What is MMJ's greatest touring era?

[Lonndown27]

WHAT IS THE BAND'S GREATEST TOURING ERA??? 

[Lucius]

I'm not the most qualified, because I'm stuck on the other side of the planet mostly experiencing it all through Nugs/tapings, but...

Became a fan around 2009/2010 - didn't see them in the flesh until 2015. Honestly that show is a total blur, but I know it was life changing and it sent Jacket rocketing from a band I liked to a band I became obsessed with! By the sounds of it, that was the start of a slump for the band, but I don't remember having any problems with how they played or sounded in London that year.

Totally kick myself for not seeing them in 2011. TWO TRIPS TO THE UK IN ONE YEAR?! They've done the equivalent of that in the last DECADE. But I just didn't have my finger on the pulse in those days. I went to one concert that year - these days I usually hit around 20.

I chose 21-25. I think my answer is always going to be "I love where they are right now" with this band. For some reason I still think of myself as a noobie despite being a fan for around 15 years. I honestly don't listen to much on Nugs/Archive/Relisten from below 2019. I just... I love being in the moment with this band because I think starting with '21 they've gone from strength to strength.

Special shoutout to 2023. Something about that year, especially the summer/ISM shows where they just came out with a whole new kind of big dick energy. Dondante from Berkeley and Steam from RR are still my go to versions of those songs. There are too many great moments to list, but those two... plus the fact they finally made it over here after what felt like a lifetime of waiting. That year is up on a pedestal for me.

[logan5ive]

My first show was 2005, so I can't speak for before that.
My ranking:
2011-2012 Circuital/Spontaneous Curation #1
2021-2025 Post Hiatus Post Pandemic Era
2005-2007 Z / Okonokos era
2008-2010 Evil Urges & T5
2015- early 2018 (Waterfall / Jim 😎 era)

[gardenparty78]

I'll go with 2008-2010 - That was when I really jumped on board and those years were magical for me.  Got to see T5, MSG and a few west coast shows.

2008-2010
2011-2012
2021-2025
2005-2007 - this may be the best but it was prior to me attending shows.  I know Okonokos is amazing.
2015-2018 - loved the album but Jim felt (mostly) checked out on the live shows

[ranyart]

I voted for 2021-2025 although I was not a fan of the co-headlining shows in 2024.  It felt like we were going to lose them completely for a bit, but they came back stronger than ever.

[Lonndown27]

2021-2025 has been unbelievable and yet another golden age. Been privileged to see them 3x this era. 

[ericm]

Yeah this is a tough call for me. My initial reaction was the current one because they're on top of their game, and just keep getting better and better.

Like I posted before, it's to the point now after I leave a show I think that was the best version of (fill in the tune) I've ever seen them do. Pretty amazing and that's why the most recent era has to be at or near the top for me.

Funny thing is at this rate in five years I'll be saying the same about that current era.

I do put the Circuital/Spontaneous Curation era up there as well because it was an era that got them going to less predictable setlists and diving deep back into their whole catalog. This era set the next few in motion, imo. It was also during this time when it was a given they'd be doing no repeats on multi night runs.

Then for me the 2015-2018 era is up there as well, simply because they really started doing more multi nighters. I know for me it doesn't get much better than seeing the Chicago Theater and Beacon runs in 15. This era will always be up there for me, and also had the greatest Phone I've ever seen live during that Beacon run.

Lastly for me the 2008-2010 era will always have a special place in my mind. Even though I'd heard of and listened to them, I missed earlier shows because of bad timing and this era was where I finally got to see them live, and meet so many to this day great friends. Mountain Jam,Vermont, Philly, all great and then T5! Nuff said.