Milwaukee Review

[LaurieBlue]

http://onmilwaukee.com/music/articles/mmj.html?10268

My Morning Jacket brings controlled chaos to Riverside
By Bill Zaferos

Published Nov. 22, 2006 at 5:17 a.m.

My Morning Jacket didn't so much play a set at the Riverside Theater Tuesday night as explode into one.

From the moment they opened with "Wordless Chorus" from their album Z, to the closer at the end of a 35-minute encore, "Mehgeetah," from "It Still Moves," My Morning Jacket ripped through a set that fried a mostly full house at the Riverside with a 105-minute show leaving little to be desired.

The Riverside was the perfect venue for this type of show – large enough for MMJs' big sound, but small enough to keep things intimate. That was probably a good thing, since it was not altogether clear lead singer/guitarist Jim James knew his venue well. During one of the few times he addressed the crowd he expressed amazement that the Riverside was indeed near a river and he also marveled at the Riverside's architecture, commenting that the ceiling looked like part of a large creature.

But no matter where James thought he was playing, he and the band did a great job of giving everybody what they wanted. And this band wasn't just tight – it was airtight. MMJ has a reputation as a jam band, but these were no loitering slackers on stage Tuesday night. Rather, they played like a good political campaign; always on message, but with just a little room to improvise and provide color. The Louisville band was smooth as Kentucky bourbon with an equal punch.

The reggae-tinged "Off the Record," with its "Hawaii 5-0" riff, had anyone who wasn't already dancing in the aisles on their feet and into the festive atmosphere, and "One Big Holiday" had everyone twisting out of their seats while "What a Wonderful Man" was, well, wonderful. "Lay Low" provided a nice groove in spite of its title, and only during the plodding "Gideon" did things get a little slow.

Even then James and drummer Patrick Hallahan were the main attractions. James thrashed about throughout the set like a man possessed, his mane flying every which way, while Hallahan pounded the drums as though he was meting out punishment to a million unseen demons.

But nowhere were there endless, aimless jams. Every note was played for a purpose, every one of them made an emphatic point, and numbers ended with a punctuality that prevented things from getting drawn out. It was controlled chaos, a tight cacophony where every note made sense; every drum beat drove it home.

The opening act, Louisville's three-piece Wax Fang, had a great sound but was better when it stuck to straight-ahead rock and roll and avoided long suites that seemed to have no direction. They would have done well to follow MMJ's lead and stick to concise, catchy yet complex pop music.

[Demiurge]

I think the reviewer got a little lost on Jim's humor. Anyhow, other than that it's pretty solid.

I had mentioned to my friend last night how tight the band had gotten over the years. You could even tell a huge difference between last night and the Summerfest show earlier in the year (yeah, I know, much different venue).

I had a great time as always, and the fans were great. Except that guy in the center isle in the front completely cracked out on X.  :P

[suebeeboo]

ooooooooo!  the agony!  I'm so depressed I did not make it up to this show    :-[ :'( :-[ :'( :-[ :'( :-[ :'(
that's what I get for taking a "nap" after work til 8:00 PM!

[fbnb]

This is was my 5th live encounter with MMJ, and it may have vaulted to the top of the charts, past the previously unassailable 2002 show at Metro in Chicago.

Rather than "controlled chaos", I'd opt for "focused energy"; a force that can, and last night did, move mountains.  It was a pleasure and a privilege to dance around the edges of their beautiful maelstrom (what with that nearby river),

Kudos to the lighting crew for their near-perfect augmentation of the sound-storm.  'Twas a great show, and it made this old goat feel like a kid again (notwithstanding the pun).

[dr._moneyshot]

Except that guy in the center isle in the front completely cracked out on X.  :P

lol, that guy was right next to us near the end

the blonde kid?

kid was a wreck

[pjkiep]

Great show though they didn't open with Wordless Chorus as in the review above. Started with It Beats For You. I had a great time, was center stage about 5-6 people back.

[dr._moneyshot]

I was right in front of the right speaker (stage left)

Great view of the entire band

[Caseydog]

My third time seeing MMJ this year.  Awesome is the only word I would use.  We taped the show, dead center in the balcony.  Check bt.etree.org and archive.org for the show in the next week.

[dr._moneyshot]

My third time seeing MMJ this year.  Awesome is the only word I would use.  We taped the show, dead center in the balcony.  Check bt.etree.org and archive.org for the show in the next week.

i saw you up there

only tapers i could see in the building


looking forward to your recording ;D

[Demiurge]

lol, that guy was right next to us near the end

the blonde kid?

kid was a wreck

I saw that guy. With the ripped pants, kind of tall. He was cracked out too.  8)

This kid was standing right in the isle where the seats began and the GA area ended in the center. He fell on me a good 4 or 5 times, and proceeded to light up a smoke when the security guards busted him.

I had a great time, but I hate when you have to watch for flying body parts while you're trying to enjoy the show.

[MyEveningJacket]

My first live Jacket experience and they did not disappoint.

Very happy with the sound in the venue; with a band like MMJ all that sound can turn into a mess, but it sounded great from where I was.

The audience was extremely well-behaved.  The people in front of me were quiet, the 2 women to my left were quiet, and the 3 fratboy types behind me (who I figured would be full of "WHOOOOOOOOO'S" throughout the show) were shockingly silent.  The only slight annoyance was the guy across the aisle to my right who insisted on explaining to his girlfriend or wife why his new cell phone plan was better than his old one during the first part of "Nashville to Kentucky".

Crowd was definitely more of the "discovered MMJ with Z" crowd as there was barely any reaction to "The Bear" and the aforementioned "Nashville  ..."

Overall  .......  best f***in' live show I've seen in years!!!!

[.Walt]

that guy that was all messed up was me!








just kiddin'
but i did get pretty "junky loose"

[Hawkeye]

I was right in front of the right speaker (stage left)

Great view of the entire band

I must have been right next to you...those girls in the front row were insane!  This was by far the closest I have ever been for a MMJ show...might have to go see some more shows at this venue

[watchtower41]

My third time seeing MMJ this year.  Awesome is the only word I would use.  We taped the show, dead center in the balcony.  Check bt.etree.org and archive.org for the show in the next week.

By any chance are you still planning on uploading this show anywhere?? I'd love to own a copy with this being my first "full" mmj show.  Thanks much appreciated...

[Caseydog]

Still working on it.  It will be uploaded at archive and etree at some point.  Maybe in a week or so.

[watchtower41]

Still working on it.  It will be uploaded at archive and etree at some point.  Maybe in a week or so.

Very cool.  Thanks a bunch man.  Looking forward to "re-living" the experience again.  

[.Walt]

niiice

[CC]

more pics from the riverside. thanks to CJ:
http://www.mymorningjacket.com/Gallery/2006/20061121.html

and a wrap-up from the pabst site:
http://www.pabsttheater.org/_gallery/cryn-mmj.html