FIELD TRIP 2015 -- TORONTO

[oistheone]

GOOD FUCKING LORD!!! WHAT A LINEUP! IN MY BACKYARD!! WOOOOO!!!

Anyone care to join?

[subinai]

same weekend as gov ball. wonder how this is going to work.

[oistheone]

That's the live music industry these days. Schedule two or three festivals in relatively close proximity to each other on the same weekend and watch the cash roll in.

[TheDude]

Well I guess The Dude will have to abide.

[oistheone]

MMJ is closing the fest on Sunday, for anyone who wants to make the trip up north!

I guess by that logic it also means they're either Friday or Saturday at Gov Ball.

[kyle_s9]

As excited as I am for this, I'm kinda annoyed. The past 3 MMJ shows here have been outdoors now, which means they have a sound curfew.

[oistheone]

Yep, that's life as an MMJ fan in Toronto. Shitty crowds with a dozen hardcores and hundreds of casual/non-fans, combined with early-ass curfews. Especially on a Sunday. We're looking at an 11PM curfew, and that's if we're lucky! I wish there were more fans in the area so that a standalone show could be justified. Maybe next year.

However, I will say that the Kool Haus (RIP) show in 2011 was fucking awesome. No opener, and almost three hours. We're probably still paying for that.

[Jaimoe]

Yep, that's life as an MMJ fan in Toronto. Shitty crowds with a dozen hardcores and hundreds of casual/non-fans, combined with early-ass curfews. Especially on a Sunday. We're looking at an 11PM curfew, and that's if we're lucky! I wish there were more fans in the area so that a standalone show could be justified. Maybe next year.

However, I will say that the Kool Haus (RIP) show in 2011 was fucking awesome. No opener, and almost three hours. We're probably still paying for that.

I beg to differ on some of your points. I think MMJ have an appropriate-sized following in Canada (a few thousand that go to concerts) given they don't have any hits or airplay (they don't even get spins on that phony Indie88 station in Toronto), and yet they subsequently (nearly) fill the same sized venues as other bands of their stature such as The Raconteurs and The Black Keys (until recently, the Keys were often booked at Kool Haus). It's not easy nowadays to sell out mid-sized venues, for any not-yet-big band.

MMJ's most recent gig at Toronto's Echo Beach was fairly well attended given it holds 4,000; most were there to see the headliner and not Band of Horses - who sucked.

I agree  MMJ's show in 2011 at that fucking Kool Haus (no R.I.P. from me: good-riddance more like it) was amazing whereas their 2008 show at the same hellhole was surprisingly not. I reviewed both, but here's my 2011 write-up (for those interested): http://www.littleredumbrella.com/2011/07/my-morning-jacket-kool-haus-by-dave.html

[kyle_s9]

I was at the 2008 show, and it was my first MMJ show. Then I was hooked, blew my skull off. I can't imagine that being a bad show! I ended up taking the bus to NYC for their NYE show at MSG that year, one of the best nights of my life.

They should book the Danforth Music Hall, it would be perfect for them!

[oistheone]

I think MMJ is just at an in-between point in their relationship with Toronto. The Americanarama show was admittedly whack, with it's 6:30 start time, but there were mayyyyybe 200 people watching while MMJ was playing. Maybe. It was so. Fucking. Weird. They probably felt like it was 2001 all over again.

With Kool Haus gone and Sound Academy closed for the summer, there aren't many venues fit for the Jacket. They could do a night or two at Massey, but that place is NOT made to be rocked out (I know, I know, unless you're Arcade Fire in 2007) and they are likely too big for Danforth and its 1000-ish capacity. Sony Centre is a good size, but expensive, and those bookers probably have no interest in the Jacket, so what else is left?!?! A festival, where the worry is removed and the cash is guaranteed.

[Jaimoe]

I think MMJ is just at an in-between point in their relationship with Toronto. The Americanarama show was admittedly whack, with it's 6:30 start time, but there were mayyyyybe 200 people watching while MMJ was playing. Maybe. It was so. Fucking. Weird. They probably felt like it was 2001 all over again.

With Kool Haus gone and Sound Academy closed for the summer, there aren't many venues fit for the Jacket. They could do a night or two at Massey, but that place is NOT made to be rocked out (I know, I know, unless you're Arcade Fire in 2007) and they are likely too big for Danforth and its 1000-ish capacity. Sony Centre is a good size, but expensive, and those bookers probably have no interest in the Jacket, so what else is left?!?! A festival, where the worry is removed and the cash is guaranteed.

Most people going to the Americana show were there to see Dylan (I wasn't). Opener and rock legend Richard Thompson deserved better than 50-100 people, as did MMJ and their 300 or so, but you should know that fans historically don't normally go to see support acts; even Wilco played to a half-full venue.

Sound Academy is even worse than Kool Haus. MMJ should always try to play Echo Beach in the summer, or multi-nights at Danforth. Actually, Massey Hall makes the most sense, and they'd sell that place out.

As for 2008 at Kool Haus being subpar (I never said it was bad), I think it was because of the set's flow and EU songs were new, and just not as good when stacked up against cuts from older and better albums. It was still a solid concert, but not mind-blowing if you've seen them before.

[oistheone]

Schedule is out!!

http://schedule.fieldtriplife.com/events/2015/06/07/

MMJ gets 90 minutes. Could have been a lot worse. I'll take it!

[oistheone]

Only two days away!! Am I the only one going to this show?!?

Trying to think of what to request and I think I'll have to settle for something a bit conventional in hopes that they'll actually play it. I'll be bringing four Jacket virgins with me so I need a banger that will instantly convert them. I'm thinking Lay Low.

[oistheone]

Also, it's supposed to pour through the entirety of MMJ's set. A bit disappointing on the surface, but this should further clear out an already-thin crowd. Let's raindance! THUNDERDOME 2.0!!!

[Jaimoe]

Because I have a baby boy, I'm skipping the show. Hurts. I never miss their Toronto gigs. I know several people going, but they aren't on this site.

[kyle_s9]

Can't wait! I'll be bringing a good old garbage bag poncho!

[johnnYYac]

Report back, troops!  How is/was it?

[armando]

There was a Periscope stream that I found on Twitter towards the end. Caught Touch Me Pt 2 and OBH as the last 2 tunes.

[tippitoes22]

Who's got the setlist?
Super curious....

Should clarify, don't care who has actual piece of paper. Would like to know songs on it :)
Picture wouldn't hurt, though. 

[Jaimoe]

Wow! Great, heavy-hitting, set list:

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/my-morning-jacket/2015/historic-fort-york-toronto-on-canada-53c9e715.html