High Sierra Music Festival - kicked ASS!

[A_delle]

So, it couldn't have been better - such a close venue on Friday Late nite - and so incredibly LOUD!!!

Saturday night at the Grandstand stage, too, was so loud and yet, so clear. We stood right next the audience recording area, which was select! Jim's voice floating around out in that huge and starry sky was magically sweet. Each nights' set they did was awesome... many songs from At Dawn, and lots from Z. In what seemed to be impromptu fashion, Jim sang Hopefully while Patrick's drum snare was getting replaced... his voice creating an intensely ethereal sound.

Thank goodness for the wonderful weather, and friendly fans, although not as many showed up for Saturday night's show as I would have expected, but no loss for us! I think the guys could feel the love!

Hope that all who went enjoyed their time too! I only wish the Pearljam show we are going to in 2 weeks would have MMJ opening! In the GORGE no less! MMJ would have NO problem matching up to PJ for sure!

A_delle

[LET_THE_FETUS_ROCK]

Fo sure,   the sierra mountains have never rocked so hard as saturday night at the festival.  Jims'  hoots on wordless chorus echoed many times over through the valley in an epic night.  What a monster sound mix for the gang on the biggest stage I've seen them on.  They have grown into bigger settings like true pros and  have started to carve out new territory on the extended jams with complete confidence.  

Jim has started to get more psychidelic and weird with his guitar effects and endings of their songs.  On a couple of endings he would just stand in front of the amp scorching out some overtones in a strange rhythym and when he stopped nobody responded as though they we're stunned.

The  end jam of Off The Record was masterful and Lay Low was complete bliss. I Will Sing Songs under the stary sky was beautiful.  Encore-  At Dawn into Run THru blew what was left of the weaker audience members right out the back of the place.

MAsterplan,  Just One Thing,  Xmas curtain we're "first time seen live for me" and definately worth the wait.  

Some guy in the audience had a fishin rod hooked to a  huge helium balloon that was light from the inside and    looked like a spaceship.  Jim loved it and asked the guy to pull it in over the crowd near the front of the stage for the encore.  

It would be great if MMJ signed off on the release for high sierra recordings.  A sound board recording of this would be a treasure for all.

Thanks to MMJ for coming to the west coast this summer!

[MyLifeISought]

Full setlists?

[TEO]

Thanks for the reviews! I was beginning to wonder if anyone was alive out there.

[LET_THE_FETUS_ROCK]

Saturday night set list  (order somewhat  cloudy)


wordless chorus
It beats for you
Gideon
what a wonderful man
OBH
Masterplan
off the record
just one thing
I will sing songs
golden
dance floors
bermuda highway
hopefully
xmas curtain
lay low
magetah
anytime
--encore
at dawn
run thru

[A_delle]

 ::)
How could you forget:

Dondante
The Way that he sings

(both were somewhere in the middle - I can never recall the order, would have to take notes like a nerd!)
 ;)
A_delle

[Herb]

It was a great time!!!  I think they found a lot of new fans most of the crowd at Hi sierra was not ready for them-
too bad they probably wont be out west again till next year -but they left thier mark--- on the setlist -they ended the set with run thru and ended encore with Mahgeetah-
Highlights for me -Off the record -this is really becoming Psychedelic(the ending)
the middle acoustic rest-great vocals and soundHopefully was moving
Lay low was richter
Dondante was good -the late nite I thought was better

[easy way]

OK, so here are the official setlists for HSMF
june 30: late night show
Steam Engine
Gideon
The Dark
Lowdown
Holiday
OTR
Evelyn (15-20 second pause)
W. Man
Heart Breakin'  (space quest speech)
Golden>
Jam>
Dondante (carl on sax)
Lay low
Phone
Mageetah

E: Bermuda (the heart)
The Bear
O is the One
Anytime

>>We got Pat's setlist and they left Run Thru off after anytime


 July 1: Headlining show
WC
Beats 4 U
Gideon
W. Man
Holiday
Sing you songs
Way he sings
Masterplan ( pony speech)
Golden
Hopefully
One Thing
Xmas Curtain
OTR
Lay low
Dondante
Dancefloors
Run thru ( there it is!!!)

Encore:
At Dawn
Anytime
Mag

Also, I made 20 bad ass Jacket shirts and have already given one to Two tone.  After I ship a few to the band and crew, any true fan that is interested may have one at cost.
Peace and Jacket--
Thomas and Kristen

[Herb]

thanks for the list- the late nite was much fuller than I remembered -What a great 24 hours of music! -

[MyLifeISought]

Setlists and stats now updated

[The Boar]

Ah High Sierra. My third year and so far my best thanks to the EPIC sets by MMJ. I've seen some good ones as the band tends to rock the Bay Area hard but for sheer adrenaline these were the shows that will really stand out (and that includes the second night of the Fillmore Run last year!).

Seeing those guys beneath that night sky and Jim talking about the radio control balloon pilot man. Man it was awesome. Ran into Thomas and Kristen and had a nice chat  with them (good to see you posted too you guys).

The shows were just stellar for those who know. Attendence was light but that made it extra special for those of us who were keyed up for them. They will be hard to top. Anyone have a lead on recordings yet? I want them both NOW :)

Thanks MMJ for taking an already WONDERFUL festival truly over the top.

Andrew

[A_delle]

Too true, andrew, that their show was a highlight that will stand out forEVER! I was also at the Fillmore shows (both nights last Nov) and still can't wait to see the much-anticipated dvd...reliving and hearing it again will be TOPS!

And, YES, I WANT RECORDINGS, too!!! I know there were at least 3 nice-looking audience recording setups we were standing near, so there should be some awesome sound coming outta there (hopefully mey screaming won't be too annoying! LOL). But the live sound... I will never forget.

the Jacket rocks on! jim, you are my heeeeee-ro!

namaste
A_delle

(and p.s., why was i so stoopid not to walk up and talk to Patrick when I saw him hanging out in the vendor area? WHYYYYYYY?!  ::) duh. lesson learned

[BH]

(and p.s., why was i so stoopid not to walk up and talk to Patrick when I saw him hanging out in the vendor area? WHYYYYYYY?!  ::) duh. lesson learned

Sounds like a line from The Way That He Sings

whyyyyyyyyyyyyy?
zi stoopaahhddd
not to waaahllllk
up to heuuuuhm
in the line
whyyyyyyyyyyyyy?
does my miiiind
blow to beuuhts
every tiiiiimmme
he plays that song......

(nice to see some west coast experiences. keep 'em coming.)

[Skittish]

Two amazing shows. I got the setlist for the first one. Run Thru was left off at the end but that didn't matter since it was played the next night. I was front "row" for both shows and all I can say is "wow".

[The Boar]

I checked the HSMF forum to see what the buzz was and it seems the hippies can't quite get what was happening for the most part. Too bad for them. At least we who were in the know got treated to two big ones. Common complaints over there are that Jim sounds the same on every song and yells too much, that the band is too loud, and that it was a bummer to see the Grandstand field empty.

I know that this band, above others, is an acquired (sp) taste but sometimes I just don't get people!

Andrew

[Skittish]

The grandstand field was more filled for MMJ than any other band.

[A_delle]

whyyyyyyyyyyyyy?
zi stoopaahhddd
not to waaahllllk
up to heuuuuhm
in the line
whyyyyyyyyyyyyy?
does my miiiind
blow to beuuhts
every tiiiiimmme
he plays that song......

OMYGAWD! you're killin me! That is too funny... I can totally hear it in my head! LOL
A_delle

[LET_THE_FETUS_ROCK]

I have been to this festival when there were 10 times as many people in the grandstand field on saturday night. THose people who didn't see MMJ will be kicking themselves a few years from now when they will be absolutely huge on the west coast.  They just haven't caught on out here as quickly.  I think they should come back again next year and pack the place.  THe reviews from this years bonnaroo performance should push them up the scale of must see live acts.

I seriously need a copy of the recording of this performance I'd say it was the best I've heard them sound. And I too was at both shows at the fillmore last november.

[fitzcarraldo]

Fuckin Hell, I've been in thatneck of the woods a few years ago, and there are literally a hundred thousand stars in the sky. Not to mention a shooting star every few minutes. Whoa! Actually it was at Shasta Lake, a lil northwest and much better than the 14 or 15 stars I get to see here on Queens Boulevard. And seein MMJ under them?!!?  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o  Nice!

[BH]

that does sound good....