AmericanaramA - Toronto ON - 07.15.13

[parkervb]

So what I wanna know is how this Dylan/Jeff/Jim sit-in went down. Was last night the first time Jim has even met Dylan? Dylan was positively beaming after the song, and heartily embraced both Jim and Jeff with powerful hugs, saying "great job guys, great job!"

Man, what an awesome night.

I may have to stay for Dylan next week

[oistheone]

Also, I realize it's a long shot, but if anyone has an extra poster, or just one they wouldn't mind selling, please let me know! Thanks!

[LeanneP]

I definitely understand wanting a show poster, but I have to admit I was underwhelmed and even disappointed in the official ones on sale (for $35!) last night. I had seen a poster from a different show on the tour and was hoping for something more interesting than a text only poster.

[oistheone]

Yeah, I'm not crazy about the poster itself, but after getting blown the fuck away by the entire show, I realized I would definitely like some sort of memento!

[Angelo]

I definitely understand wanting a show poster, but I have to admit I was underwhelmed and even disappointed in the official ones on sale (for $35!) last night. I had seen a poster from a different show on the tour and was hoping for something more interesting than a text only poster.

Leanne, I don't think that was an "official" poster that was made for one of the previous shows. I think it was sold outside of the venue and not at the actual merch stand. I hear you though, I wish the official ones were nicer. However a plus is at least this way I don't feel the need to buy two for the show I go to just to get the different venue names on them. One's enough. I'm also glad MMJ and Wilco didn't take it upon themselves to make their own because I would definitely buy one from each for both shows. Money saved!

[Shug]

WHAT A NIGHT!!! If I could put tonight into words, it would be: 

I knew I was in for an awesome night when the boys opened with "I Think I'm Going To Hell". They came out SWINGIN' and it got me MOVIN' -- which made for weird moments when I was rocking as hard as I've EVER rocked and nearly EVERYONE around me was sitting still as a stone. There were pockets of MMJ fans scattered throughout the floor -- easily spotted -- and I wanna say THANK YOU for giving MMJ the energy they needed to know they were appreciated! There were so few fans in the pit that I'm pretty sure each and every person who was rocking on that floor, Jim walked over to you and personally gave you a moment of acknowledgement. I know I got one at least. And so did my girlfriend. We were fucking rocking.

Circuital was done vocals-only by Jim. His acoustic was on the fritz tonight.

Steam Engine was fucking killer. And I'm in love with the new Jim-sax-coda arrangement of Victory Dance. Makes the song new again!

Also, Jim won banter of the night contest in a TKO.

Wilco was fucking awesome. Brought out Feist for two songs, one (I'm prettttty sure) being Suzanne by Leonard Cohen. Also closed with Cinnamon Girl avec MMJ who looked like they were having a BALL -- Carl especially! Great backups and handclaps!

And then Dylan. What can you say? I went in with such low expectations that Dylan would have to  literally be the WORST SHOW IN THE HISTORY OF LIVE MUSIC to let me down. Well not only did he not suck, he was fuckin' cookin' with gas! I feel like an idiot for not being more excited. His band is truly a treat to listen to. The bass grooves were something else. The sound, so fucking crisp. Bob was all smiles all night. I think he knew he fucking slayed.

Jim and Jeff sat in on "Oh, What A Beautiful City", an old folk standard. It was fucking awesome. The whole crowd chanting "Oh What A Beautiful City!" in unison with Bob Dylan, Jim James and Jeff Tweedy. On the same stage for the first time ever. What a beautiful city indeed.

Awesome review, O!  Good for you for letting your freak flag fly even when most around you were oblivious to the awesomeness they were hearing and out of step with getting into the show.  The bands definitely feed off folks like you and I'm sure they wish everyone were that into it.  I know all too well what its like to be in your position.  A good rock show is just like a good party, the more people totally getting into it, the better it is and everyone has a good time.  Why is that such a strange concept to audiences these days?

[bartel]

would be cool to see the dylan/tweedy/jim thing to go on till the end of the tour..

[oistheone]

Awesome review, O!  Good for you for letting your freak flag fly even when most around you were oblivious to the awesomeness they were hearing and out of step with getting into the show.  The bands definitely feed off folks like you and I'm sure they wish everyone were that into it.  I know all too well what its like to be in your position.  A good rock show is just like a good party, the more people totally getting into it, the better it is and everyone has a good time.  Why is that such a strange concept to audiences these days?

Hear, hear Shug! In addition to the lame crowd around me, I also had to deal with pit security who continually told me to sit down throughout MMJ and Wilco. Any time they told me to sit down, I kindly replied "fuck that!" and I'd groove away from security, like some sort of freaky concert-going nomad, bustin' my moves wherever I could.

Jim had an awesome bit about the awkward crowd vibe that went something like this:

"Good morning everyone! Thanks for waking up and coming to see us. When you play an early gig like this, it's weird. You've got three types of people in the audience. The first type fucking LOVE everything you do and are on their feet going CRAZY the whole time. [Cue big cheers from me and the other dozen MMJ fans in the pit] The second type sit there stone-faced with their arms crossed, thinking 'Ehh, these guys are alllllriiiiight'. The third type are like 'NOOOO fuckin' way man, these guys fuckin' suck!' And to them I say, we're almost done anyway, so who fuckin' cares?!"

That banter alone won over some haters. God bless this band.

[LeanneP]

Bingham joins the tour on Thursday. The Toronto show was Richard Thompson's last night of the tour.

[oistheone]

And what a night it was! I feel so fortunate to have seen Richard Thompson on this tour. I feel "Sloth" was MADE for a Richard Thompson/Nels Cline duel!

[Jaimoe]

Btw, probably 11,000 at the show, perhaps more.

[GO4IT]

I've downed two pints of 7% Headstock IPA from Nickelbrook (good Ontario micro-brewery; yes my Yankee hop-head  friends, you'd love it) and I'm taking the subway and streetcar down to the amphitheatre after I walk the dog. Can't wait!!!

What, Jamoie! You're torturing me.  If you remember, when I visited Toronto to see the Jacket in 2011 every establishment in Toronto had run dry of IPAs upon my arrival.  It was bizarre.

Hope you enjoyed the show.  I still remember vividly being on the rail at the Kool Haus show which was right up against the band.  Great show!

[alienlanes]

I'll be there. I'm in the 200s. Should be a dandy of a show.

Is this the same Jaimoe from the jambands.ca board like 10 years ago?

[Jaimoe]

I'll be there. I'm in the 200s. Should be a dandy of a show.

Is this the same Jaimoe from the jambands.ca board like 10 years ago?

Yes. I'm still on there, but nothing really tickles my fancy anymore, so I don't post that often. I'm going to Phish, reluctantly, next Monday. Who you be?

As for Monday's concert, it was a good one overall. Opener (and night-long part-time sideman) Richard Thompson was fantastic. He's an incredibly innovative guitarist and good songwriter. There's a reason why he's considered a bona fide guitar god. He was in a surly mood, perhaps annoyed that a living legend in his own right was the warm-up act. Still, his 45-set delivered.

MMJ didn't disappoint. They were rather ballsy in choosing not to play their tried-and-true crowd-pleasing anthems such as "One Big Holiday" and "Lay Low" given most of the surprisngly big Molson Amphitheatre crowd weren't there to see them. Instead, their setlist was fairly eclectic. It started off laidback, but got pretty energetic around 20-minutes in; they played for around 75-minutes. I spied several rows of grey-hairs sitting behind me (obviously there to see Dylan) had looks on their faces that ranged from confusion to agitation to outright disgust during "Victory Dance" and "Run Thru". In other words, Jimmy and the boys put on one fucking great show! I think they also were able to convert many folks that showed up early too, so mission accomplished.

Wilco were Wilco, although more low-key and less-experimental than I expected. I loved the two ode to Canada duets with Toronto's Feist (I prefer her solo as oppossed to her work with also of Broken Social Scene). "California Stars", "I Got You (At the End of the Century)" (I think they played this Being There standout the only other time I saw them live nearly 20 years ago) and another nod to Canada and Toronto, set closer "Cinnamon Girl", with Thompson and MMJ. I think Jeff Tweddy and company kept things a little more folkier so to not show-up Dylan; although, in the end, MMJ and Wilco did show up Dylan.

The large venue on the shores of Lake Ontario filled up nicely by the time Dylan hit the stage.  Bobby was in a good mood and sounded more enthusiastic than he's been in past tours (I've only seen him in concert around 6 times, spread out since the mid '80s). I still had a tough time recognizing most of his songs (e.g., "Tangled Up in Blue" and "All Along the Watchtower"), but the diehards didn't care. They cheered loudly after every monotone mumble. To them I think Dylan gets a free pass for life. Heck, if anyone deserves this kind of respect, its folk music's most important artists.

[Fully]

I'll be there. I'm in the 200s. Should be a dandy of a show.

Is this the same Jaimoe from the jambands.ca board like 10 years ago?

Yes. I'm still on there, but nothing really tickles my fancy anymore, so I don't post that often. I'm going to Phish, reluctantly, next Monday. Who you be?

As for Monday's concert, it was a good one overall. Opener (and night-long part-time sideman) Richard Thompson was fantastic. He's an incredibly innovative guitarist and good songwriter. There's a reason why he's considered a bona fide guitar god. He was in a surly mood, perhaps annoyed that a living legend in his own right was the warm-up act. Still, his 45-set delivered.

MMJ didn't disappoint. They were rather ballsy in choosing not to play their tried-and-true crowd-pleasing anthems such as "One Big Holiday" and "Lay Low" given most of the surprisngly big Molson Amphitheatre crowd weren't there to see them. Instead, their setlist was fairly eclectic. It started off laidback, but got pretty energetic around 20-minutes in; they played for around 75-minutes. I spied several rows of grey-hairs sitting behind me (obviously there to see Dylan) had looks on their faces that ranged from confusion to agitation to outright disgust during "Victory Dance" and "Run Thru". In other words, Jimmy and the boys put on one fucking great show! I think they also were able to convert many folks that showed up early too, so mission accomplished.

Wilco were Wilco, although more low-key and less-experimental than I expected. I loved the two ode to Canada duets with Toronto's Feist (I prefer her solo as oppossed to her work with also of Broken Social Scene). "California Stars", "I Got You (At the End of the Century)" (I think they played this Being There standout the only other time I saw them live nearly 20 years ago) and another nod to Canada and Toronto, set closer "Cinnamon Girl", with Thompson and MMJ. I think Jeff Tweddy and company kept things a little more folkier so to not show-up Dylan; although, in the end, MMJ and Wilco did show up Dylan.

The large venue on the shores of Lake Ontario filled up nicely by the time Dylan hit the stage.  Bobby was in a good mood and sounded more enthusiastic than he's been in past tours (I've only seen him in concert around 6 times, spread out since the mid '80s). I still had a tough time recognizing most of his songs (e.g., "Tangled Up in Blue" and "All Along the Watchtower"), but the diehards didn't care. They cheered loudly after every monotone mumble. To them I think Dylan gets a free pass for life. Heck, if anyone deserves this kind of respect, its folk music's most important artists.

We had a similar experience in Tuscaloosa, O. The first three rows had paid extra to get those seats, but they were all filled with Dylan fans who didn't want to stand. Scosby, Evan, and I were the first row on our side standing. I know Jon T. Was representing where he was as well. I remember looking around at one point and saw some hipster girl and her boyfriend just sitting and looking at us like we were freaks for enjoying ourselves. I proceeded to dance more. Gave me a little extra energy.  I'm glad you got such an awesome show!

[ericm]

I remember looking around at one point and saw some hipster girl and her boyfriend just sitting and looking at us like we were freaks for enjoying ourselves. I proceeded to dance more. Gave me a little extra energy.  I'm glad you got such an awesome show!

This is just one of the reasons I think you're totally AWESOME!       

I'd be proud to be standing/dancing next to you anytime. 

[oistheone]

Major props to the Union of Those Who Dance When No One Else Does! Proud to be a longstanding member of the local.

Man, I need a taping of this show. Lost in all the madness of the Dylan sit-in and the lameness of the Toronto crowd was just how much MMJ killed. The bizarre, early, lame-crowd vibe made for a show unlike any other MMJ show I've seen -- weirdly, uniquely awesome. I feel like opening with "I Think I'm Going To Hell" was a nice 'fuck you' to all the haters and a huuuuge pat on the back to the few die-hards. They looked so uncomfortable up there at first, but they didn't miss a beat musically, Jim sounding as strong vocally as he ever has.

Before I got told to stop grooving for the first time, it felt as if they were playing just for me. For those who have experienced that sensation, you know just how amazing it feels. There really is truth to the sentiment that MMJ plays just as hard whether they're playing for 10 people or 10,000.

I know I said it earlier, but "Steam Engine" was something else! Looked like they were going extra hard on that song in particular -- to really please the few diehards, to sell themselves to those on the fence, and to further piss off those who weren't digging it at all. Carl looked like he was about to die up there during the coda, blowin' his guts out in temperatures that soared over 100 degrees. I've seen this song six or seven times now, some versions extremely epic, but this one might have been my favorite because of the extreme swagger with which they played it.

The tweet from Patrick just perfectly sums up the show. I'm glad they actually noticed the few of us that were rocking. Maybe my bright red Louisville shirt helped -- or maybe it was me and my girlfriend's erratic dance moves. Either way, I hope they realize it was just a weird slot and they don't get scared off Toronto forever!

[Jaimoe]

Either way, I hope they realize it was just a weird slot and they don't get scared off Toronto forever!

The "lame" crowd you speak of seemed to be more in pockets throughout the venue. Historically, multi-bills attract lame crowds since nobody loves all the bands equally and dancing in the blasted heat of the day probably weighed in (also, the crowd was made up of Dylan fans, and they don't dance). MMJ was a minor player at this one, and they graciously accepted and ran with it. I've seen MMJ many times, all in Toronto, and the crowds have been good to great (Ottawa folks such as yourself always think Toronto crowds suck, which was once true, but it ain't the case anymore, for the most part). Even though folks sat down, as they almost always do at most places with physical seating, the response was generally really good.

They'll be back. Jim loves Toronto and MMJ's crowds are getting bigger with each tour.

BTW, one more cool thing about the show was seeing Booker Prize-winning author Michael Ondaaje (The English Patient, Coming Through Slaughter and 2011's The Cat's Table) rocking it out to Wilco and Dylan.

[bartel]

how is the crowd with MMJ? Are there pockets of fans dancing around the venue or pretty much just in the pit area. I'm sure a lot of dylan fans will be sitting the ENTIRE show..

[Jaimoe]

how is the crowd with MMJ? Are there pockets of fans dancing around the venue or pretty much just in the pit area. I'm sure a lot of dylan fans will be sitting the ENTIRE show..

To add to my above post, the Jacket fans dance (I hate dancing, but grooved was they warmed up). Dylan fans, the older ones that make up the core of the audience, don't dance, which no doubt didn't inspire mamy fence-sitters to get off their butts.