So is MMJ seriously Ray Lamontagne's backing band this summer?

[oistheone]

According to this article, the rumors are true.

Oh and get this, Ray's new backing band is essentially My Morning Jacket minus Jim James. Not too shabby!

http://mainetoday.com/blog/face-the-music/ray-lamontage-at-thompons-point-in-portland-on-june-16-on-sale-march-4/

Would make some sense with Jim producing Ray's record. This would give the band steady work all summer and also gives Jim some time off to heal up. Could we maybe see some MMJ festival dates sprinkled in too?

[ditty]

http://www.ticketmaster.com/Ray-LaMontagne-tickets/artist/935501?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module#artist_table_focus

Pretty full schedule

[Jbpats]

If true, Carl will be showing off his pedal steel skills big time.

[amskinz]

I'm assume Jim played something on the album. Does anyone know if any other MMJ'ers play on it as well? I haven't been able to find much out about it as far as recording personnel.
Regardless, this will be a great show to see.
oistheone, will you be making the trip to CMAC? Such a beautiful venue!

[timescaper]

The album musicians are Jim's solo tour band less Alana who is now in sts9 ... Kevin, Dave, Dan ... Maybe it's them seems very unlikely the rest of mmj could commit to a tour of that length considering last year and 2017 commitments.


Recorded Feb 10 - Feb 24, 2015
Produced by Jim James and Ray LaMontagne
Written and Arranged by Ray LaMontagne
Recorded at La La Land Studio, Louisville, KY
Engineered and Mixed by Kevin Ratterman
Ray Lamontagne Lead Electric Guitar, Rhythm Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Lyrics and Song Composition
Jim James Saxophone, Air Raid Siren, Additional Rhythm Electric Guitar, Harmony Vocals
Seth Kaufman Bass Guitar, Slide Guitar, Textures
Dan Dorff Keyboards, Vibes
Dave Givan Drums, Percussion
Kevin Ratterman Moog Bass, Moog FX
Alexis Marsh Additional Harmony Vocals

[amskinz]

Thanks for that huge piece of info timescaper. Makes perfect sense that the album musicians would be the touring band in this case. Jim will be finishing up his solo album and prolly wouldn't need any of them at that point. It's also easy to see (but unfortunate) how the writer could make that mistake, saying it's MMJ instead of Jim's solo band.
If anyone has any concrete evidence of who exactly is the touring band, though most likely Jim's band, it'd be much appreciated just for piece of mind. I wouldn't want to miss out on a presale with the chance of seeing almost all the boys

[MusiKel Mama]

I see a Seth Kaufmann on there too. Wowza. It reminds me of what Kurt Vonnegut says about jazz...that it is "safe sex of the highest order".  Each musician on that list is not only vastly sonically aware, but also experimental. Not to mention the kind of intuitive repertoire they've built from playing together for so long. They're making Louisville the underground Motown.

[oistheone]

For what it's worth, when Newport Folk announced Ray as their first act, some guy on Facebook commented "It'll be really interesting if the rumors about MMJ (sans Jim) backing him on this tour are true...".... and they liked it. They liked zero of the 140 other comments on that post.

The speculation continues...

[kholl44]

It would make perfect sense if it was everyone but Jim- that would give him time to work on his solo album and/or write more Jacket songs, possibly to be recorded in the fall and released early 2017??

[parkervb]

as much as I think it would be cool it was the guys backing, I just can't see it.  Jim's band definitely.

amskins is on the same thought process I am. 

[Jackets N Pones]

Um Jim James...air raid siren!? Can't wait

[beardedwonder]

Anyone know the the live nation presale code for the RL shows? Tix go on sale tomorrow with the Amazon info.

[Cameron]

Going to Newport for the first time this year so this would be a huge cherry on top

[sillyboob]

Um Jim James...air raid siren!? Can't wait

I saw that as well.  I'm sure he plays a mean air raid siren!

[beardedwonder]

Yup, I ended up doing the pre order too to get the code. Then within 24 hours after watching a few live videos and realizing the Boston date that we are going to sit it out also. Truthfully, the live videos didn't seem to capture the essence of his soulful music. Either way, I will see him play at Newport Folk Fest in July and enjoy his new album release on vinyl when it gets here.

So, I have an extra presale code if anyone wants me to PM it to them.

[parkervb]

Yup, I ended up doing the pre order too to get the code. Then within 24 hours after watching a few live videos and realizing the Boston date that we are going to sit it out also. Truthfully, the live videos didn't seem to capture the essence of his soulful music. Either way, I will see him play at Newport Folk Fest in July and enjoy his new album release on vinyl when it gets here.

So, I have an extra presale code if anyone wants me to PM it to them.

I'll PM ya. We saw him on his last tour and it seemed much different than stuff I had seen online so I expect to see something different this time around as well considering the disparate sounds/styles on these 2 most recent albums.

[oistheone]

Might be nothing, but the guys are dodging questions about this. Feel like if there was nothing to it, they'd deny. The rumor mill churns on...

[iLikeBeer]

I was planning on seeing him this tour anyways.  If the MMJ sans Jim is his backing band, all the better!!!   

[Cameron]

confirmed that mmj is the backing band!

Singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne will soon embark on a 45-city tour in support of Ouroboros, a new studio album due March 4. LaMontagne has revealed that he will be backed by members of My Morning Jacket on the upcoming tour.

Here's the full statement from Ray LaMontagne:

"I am very pleased to announce that the band for the upcoming "Ouroboros" Summer Tour will be Tommy Blankenship, Carl Broemel, Bo Koster, and Patrick Hallahan of My Morning Jacket.

We've been throwing this idea around for quite a few years now, and the stars have finally aligned. There has been such positive spiritual energy flowing throughout this entire project. From that first restless nights sleep when the album made itself clear to me, to the recording of the Album at La La Land Studio with Jim, to getting a call out of the blue ten months later that the Jacket boys wanted to back it up on the road.

There is some serious mojo surrounding this record and I think it's going to be a very, very special run of shows"
Ray LaMontagne and the members of My Morning Jacket begin the tour at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati on June 10. The tour is currently slated to run through late September. Ouroboros was produced by Ray and Jim James of My Morning Jacket. Stream the LP's first single, "Hey, No Pressure":

[parkervb]

as much as I think it would be cool it was the guys backing, I just can't see it.  Jim's band definitely.

amskins is on the same thought process I am. 

happy to be wrong.