MMJ does CO: I Was There

[aMD]

Sorry this is so long-winded but I had a blast seeing the boys at Red Rocks (first night only) and at Telluride and thought I'd share some of my observations...


My wife and I headed out from Louisville two days before the first Red Rocks show.  These two shows would mark the first two times I saw the jacket outside of Louisville.  My favorite artist and my favorite band were playing in two of the best venues known to mankind.  I was there.

I found myself in Morrison, CO.  We got to Red Rocks really early to check out the park and waiting in line situation.  The park was amazing!  It is beyond my abilities as a writer to convey how beautiful contained in the mountains and the rock formations that an ancient glacier carved out of giant red granite mountains.  

We ended up happening upon the line for the "secret" entrance.  Even that line was already 15 people deep at 1:30 so we decided to stay there and wait.  Not too many complaints though since we could see some of the most spectacular rock formations I've ever seen plus look over Denver and Colorado Springs like a hawk!  We also watched as MMJ's tour bus rolled in.  We watched as the band got out and hiked up the mountain to the venue from our spot in line.  

With a little luck and plenty of dedication we landed seats in the first available row, which was the second row!

The Way That He Sings was a fantastic opener!  It is also the only song they played that's not on It Still Moves or Z.  The way that Jim's voice echoed off the natural amphitheater and the way the guitar echoed Jim's voice...well, it made my mind blow to bits!!!

I don't think I've ever seen Carl or Bo more into a show.  It's difficult to tell with Jim.  He's stepped up his showmanship recently and in doing so has developed a bit of a poker face. I do like the short hair though.  You can see facial expressions without being in the first row and it makes the audience feel more like a part of the experience than when Jim hid behind a veil of curly, brown hair.

Pat had an oxygen tank behind his set although I never noticed him sucking on it.  He was sucking in plenty of air with his mouth wide open, playing to the point of complete exhaustion as usual.

Dylan put on a good show (which is always a concern with him these days).  He opened with Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 (contact buzzes abound).  He played a great, unexpected version of Every Grain of Sand, by far Dylan's best song from the Christian Era.  Also, played a great version of Friend of the Devil.  I heard he closed with Thunder on the Mountain but we left at the encore to beat the traffic because we were getting up the next morning to travel to Telluride.

The drive to Telluride was fantastic.  We took the back roads through the heart of the Rocky Mountains.  The town was very laid back.  I've never seen less law enforcement in a town in my life.  One of the locals told me last winter the town got snowed-in so the mayor decided to throw a party on main street fully-equipped with bonfires and drinking in the streets.  And that's not to mention the natural beauty that is the real draw of this town.  Mountains, waterfalls, and streams surround the town, which sits 8900 feet above sea level!

I met up with Chris (Crispy) from the MMJ boards before the show at Telluride Town Park.  He's good people, just like great majority of MMJ fans I've met.  It was nice hanging out at camp before the show, we talked jacket and got ready for the show.  

We could hear MMJ's sound check from camp.  They played what sounded like a new song or an extremely obscure cover since no one I talked to recognized it.  Then Jim played around with the vocals, testing the natural reverb of the amphitheater that rests in the bosom of the Rocky Mountains. Jim's voice echoed off the giant mountains of Telluride ringing throughout the town.  I'd bet the farm that Jim could have done that without the PA system!

The music that played on the PA before MMJ and between sets at both shows was All Things Must Pass by George Harrison.  This was a very meaningful selection as both artists have ties to this album.  Jim has mentioned in several interviews that this is one favorite albums of all-time.  He also covered a number of songs from the album on his yet-unreleased George Harrison Sessions CD, including If Not for You which is actually a Dylan tune.  Bob Dylan was a friend and contemporary of George.  From the time he introduced him to marijuana to the collaborations in the Traveling Wilbury's.  Bob also has an unreleased George Harrison Sessions CD, the difference is Bob's sessions feature George Harrison himself.  These sessions are dated around the time of the creation of All Things Pass.  I wonder who made the decision to play that album?

We got into the show about an hour after doors opened and there were already a couple thousand people there with their seats claimed.  Chris told me he wanted to get as close as possible so I tried to make it happen.  With a little sweet-talking, a definite tone of desperation, and my best puppy dog eyes we landed the best seats in the house for MMJ, first row in front of Jim.  

I don't have to say it if you have seen MMJ live, but that brought 110% to the show.  They opened with Wordless Chorus and some of the people around me started tapping me on the shoulder saying, "These guys are REALLY good!" "I see why you came from Kentucky!"

By the time they busted out One Big Holiday a ton of MMJ fans made their made up to the front and were fully rocking out.  Most of the Dylan fans seemed half-amused or just plain bored.  However, by the end of the show it seemed like nearly the whole crowd was on their feet and more than half were really digging it.

The highlight of the show for me, other than OBH of course, was Steam Engine.  I told Scott before the Telluride show that I was expecting them to play Steam Engine at Red Rocks.  Thunderstoems were in the area and rain threatened to ruin the show.  I kept thinking they would play Steam Engine and open the skies like when they played it at the legendary "Return to Thunderdome" Bonarro show.  However, they didn't play it and it didn't rain.  At Telluride, it started raining five minutes before MMJ were supposed to come on.  At Telluride, Steam Engine stopped the rain!  At Bonaroo 04 they needed rain and Steam Engine brought it.  At Telluride, we needed the rain to stop and Steam Engine did it!  This only goes to show that Steam Engine is exactly what you need no matter what situation you may find yourself in.

After MMJ's set we found a mob of Dylan fans behind us who felt free to escort us out their way to the front.  Some of us reconvened after making our way through the rabble and talked about how much ass the Jacket kicks.  I think we collectively decided it was a shit ton of ass.

I felt like Telluride received MMJ better but there were still a good number of Dylan fans that just didn't "get it".  Chris and I talked about how ignorantly ironic it is that Dylan fans would reject a band because they're "too loud" or because "you can't understand the words" as some of the Dylan fans at this show did.  The guy sitting next to me at the Red Rocks show had his back to the Jacket for most of the performance and after a great version of One Big Holiday he yelled, "Make time for Dylan!"  Chris said something like "I feel like I'm at Newport in 1965", referring to when Dylan was booed off stage for playing the electric guitar.  I guess it shows that even Dylan fans sometimes fail to learn from history.

It's difficult to say which jacket set was better.  I think they were feeling it more at Red Rocks but the crowd was feeling it more at Telluride.  I also liked that setlist better at T-ride.  Dylan's shows were both very good for Dylan at this point in his career.  He pulled out some gems and switched stuff up more than usual.  You could tell he was really into it at Telluride.  He apparently owns property in town though he didn't have a lot of time to hang this weekend.  His buses rolled in about an hour before MMJ went on and rolled out about ten minutes after he left stage headed for a show in New Mexico the next night.

My wife and I had a wonderful vacation following two of the most inspirational artists at two of the most inspirational venues in the world.  I hope to do this trip again some day but next time MMJ will be headlining both venues with another under appreciated band opening for THEM!

Red Rocks Ampitheater, Morrison, CO July 19, 2007
The Way That He Sings  
What a Wonderful Man
Gideon  
It Beats 4 U  
Off the Record  
One Big Holiday  
Golden  
Wordless Chorus  
Lay Low  
Anytime  
Run Thru

Telluride Town Park Telluride, CO July 21, 2007
Wordless Chorus
Gideon
What a Wonderful Man
Off the Record
One Big Holiday
Golden
Steam Engine
Mahgeeta
Anytime

[TEO]

GREAT JOB of feeding my need to experience this through you vicariously!   :)

[Kory]

very nice Dylan, glad to hear your experiences. You're right... your two favorite artists in one of the most beautiful places, awesome!

[mjkoehler]

Thanks, sounded awesome. I think I have my new favortie saying. "I think we collectively decided it was a shit ton of ass. "

[LizKing531]

awesome - did you see any microphones among the crowds?  i'll be looking for the tapes of these shows

[liverustdave]

Did the same Red Rocks to Telluride Dylan/MMJ crawl and you couldn't have captured the experience better.  MMJ were honored to play with Bob and they put it all out there.

I wouldn't sweat some of the Dylan fans that didn't get MMJ.  Most of them don't get Bob Dylan 2007 either.  

Met up with mntngurl from this board before the Telluride show and we tailgated all day in the sun and surrounding mountains.  I've been to see shows all over the country....Gorge, Red Rocks, small, big and this place may now be my top venue in the nation.  The drive is long but worth it....

All performances by both bands were spectacular, ...would have like to see a better variety of MMJ songs at Red Rocks but I think the setlist gained them many new fans that night.  Steam Engine was indeed great in Tellurid  There was a bit of jamming going on in the middle of the set as well....I felt like they were definitely a bit more loose in Telluride, so that show got my nod.

Bobby's performances just keep getting better...I remember thinking that his music now defies most genres, much like MMJ. Friend of the Devil in Red Rocks and Masters of War in Telluride were highlights for me, the rearrangement was unbelievably f'n cool.  

Anyway, glad I met some nice people and the experience was well worth the trip.  Hopefully more MMJ road trips to come.....Austin....

Dave

[Crispy]

Well, I finally got home late last nite after my 14.5 hr drive from Telluride so I could get to work today and write this. Great writeup Dylan - it was so awesome to meet up with you and Mrs. Dylan and hang out with some MMJ fans that are as nuts about them as I am.

At Red Rocks on Thursday, I committed the sin of talking while Bob Dylan was playing.  Embarrassing yes, but I was going on about the rockin set that MMJ had just laid upon the place with the great pair of fans in front of us (Jason and Melissa where are you? ;) ). The boys seemed really excited about playing there and as you can tell from the setlists, we didn't get shorted with the 5-6 tune set you usually get from an opener. We were about 20 rows up and to the right, so not the best seats but with Red Rocks' acoustics it sounds great anywhere! Hence my desire to get up front in Telluride, where Dylan (our Dylan, not THE Dylan) got us spots on the rail standing on a 20ft blue tarp that some considerate Bob fans had spread out for us. I had the fortune to stand next to the guy who doesn't even pretend to like rock and roll, looking bored, dejected, and pained at times while the rest of us were just going crazy on MMJ. He did, however, clap politely after each tune. We barely made our escape when the Jacket finished and the Bob fans bumrushed the stage. The confrontation between the lady who looked like my mom and the guy who had been there with his grandmother for 4 hours was pretty humorous, battling for the spot that Mrs. Dylan was trying to vacate. I usually feel kind of old at MMJ shows, being 38, but at these shows I felt like a youngster. Cheers to all of the great Jacket fans who made it and rocked out with us!

I did shut up and listen to Bob when notified of my error - and it was a shit ton of ass.

[BH]

Awesome story!  What a treat to see both of your favorites in such a classic place.  Thanks for sharing.

[ycartrob]

I usually feel kind of old at MMJ shows, being 38, but at these shows I felt like a youngster.

Amen, you ol' fart.

[Sleazy Rider]

Great testimonies guys. sounds like a shit ton of fun. Crispy, you will be forever young in my mind. Because thats how I think of everyone on here. A little off topic but If Not For You is one of my favorite George tunes. The pedal steel weeps on that track and I would love to hear Jim and co. pay tribute to that one.

[Crispy]

Crispy, you will be forever young in my mind. Because thats how I think of everyone on here.

Funny, I thought everybody here was in their mid-30s  :P

I forgot to mention how magical Steam Engine was in Telluride - the rainstopper! I think even the statue next to me was grooving a little bit.

[mtngurl]

I concur, MMJ rocked. I missed Red Rocks, but Telluride was awesome.
My only request was Steam Engine and sure enough they came through.  We really enjoyed the rain as well.  It had been really hot that afternoon, and it's always cool to dance around in the rain.
We met tons of cool Dylan and MMJ fans (hi Dave and Dale!) and had a great time

Thanks for the setlist Dylan. I always forget to bring a pen and can never remember them all.

Shit tons indeed!  
Anyone have pics?

Kristen

[fitzcarraldo]

Thanks for the recount Dylan. Glad you had a ball.

[BH]

http://www.telluridegateway.com/articles/2007/07/23/news/news02.txt

[mtngurl]

Another funny thing...we were riding on the gondola on Sunday with a couple in their late forties/early fifties who had gone to the show.  The woman was commenting in her north eastern accent how she hadn't seen this much "booze and dope" at a show in twenty years.....so true. ;D

[aMD]

oh yeah, a couple other things.  the boys came out in suits!

Pat had an oxygen tank behind his drums.  Quit smoking, brother! ;)

The gondola rides were amazing.

security at telluride was concerned about one thing and one thing only: cell phones.  People in the front row (ahem!) were smoking pots and cigs in front of security and they would walk right pass them to get someone off their cell phone.  my kind of place, man!

too bad we missed each other mountain girl, maybe next go round!

[knotcameloose]

Nice review, thanks.

Caught Dylan about a year ago with Jimmie Vaughan, Junior Brown and Etta James.
Pretty similar acts, everyone was seeming to have a good time, but I can see what you mean with MMJ.

[mtngurl]

Yeah aMD, I tried to call you and crispy but it was pretty late and you guys were probably already on the front row >:(.
Next time!!

[Crispy]

Yup, I think we may have already been down there between all those crazy hippies smokin their pots! ;)

[ms. yvon]

dylan, your review put me in the spot from the beginning!  thank you for setting the atmosphere and taking us through the two shows you and candace saw!

steamengine=rain dance.

oh man oh man oh man.

i love that just reading a set list can evoke chills.

crispy!  thanks for the good words!

sounds like a stunning trip!