MMJ at Boston and Northampton

[all my life is obscene]

Agganis Arena, Boston, MA:
Set (rough remembrance of order, not exact...let me know if anyone has corrections):
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
Mahgeetah
Golden
Run Thru
The Way That He Sings
One Big Holiday

Highlights: I didn't have seats on the floor for this ticketed event, but I convinced a security guard to let me and my friend down to the floor for MMJ...saw the entire set pretty much right up front.  I must say that the Jacket rocked any Wilco fan that showed up early enough to see them play; the place was still pretty empty though.  Jacket created an enormous sound that filled the entire arena.  "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" kicked off the high-energy set, "Mahgeetah" kept rockin, and the lap steel notes in "Golden" hit me like they never had before.  The final three songs were all torn a new a**hole...especially "Run Thru" and "The Way That He Sings."  Two-Tone was rockin out to the groove part of "Run Thru," Bo was rockin out standing up behind the keys for much of the show, Patrick was an animal behind the drums, and Carl was right on...great sound for an arena show I thought.  And of course Jim blew everyone away, along with Jim's reverb-drenched voice.  He broke a string on the second to last song, and did "One Big Holiday" without the flying-V because of that....but it still rocked.   I tried to stay on the floor for Wilco, but only made it through 1.5 songs before I was forced to resign to my seat.

Pearl Street, Northampton, MA:
Here's what Bo's setlist says (I asked if I could take it after the show:
Prince
Laylow
Mahgeetah
Evelyn
How Do You Know
Golden
I Will Sing
Off The Record
The Way That He Sings
Don Dante
Run Thru
Encore 1
This Magic Moment (Jim on a crazy instrument he claimed Thomas Edison invented in the 1800s)
What a Wonderful Man
One Big Holiday (amazing extended version...full fledged ROCK)
Encore 2 (Jim solo)
Hopefully

Highlights include: EVERYTHING!!!  This show was exactly what I needed after the teaser opener for Wilco the night before.  A full set, and my my was it a good show.  I was right up front at Pearl Street, and I felt like everyone around me was enjoying the show as much as I was; great crowd.  Every song was right on...they jammed out for extra long on "Mahgeetah" and "Off the Record" just like they did the night before...being closer made it that much more amazing though, especially when Jim would come to the front of the stage to headbang or leer mysteriously into the crowd.  I nearly cried during "I Will Sing You Songs"...the harmonies that come in at the end shook me to the bone and rattled my soul.  "Don Dante" was phenomenal.  I can tell this is going to be Z's big epic, and Jim definitely had fun with losing himself on the solos, which were absolutely stunning.  "Run Thru" rocked harder than I have ever heard it rock, and the whole band was rocking out so hard, along with the entire crowd, during the groove section of the song that I swear I felt the whole place shaking.  MMJ exerted a magnificent power over everyone in that room...everyone was rocking.  Jim played a great version of "This Magic Moment" on that instrument thing, Carl joined on sax, which he also played on "Don Dante."  "One Big Holiday" was f**cking amazing!!!  Highlight of the show for me was rocking out up front with Jim, headbanging in unison with him during his solo at the end of the song, so close that I could feel his hair and sweat...oh sweet Jacket how I love you.  We loved them so much that we convinced Jim to come out for a second encore with "Hopefully" which was absolutely gorgeous.  AHHH!!!! I could write forever.  Lemme know what you think folks.

[Chills]

Agganis Arena, Boston, MA:
Set (rough remembrance of order, not exact...let me know if anyone has corrections):
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
Mahgeetah
Golden
Run Thru
The Way That He Sings
One Big Holiday

Highlights: I didn't have seats on the floor for this ticketed event, but I convinced a security guard to let me and my friend down to the floor for MMJ...saw the entire set pretty much right up front.  I must say that the Jacket rocked any Wilco fan that showed up early enough to see them play; the place was still pretty empty though.  Jacket created an enormous sound that filled the entire arena.  "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" kicked off the high-energy set, "Mahgeetah" kept rockin, and the lap steel notes in "Golden" hit me like they never had before.  The final three songs were all torn a new a**hole...especially "Run Thru" and "The Way That He Sings."  Two-Tone was rockin out to the groove part of "Run Thru," Bo was rockin out standing up behind the keys for much of the show, Patrick was an animal behind the drums, and Carl was right on...great sound for an arena show I thought.  And of course Jim blew everyone away, along with Jim's reverb-drenched voice.  He broke a string on the second to last song, and did "One Big Holiday" without the flying-V because of that....but it still rocked.   I tried to stay on the floor for Wilco, but only made it through 1.5 songs before I was forced to resign to my seat.

Pearl Street, Northampton, MA:
Here's what Bo's setlist says (I asked if I could take it after the show:
Prince
Laylow
Mahgeetah
Evelyn
How Do You Know
Golden
I Will Sing
Off The Record
The Way That He Sings
Don Dante
Run Thru
Encore 1
This Magic Moment (Jim on a crazy instrument he claimed Thomas Edison invented in the 1800s)
What a Wonderful Man
One Big Holiday (amazing extended version...full fledged ROCK)
Encore 2 (Jim solo)
Hopefully

Highlights include: EVERYTHING!!!  This show was exactly what I needed after the teaser opener for Wilco the night before.  A full set, and my my was it a good show.  I was right up front at Pearl Street, and I felt like everyone around me was enjoying the show as much as I was; great crowd.  Every song was right on...they jammed out for extra long on "Mahgeetah" and "Off the Record" just like they did the night before...being closer made it that much more amazing though, especially when Jim would come to the front of the stage to headbang or leer mysteriously into the crowd.  I nearly cried during "I Will Sing You Songs"...the harmonies that come in at the end shook me to the bone and rattled my soul.  "Don Dante" was phenomenal.  I can tell this is going to be Z's big epic, and Jim definitely had fun with losing himself on the solos, which were absolutely stunning.  "Run Thru" rocked harder than I have ever heard it rock, and the whole band was rocking out so hard, along with the entire crowd, during the groove section of the song that I swear I felt the whole place shaking.  MMJ exerted a magnificent power over everyone in that room...everyone was rocking.  Jim played a great version of "This Magic Moment" on that instrument thing, Carl joined on sax, which he also played on "Don Dante."  "One Big Holiday" was f**cking amazing!!!  Highlight of the show for me was rocking out up front with Jim, headbanging in unison with him during his solo at the end of the song, so close that I could feel his hair and sweat...oh sweet Jacket how I love you.  We loved them so much that we convinced Jim to come out for a second encore with "Hopefully" which was absolutely gorgeous.  AHHH!!!! I could write forever.  Lemme know what you think folks.

That sounds awesome! Nicely written stuff, I can just about feel the excitement they created in that room. Opening with Prince, how totally cool is that.
And Jim came back for a little solo spot on Hopefully.
I might be mistaken, but I think it's been a long time since he came out and did an acoustic song last, what a treat. Yes, I'm jealous, but glad you had fun...

[JacketGal]

Nice review! Thank you!! ;D It's always nice to see that they are not only rockin out but they're having fun. Sounds like you got a great show and that you thoroughly enjoyed it! Being up front is a mind-blowing experience! :)

[Chills]

wilco set Boston. Pretty cool too, and "I Shall Be Released"

) airline to heaven (with n.cline on slide guitar)
2) i'm the man that loves you
3) shot in the arm
4) hell is chrome
5) handshake drugs
6) company in my back
7) i am trying to break your heart
8) heavy metal drummer
9) muzzle of bees
10) at least thats what you said
11) jesus, etc.
12) theologians
13) always in love
14) sunken treasure
15) spiders

Encore 1
16) misunderstood
(17) war on war
18) late greats
19) kingpin ("living in....Boston")

Encore 2
20) hummingbird
21) i'm a wheel
22) outtamind(outtasite)
23) i shall be released

[EC]

It's so awesome to hear how much fun everyone is having.

Jim on a crazy instrument he claimed Thomas Edison invented in the 1800s

Might that be the omnichord?  Funny, I heard that he made it himself in his parent's basement...  ;)

[murphinboston]

The Northampton show was my first live MMJ experience and it was everything I expected.  What crazy energy!!!  They rocked, the place rocked, I rocked.

I have to concur with "All my life is obscene's" rave rewiew.

I also want ot mention how down to earth and accessible the guys in the band were after the show.  All the band memmbers brought out their own equipment to the trailer after the show and were more than polite to anybody who approached them to chat.  Personally, I spoke with Jim for a few minutes...what a down to earth cat.

Anyway, last night was the first of many MMJ's in my future.

[ChiefOKONO]

thanks for the review, that sounded grand!! and the wilco set looked very sweet too.. why couldn't they do the whole tour together?!?! :D

[SpacedCowboy]

Great Reviews of the shows.  I was lucky enough to make it to Boston and Northampton.  Thanks to My Morning Jacket for making it an amazing weekend.  My only regret is that I couldn't make it up the Vermont show tonight.  Here's a little recap of the weekends experiences for all interested.

2 weeks ago made the trek down to TN to see the Jacket at Bonnaroo.  got to see Jim James come out with M. Ward on Saturday, and then had the pleasure to meet Jim after Dr. Dogs set on Sunday.  Seems like a great guy, hopefully get the chance to talk with him again in the future.  2 hours later My Morning Jacket put on a stellar set that had de ja vu of last years Bonnaroo Thunderdome set all over it.  I was just waiting for the sky to break once again.  All in all by the end of the set I wanted more and couldnt wait for this weekend.

Friday night we arrived at the Agganis arena and made our way to our floor seats which were a lil bit back, but we decided it would be a good idea to keep going further up.  2 were in the 2nd row, and me and my friend were in the front row directly in front of Jim James mic stand.  We were rocking out for the entire set and it went by way to quickly.   If anything it was just a teaser for the show which would follow the next night.  Anyone in that venue who hadnt heard of My Morning Jacket before will definatley not forget them now.  stage after stage they just seem to turn people into believers.

After the WIlco show me and one friend got to sneak into the Paradise Rock Club for Addison Groove Project to continue the nights festivities.  5 hours of music and many beers later I somehow managed to make it home, only to rest up for the drive out to Northampton/Amherst.

For the Saturday show I was going with a whole different crew who love MMJ just as much.  We had 3 car loads and were able to score the keys to my friends apartment in Amherst so we could crash after the show.  On our way out of Boston me and 2 of the roomies spotted a giant flurescent-colored stuffed scorpion at an old junk store in my old neighborhood.  We knew what we had to do, we purchased the scorpion and got it tied onto the roof as our mascot.  Everyone on the masspike on Saturday afternoon got to see us coming in our newly dubbed Scorpion-car.  We made it out  to amherst and then onto Northampton and arrived just in time to see Appollo Sunshine put on a great set.  I had heard of them but never heard them and was pleasanlty surprised and I am now a fan.  It was good to see the drummer from local band Cold Duck Complex playing with them too.

Me and the crew made it up to the very front for Jackets set, this time on the left side of the stage right in front of Carl, and we rocked out the entire time.  Basically My Morning Jacket took us to Church, it was the genuine ROCK as Religion experience that Pete Townsend talks about.  We were dancing, and shouting, and banging out heads all night.  Jim James definatley summoned up Prince for the show with dance moves straight out of Purple Rain and the rest of the  band was completley tight and on point.  My friend Melissa was able to get Carls "Narc" headband that he came out with.  By the end of the show it had all gone by too quickly but it left us enlightened and exhausted.  

We got back to the scorpion-car parked in the center of town only to find two people doing some sort of prayer ritual in front of it.  At first I thought they were speaking hebrew but it actually seemed more like gibberish.  It was then that we came to the realization that the scorpion possesses powers that we can not begin to comprehend.  This was made more clear during our ride back today when we drove into the middle of a crazy lightening storm on route 2.  The three of us in the car were listening to the Tennessee Fire while lightening bolts were going off all around us and we were forced to pull over to the side of the road multiple times only able to see 10 feet in front of us.  It was truly haunting but also an amazing experience.  After finally getting out of the storm we were pleased to find the Scorpion to be a little wet but the drive home dried him out completely.  I considered taking him up to Vermont with me but it was just not possible.  All-in-all...... Thank You My Morning Jacket.  Can't wait for Newport Folk Festival, Z, and the fall tour, I'll see ya there.

[Charles V]

Kris i hate you for being at the north hampton show.

haha no im just kidding at least you were there. I fucking wish i was there anyway its 420 am im still listening to MMJ thinking about the show at Bonnaroo and here in Boston. catch you later you lucky bastard hahahaha

[EC]

Destinedeye, I would like to thank you.  Oh my lord.   :D

[fitzcarraldo]

The shows were amazing! We had horrible seats for the Wilco show but were able to sneak down to the front for the Jacket. One of my favorite moments of the whole weekend was when we were standing in line for beer right before Wilco and seeing these 5 rock and roll kids (Zeppelin, Aerosmith t-shirts)...the look in their eyes, the whole lot of em, it was like they had just found something really great! And you know they did! That was Awesome!
Some guy right next to me at Pearl Street yelled out for Freebird a couple of times. I wanted to smash him.

[slaa]

>>> spotted a giant flurescent-colored stuffed scorpion

hey I saw that thing driving down Main st in NH before the show.
I though it was a giant lobster....but then again the claws were pretty small.

definately stood out.

[sweatboard]

"Basically My Morning Jacket took us to Church"  Beautiful  ;D  


What a great experience and review, well done!!!!!!!!