"One Big Holiday" in MEXICO!!

[Bulldog]

I'm going to step in on this thread as a newb (since I am) and say...I am a hard core fan of a select few bands and an audiophile in general.  I like MMJ.  I went on this trip with a hard core fan who needed a room mate.  I had no expectations of anything other than Mexico for the first time in my life, a girls' getaway for the first time in my life, and seeing a bunch of bands that I never saw before.

I felt like I was in the lap of luxury on that resort.  I never had a bad meal, but the only place we really ate on the resort was Toro, room service, and late night grab and go from Impanema.  We had breakfast twice at the Market place and it was fine. 

There wasn't enough time in the day to do all the available activities that were available.

The service was outstanding.  The staff were friendly.  At times, they even seemed to be having a good time with us.

Our room was clean.  There were no bugs and no mold or mildew.  That says a lot to me in a tropical humid environment.  The overhaul was evident in some places (missed spots on freshly painted walls, for example), but we aren't in the room for more than 4 or 5 hours of the day anyway.

The pools were clean, the beach was clean, the spa was clean.

I became a REAL MMJ fan that week - those having been my first live MMJ shows.  I also became a fan of the other bands that played.  Hell, I can't cut off my bracelet yet!!

And something wonderful happened that I never expected - for the FIRST time ever, I went to a show where the people came together with such a fantastically positive and friendly vibe.  It was refreshing.  It was awesome to see the connection with the band and each other.  It was indescribable.  I truly felt like we were one big happy family.  I wonder if it's always like that at MMJ shows.  I hope so.  It was magical.   

Amen sister......

[mtngurl]

GINA! So great to finally meet you. I see many more jacket shows in the future.

[thepennylane]

GINA! So great to finally meet you. I see many more jacket shows in the future.

yes, ditto!   

[parkervb]

They didnt have any craft beers? The strongest beer they had was DOS EQUIS? seriously?

Well done.

[Gina]

GINA! So great to finally meet you. I see many more jacket shows in the future.

Indeed - let it be said - let it be written!  You will have to remind me who you are though! LOL

And so, here I am.  On the forum.  Joined Roll Call. 

I'll never miss another opportunity to do another one of these weeks.

I don't get to travel much due to my job, but I won't miss another show when the tour comes through the area either. 

Yeah - you're all stuck with me now. LMAO

[ericm]

Nice post. Gina!    Glad you had such a good time, and finally got to see this great band. 

Here's hoping we see a show or two next tour. 

[thepennylane]

The resort was terrific and the service was awesome! Once we were in our right room and things settled down, it was definitely the best vacation I've ever had. Like Gina said, not enough time to eat at all the restaurants or do everything but we made the most of it. The food was great, although crazylove and I could NOT find the Brazilian steakhouse to save our life! It was great and I hope they get to do this again. Not sure I could swing it (or would want to do it) EVERY year but definitely every now and again. It was one of the best things I've ever done, period. I feel really blessed to be friends with so many awesome people (those who could be there and those who couldn't).

That said, I agree with ewind and dontgetupset about the shows. I think they were tight and I loved the springsteen cover, the Bob Weir stuff and night 2's setlist was incredible, but maybe I've reached a point where I've maxed out on those songs for a while. Or maybe i was TOO relaxed or something. It WAS a vacation, after all. After night 2, everyone was saying it was so epic and the best show ever (or in a while) and i didn't feel it.  For some reason, I think I get more excited for things like soundchecks now.

Also, Wayne Coyne annoys the shit out of me now.

rating the overall experience: one of the best, as good as the under the overpass
rating the shows: pretty awesome but not RR, Roo 06, 08, PC; def not T5 magic but good

[Gina]

Also, Wayne Coyne annoys the shit out of me now.

Awww....he seemed so sensitive when he sang - he looked like he was going to break into tears or something.  LMAO

Did you see his recent naked selfie that he posted?  I just don't know how to read him. 

[e_wind]

I stopped reading about 25 posts ago out of laziness.

But, I will say that I was there and agree completely with dontgetupset. It was the best vacation of my life, probably, but the expectations for the shows were Sky high, and they ended up being a little underwhelming. Maybe that's my own fault. Honestly both the shows at Red Rocks 2012 were better than any 3 of the shows at OBH. To me, that largely has to do with the predictability of the sets. I don't care about length, but song/cover choice seemed a bit regurgitated. That said, I'll go back whenever I can.

Could've sworn you said night 2 was the best Jacket show you'd ever been to on the Facebook group? Change your mind?

"Well that was probably the best Jacket show I've ever seen." That's exactly what I said, an hour or less after the show ended. It's been like 10 days now or something, and I'll have to say that night 1 of red rocks is still my favorite jacket show ever. Hell, even PC, setlist wise at least, was better than OBH. Again, thats probably my own fault because I've spoiled myself and built up insane expectations. I seriously can't believe they played 17 covers and not one of them was a first time cover (unless KOHD was, I don't know.) I don't feel like I should have to defend my own decision to critique a show that I payed to go to, but alas, I will repeat that this was my favorite vacation EVER, but the setlist seemed forced to me. Mainly night 3.

[LeanneP]

I wonder if part of the lack of cover variety has to do with the fact that the boys have been in the studio for a couple months and not rehearsing their asses off for this. I know Jim's said before that the "jams" we see are not spontaneous, in general, but planned out, so maybe they just didn't have time to learn and perfect some new tunes.

Just spitballing.

[ItBeats4Jew]

any setlist shortcomings were made up by So Fresh, So Clean at the dance party

[Non Sin Breaux]

I wanna go next year but I cant drink weak beer and I dont know how to pace myself with mixed drinks.

[KittyKy]

couple of random thoughts on OBH:
-who stole Bo's hat on night one? He looked like the guy who cooked our dinner at Zen
-was very surprised how much I missed the bears on stage. weird but true
-many have said it, Carl fucking light it up all week. love him and carried away
-merch gone after one day, lesson learned
-black metal, holy shit that was fun
-biggest buzz was The Lips/dance part, go figure.
-enjoyed the bobby tunes, that was different
-who was the dude standing behind Patrick for the last couple of tunes on last night?
-so much fun, great people, awesome music. can't wait to do it again

Peace

[rincon2]

Thought this thread needed a pick me up.

One Big Holiday @ OBH

Thanks to Michael B. from Florida, whom I met night one, and saw at the airport leaving with the male Noodle. That is him shaking the shit out of it here.

[Fully]

I stopped reading about 25 posts ago out of laziness.

But, I will say that I was there and agree completely with dontgetupset. It was the best vacation of my life, probably, but the expectations for the shows were Sky high, and they ended up being a little underwhelming. Maybe that's my own fault. Honestly both the shows at Red Rocks 2012 were better than any 3 of the shows at OBH. To me, that largely has to do with the predictability of the sets. I don't care about length, but song/cover choice seemed a bit regurgitated. That said, I'll go back whenever I can.

Could've sworn you said night 2 was the best Jacket show you'd ever been to on the Facebook group? Change your mind?

"Well that was probably the best Jacket show I've ever seen." That's exactly what I said, an hour or less after the show ended. It's been like 10 days now or something, and I'll have to say that night 1 of red rocks is still my favorite jacket show ever. Hell, even PC, setlist wise at least, was better than OBH. Again, thats probably my own fault because I've spoiled myself and built up insane expectations. I seriously can't believe they played 17 covers and not one of them was a first time cover (unless KOHD was, I don't know.) I don't feel like I should have to defend my own decision to critique a show that I payed to go to, but alas, I will repeat that this was my favorite vacation EVER, but the setlist seemed forced to me. Mainly night 3.

Exclaiming "That was the best show I've ever seen" right after you've seen a show is a whole lot like telling  a one night stand you love them immediately after you've just had an orgasm. It should be taken with a grain of salt. Once the adrenaline and endorphins subsides, it is much easier to be objective.

Ewind, I'm not sure I feel the same way about night 1 of Red Rocks-although it was definitely the best night of those two nights in most ways. I might argue that night 2 of Port Chester was better.  I don't really have a dog in the OBH hunt particularly since it has been insisted that people who weren't there have no right to look at a setlist and critique. However, if I were to do that, I would definitely pick night 2. As a matter of fact, when it comes to buying downloads of these shows, I'll only get Picture from night 1 and night 2in it's entirety, and perhaps the early run of great songs from night 3. Night 3 reminded me of the same night 3 construction for Port Chester night 3 with the cover heavy later part of the show: Fun, but like listening to an oldies station dance party.

[JTG1975]

any setlist shortcomings were made up by So Fresh, So Clean at the dance party

Troof!

[Crayton09]

I stopped reading about 25 posts ago out of laziness.

But, I will say that I was there and agree completely with dontgetupset. It was the best vacation of my life, probably, but the expectations for the shows were Sky high, and they ended up being a little underwhelming. Maybe that's my own fault. Honestly both the shows at Red Rocks 2012 were better than any 3 of the shows at OBH. To me, that largely has to do with the predictability of the sets. I don't care about length, but song/cover choice seemed a bit regurgitated. That said, I'll go back whenever I can.

Could've sworn you said night 2 was the best Jacket show you'd ever been to on the Facebook group? Change your mind?

"Well that was probably the best Jacket show I've ever seen." That's exactly what I said, an hour or less after the show ended. It's been like 10 days now or something, and I'll have to say that night 1 of red rocks is still my favorite jacket show ever. Hell, even PC, setlist wise at least, was better than OBH. Again, thats probably my own fault because I've spoiled myself and built up insane expectations. I seriously can't believe they played 17 covers and not one of them was a first time cover (unless KOHD was, I don't know.) I don't feel like I should have to defend my own decision to critique a show that I payed to go to, but alas, I will repeat that this was my favorite vacation EVER, but the setlist seemed forced to me. Mainly night 3.

Exclaiming "That was the best show I've ever seen" right after you've seen a show is a whole lot like telling  a one night stand you love them immediately after you've just had an orgasm. It should be taken with a grain of salt. Once the adrenaline and endorphins subsides, it is much easier to be objective.

Ewind, I'm not sure I feel the same way about night 1 of Red Rocks-although it was definitely the best night of those two nights in most ways. I might argue that night 2 of Port Chester was better.  I don't really have a dog in the OBH hunt particularly since it has been insisted that people who weren't there have no right to look at a setlist and critique. However, if I were to do that, I would definitely pick night 2. As a matter of fact, when it comes to buying downloads of these shows, I'll only get Picture from night 1 and night 2in it's entirety, and perhaps the early run of great songs from night 3. Night 3 reminded me of the same night 3 construction for Port Chester night 3 with the cover heavy later part of the show: Fun, but like listening to an oldies station dance party.

You can critique whatever you want, I just think it's silly to say a band could've given more and not even be present for the show. Of course you can say whatever you want about a setlist, but don't tell me how much the band gave if you weren't there to experience it. Sorry I just think a performance is way more than just what's on the setlist. And those dudes gave quite a damn bit during those shows.

[rincon2]

Must see link. Look for yourself. I found a pic of me, and plenty of people I met. At the end of day 4 there is even a picture of someone wearing my artwork.

http://www.thenoblevisions.com/2014/02/my-morning-jackets-one-big-holiday-welcomed-fans-to-paradise-on-sunday/

[MrsBobDobalina]

I think it's interesting to watch the evolution of the MMJ fanbase as evidenced in this thread and others. While no doubt fans have been critiquing MMJ shows from day one, it seems like the tide is turning a bit from almost universally glowing show reviews to more sophisticated examinations of the the shows, the instrument playing, the song choices. We love this band and those who have been along for the ride for a while expect a lot out of the guys, and are less shy now about calling them out when they don't feel the band has done their best work.

I myself love the technical discussions about the details of how a certain song was played during a certain show, the thought that went into particular song choices or setlist orders, etc. But, I know to other fans this seems ungrateful and nit-picky. I also think, based on the experience of being obsessed with a different band in my youth [confession], that this can really divide fans and even start to get to the band itself. I don't know how much the boys pay attention to what fans are saying on forums like these (maybe none at all?), but I do hope that they take any critiques as compliments, in a way - that they are a band we regard so highly that we expect the best every night they play which, of course, is impossible. I hope it doesn't discourage them but reminds them of how loved and respected they are.

[timescaper]

I hit up RR, PC, and OBH and my top 5 shows are:

1. Red Rocks N1
2. One Big Holiday N2
3. Port Chester N1
4. Red Rocks N2
5. Columbus 2012