 2

[SaraBananaBear]

Thanks Fully, Penny and Headhunter! :)

[lintoni]

Historic venue, right in the city centre.
Capacity 1,800 floor + 500 balcony

They never played their own show in Leeds before and they haven't been in the area since summer 2008 so hard to tell what the turn out will be.

I may be mistaken, but I have a feeling that they played at The Cockpit, a looong time ago?

[slappymoe]

If I don't make sense, or say something inappropriate it's probably because English isn't my native language, please forgive me. Also, this might be a bit redundant to longtime fans, again please bear with a woman completely awestruck by how awesome this band really is.

your english is better than most americans, and it's great to get a fresh reminder of why we all dig this band so much.   looking forward to part 2.

[GO4IT]

Great review, SBB.  I trust that you and Sunnyday have made it safely home by now.

I just saw that a youtube of the show was posted featuring the backs of MarkW's and my noggins and some band freaking out in the background:
My Morning Jacket, Mahgeeta Live in Leeds 2011

Glad you made it, and good to meet you at Leeds.  Perhaps we'll meet again at MPP some day...

If you every make it to the States, ideally for a MPP show, be sure to let me know.  You and your family have a place to stay.

[SaraBananaBear]

If I don't make sense, or say something inappropriate it's probably because English isn't my native language, please forgive me. Also, this might be a bit redundant to longtime fans, again please bear with a woman completely awestruck by how awesome this band really is.

your english is better than most americans, and it's great to get a fresh reminder of why we all dig this band so much.   looking forward to part 2.

Aw thank you, you're too nice! :)

[SaraBananaBear]

Great review, SBB.  I trust that you and Sunnyday have made it safely home by now.

I just saw that a youtube of the show was posted featuring the backs of MarkW's and my noggins and some band freaking out in the background:

Hahaha ;D Nice find, definitely the best video of the back of someone's head I ever saw!

Sunny and I are safe and sound now, though we almost missed our flight back, due to a very, very late bus. Was certainly good to meet you at Leeds and maybe we'll make our way over to the states one day as well  :)

[GO4IT]

Sunny and I are safe and sound now, though we almost missed our flight back, due to a very, very late bus. Was certainly good to meet you at Leeds and maybe we'll make our way over to the states one day as well  :)

I also had serious bus problems on my way back.  I think I'll stick to the trains from now on!
Sounds like you were treated to a couple of fine shows in Manchester and London.  I would have particularly liked to have seen the Gaggle on Black Metal.  They look like naturals for the part.
Nice meeting you and Kajsa.  Definitely check in when you come to the States!

[SaraBananaBear]

Found this on THATH's Facebook page a while back, thought I'd post it here in case Mr. MarkW and GO4IT hadn't see in.  :)

You can see all three of us if you look closely

[GO4IT]

Found this on THATH's Facebook page a while back, thought I'd post it here in case Mr. MarkW and GO4IT hadn't see in.  :)

You can see all three of us if you look closely

Nice find SBB!!  There we are, all FOUR of us on the rail a bit to center stage of Jim.  Brings back amazing memories.

I'm not sure I mentioned this to anyone but I was touring Leeds the day of the show, and stumbled out of the City Museum in the early afternoon which is just about a block from the O2 Academy where MMJ was playing that night.  So, I figured I'd take a look around the venue to see what was going on.  I didn't see much until I looked up and there, right above me, was Jim sitting on a second floor balcony with his acoustic guitar and sheet music on a stand.  I shouted up to him and we exchanged a few words including me saying how great they were and lamenting about the monitor catching fire a couple days before in Birmingham.  As I was walking away I took the photo below.  I was wondering what he was up to and now, in retrospect, I'll bet he was practicing his songs for the X-Mas iTunes session!

[mahg33ta]

great story GO4IT!  stuff like that's why I love the forum

[SaraBananaBear]

Ah yes, my bad, four of course! Lady K will not be happy about this...  :-\

[Fully]

Found this on THATH's Facebook page a while back, thought I'd post it here in case Mr. MarkW and GO4IT hadn't see in.  :)

You can see all three of us if you look closely

Nice find SBB!!  There we are, all FOUR of us on the rail a bit to center stage of Jim.  Brings back amazing memories.

I'm not sure I mentioned this to anyone but I was touring Leeds the day of the show, and stumbled out of the City Museum in the early afternoon which is just about a block from the O2 Academy where MMJ was playing that night.  So, I figured I'd take a look around the venue to see what was going on.  I didn't see much until I looked up and there, right above me, was Jim sitting on a second floor balcony with his acoustic guitar and sheet music on a stand.  I shouted up to him and we exchanged a few words including me saying how great they were and lamenting about the monitor catching fire a couple days before in Birmingham.  As I was walking away I took the photo below.  I was wondering what he was up to and now, in retrospect, I'll bet he was practicing his songs for the X-Mas iTunes session!

I just saw this GO4IT. Thank you for sharing this story.  It must have been a fun moment for you.

[GO4IT]

Almost missed the one year anniversary of the Leeds show!  SBB, Sunny, Mark W and I had a wonderful time on the rail in addition to some quality time at bars before and after (even if Townsend didn't show up for Live at Leeds, Part II).

One of the wonderful things about this band is being able to connect with like-minded people around the world and this made the show extra special for me.  I've got the setlist from the show in my hand right now - BM into OBH to end - hard to beat that!