08's been great

[carlmrjr]

i wanted to hear everyone's mmj highlights from 08. i saw the nashville fireworks and stage climber and the awe-inspiring glowstick war at bonnaroo. hopefully NY will be a great topping on a great year.

[Penny Lane]

Meeting Jim James---Bonnaroo 2008

[HI5IVE]

Radio City show: my first show
-Being in the 10th row
-JJ running up to the 1st Mezzanine and melting face
-the energy in that buidling was unexplainable, I felt invincible

Boston was a great show too.  It was a real sticky night, jim played the entire show with a towel on his head.  I think they opened up with Mahgeetah...cant remember.  There were some complaints of the crowd being "stuffy" ... everyone in the 5th row forward were cool beans.

:D :D :D :D

[fawlty36]

I've only been to Boston this year, besides seeing MMJ a couple of years ago at Hunter Mountain. Boston was a wonderful show, crowd into it, the mellowness of it all. Evendently it wasn't up to par with a couple of other shows, but it was a blast. Execpt running back to the Hotel with my poster in the hauling rain. Now on to NYE. That I will be at. Full grin and glory....... 8-)

[My Monkey Friend]

Hearing the Evil Urges stuff at Houston for the first time, making the next 3 months freaking long.

EU's acutal release, it is such a badass album.

The dallas show with Erykah and Tyrone.

The NYE show i am sure will rock the shit.

[Sassbox]

Hmmm...

It would have to be meeting the entire band for beer and BBQ in Nashville, followed by four hours on the rail at Bonnaroo, followed by the 9 other MMJ shows I was lucky enough to see this year.

[j_rud]

It's been a great one. I caught 4 shows and each one had its moments.

Radio City: Just a great all around day. Found the last dive bar in Manhattan and felt the floor shake at the venue. Beautiful building, great show, awesome experience.

Louisville: What a beautiful city. Friendly people, cheap drinks, cool bars. Mind shattering show. The combination of the heat, standing for 4 hours, and the stranger who kept feeding me whiskey during the show just killed me. Met a bunch of people from the boards at one of the coolest outdoor bars I've ever been to (Bearno's in the Highlands!). Drank til four in the morning and went straight to the airport to catch our 6 AM flight. I watched the sunrise from the plane, and we touched down exactly 24 hours after we had left. A 24 hour whirlwind.

DC: Easily the worst crowd I've encountered at an MMJ show. A lot of people were just indifferent or too cool. A girl next to me actually turned her back and leaned against the stage. It was still a good show though; we were right in front of Carl, close enough to actually hear his foot hit the pedals on his pedal board. Met the band (minus Patrick) that night too, which was nice. GivenToFly stuttered like a girl when Jim asked him if he had his pen, really funny stuff. Sorry man, had to call you out lol.

Philly: As awesome as Louisville was this might have been my favorite of the summer. It was a reunion of sorts as we ran into people we had met from Radio City and Louisville. It may sound corny but its really cool when that happens. It rained and for the second time on the tour there were impromptu fireworks.  This one also featured my favorite version of Dondante from the tour. Fucking blistering at 13+ minutes. "You know how to do it, you know how to bring the thunder, you know how to have a goooooooood fucking time..."

And there is no other way I would want to wrap this year up than at the MSG show. I fully expect this to be the most amazing concert experience that I've ever had, and I know I wont be disappointed.

[goose]

Started the year off with a call saying they would be playing most of Evil Urges at SXSW on NPR.  I drank a twelve pack sitiing in my garage listening to that thing.  

I saw them at the CD release party at Ear X-Tacy in Louisville.  I was about 30 feet straight away.  Never saw something like that before.

Three days later I saw them at Bonaroo.  The mixture of rain and percussion, Jim's voice and horns was incredible.  

A few months later, I decided at the last minut to go to Nashville with lovedog, AMD, and Kory.  One of the best decisions I made this year.  The Genreal Jackson during Magheetah, along with Monkey boy and the fireworks, Jim's guitar works on I will Sing you songs, along with the bang kick bass style during war Begun was amazing.

The last show I saw was in Louisville, the hometown.  It was wonderful.  They shocked me with the Anytime start(not for sure, but I believe it was the first show this year they didn't start with Evil Urges)  To start with a closer was unbelievable.  When they went throught the old stuff with an unbelievable sunset, majestic.

I will end my year at MSG.  I believe it can only be just as magical as the rest of the shows I saw this year.

[j_rud]

The last show I saw was in Louisville, the hometown.  It was wonderful.  They shocked me with the Anytime start(not for sure, but I believe it was the first show this year they didn't start with Evil Urges)  To start with a closer was unbelievable.  When they went throught the old stuff with an unbelievable sunset, majestic.

Haha, that was like getting blasted out of a cannon. Birds Lament into Anytime gives me goosebumps just thinking about it  ;D

[Dillsnufus]

Radio city: my first mmj show and it was amazing . felt so happy after the concert .(though wish i had the 10x zoom camera i have now then) jim climbing the balcony to mezz section was bad ass. discovering Phone went west for the first time. thought it was a cover originally but another amazing mmj song. OBH to close was F*@king epic.

NYE: searching all of craigslist for tickets then finding one. going to macys to meet him and him showing up too late. On train ride home got similar (flr7) seats for almost same price. good times . i hope the tickets are real.

[lasvegas]

bonnaroo and radio city.

[ALady]

Hmmm...

It would have to be meeting the entire band for beer and BBQ in Nashville, followed by four hours on the rail at Bonnaroo, followed by the 9 other MMJ shows I was lucky enough to see this year.

You are so evil  ;D ;D ;D

I will only have seen eight shows this year (Austin Music Hall, St. David's, Nashville, Louisville, Milwaukee, Chicago  1&2, and MSG).  I'd have to say the highlight was the SXSW show, just because it was my first time hearing Evil Urges live and the boys really sold it.

A personal highlight was meeting Patrick and his wife Bridget at the Drive-by Truckers/Hold Steady Halloween show at the Ryman.  They couldn't have been more gracious.  And they were dressed as bacon and eggs, which was totally cute.

[LEATHER KID]

My drunk roommate climbing the stage at Riverfront.  I actually called my bank to see how much money I had in my account in case i had to bail him out.

[Love Dogg]

Wow...where do I start?  2008 was the best year for me, because of so many things.  I decided to turn my daily grind into my own business.  I watched America fight back.  I discoverd what true friendship really is.  I always had something to look forward to this year.  I fell in love with My Morning Jacket all over again.  

You see, I regret having to say that I'd seen the Jacket before and loved them, but it wasn't until (Acoustic Citsuoca, Z, and At Dawn) I saw Jim and Carl at the Rudyard Kipling last year that I actually...GOT it.  The problem was, I didnt hear a thing from the fellas until the SXSW show was broadcast Live on NPR.  I was blown away by it all.  

Then came the In Studio at WFPK that I listened to.  Then the In-Store at Ear X-tacy where they played Evil Urges in its entirety!!!  The Bonnaroo show that Friday the 13th was...well...we all know about that.  Then we had to wait for the tour to start.  Then the Louisville show was scheduled...pre-sale...got 'em!  Then the Nashville show was scheduled...got 'em!  Hit the road with my mains Goose, aMD and Kory (great job getting us to and fro, Kory) to see Nashville...a hometown show for Carl, whom I got to shake hands with-as did aMD.  Then the stellar belt buckle purchase-as did aMD.  Then great visual and auditory positioning for what I believe was my favorite concert of all times.  Riverfront Park was a great place to see that show.  The weather was perfect.  The band was tight.  Carl was on fire. The General Jackson strolling by during the last half of Mahgeetah is, to me, the fondest concert memory ever.  Hearing War Begun  and Nashville to Kentucky so revamped and fresh was amazing!  And hearing How Do You Know  was incredible.  I even shed a little man tear while they played PWW...'cause we've all felt that.

Anyway...back to Louisville to complete the Nashville to Kentucky experience.  All my peeps were there for this.  I almost thought I was in heaven.  I got to meet some great Forum people before the show; TEO, LowdownLuvdawg, Jon T and his wife...and after the show, Jrud, GivenToFly, Ms.Yvone, Angry Ewok, Megalicious and their friends and several others who I'm currently drawing a blank on with names.  Anyway, everybody can atest that Jim was on fire that night.  All the solos were his...that's when I actually realized how phenominal of a guitar player he is...on top of his phenominal singing...and songwriting, and razor-sharp wit.  This was his night.  This was his town.  And my little ghost of myself is still there at Waterfront Park watching that concert!  Heartbreakin' Man, Where To Begin, COBRA!

That was it for awhile, until I saw that Jim was playing an Obama benefit in Chicago.  Sent in my donation and off we go.  Because you haven't lived until you've seen a Jim solo show.  The intimacy is so incredible that it is rarely challenged and never matched.  As I'm pulling into Chicago (never been there before) my buddy calls and tells me the news about the Iowa City show.  An emotional rainbow ensues, but go straight to Schuba's to see for ourselves (definitely try the bloody maryif you go) and enjoyed Chicago nonetheless.

I have found a second home here on the forum.  There are a lot of friendly and knowledgeable people here.  In my short time here, I've seen people join then disappear, quit and come back, thrown out, some who have been here for a long time whom I greatly respect, and others who, like me have found a place to release some of the passion we have, that is not understood by anyone outside this board.  This is where I feel comfortable.

Next comes New Year's Eve!!!!!!  And to paraphrase and slightly glorify what my friend, Jrud said, [what better way to end this incredible year, and bringing in a new one than with My Morning Jacket, the best band on the planet!]

Good-bye 2008...I will miss you.  But hopefully the years ahead continue what you started.  God knows I need it.  PEACE!

[YouAre_GivenToFly]

Well since my concert buddy j_rud called me out on my linguistic clumsiness i might as well highlight my favorite points.

Radio City: Amazing venue, gorgeous day. In an absolute blur after the show, found myself sitting at a baseball game the next afternoon still shaking my head and thinking "Phew! That was one hell of a concert."

Louisville: A 24-hr whirlwind is right. Flew in from Philly in the AM.... flew back to Philly in the AM. No hotel. Found an awesome place to drink before the show (Bearno's by the Bridge)... heard the soundcheck, SPRINTED to be against the rail. Birds Lament/Anytime gives me goosebumps and a big shit eatin' grin to this day. There were songs from that show where I don't think my feet touched the ground twice. I thought the city was going to break away from the state and float down the Ohio River. Met some cool people back at the bar after the show. Passed out in the airport.

DC: Pain in the ass to get there. Pain in the ass to park (well, at least I thought it would be). Horrible crowd, awesome luck. Got to the front row. Caught Carl's pick out of his hand, look up, he laughs and mouths "Oops!"... met the guys minus Patrick after the show. Seemed really cool, Carl was chatty and Jim was the opposite of what he is on stage, very unassuming and understated.

Philly: My hometown show to finish my summer of MMJ. Heard them soundcheck some Zeppelin. Waited in line with a bunch of high school kids who had never seen them before. We warned them that they will never be the same. Again, against the rail. Fireworks, DONDANTE, soaking it all in. After the show I saw one of the kids we were in line with, he was shaking.

My favorite memory? Louisville. Wasn't the best show I saw (Philly), but the experience of being 700 miles from home, in a gorgeous new city surrounded by tens of thousands of people witnessing this amazing performance, what could possibly top that?

What a year.

[weeniebeenie]

Nashville...a hometown show for Carl, whom I got to shake hands with-as did aMD. !

I am totally jealous. ;)

[DaFunkyPrecedent]

When Jim noticed the "My Morning Jacket" flag we made at the Greek Theater show!