My Morning Jacket Line-Up Evolves

[kevinjanes]

There's nothing worse than reuniting with someone again that you haven't seen for a long time and they say something like, "you haven't CHANGED a bit!" I hope that never happens to me because life is progressive which, by definition, implies CHANGE.

With that, I wish Johnny and Danny the best. My appreciation for your God-given musical talents goes without saying, but upon hearing the latest news, I appreciate even more your personal integrity. You obviously know what's most important in life and aren't letting rising fame and possible fortune taint your clarity. That's not only admirable, but very needed in our world today. Thanks for the memories, now go live your life! God bless...

"Long may you run, although these changes have come. With your chrome heart shining in the sun, long may you run..."

[DD]

integrity?  danny is just trying to win our indie cred points challenge.

really he pretty much has it in the bag.  quitting an up and coming band....oh man, thats off the scale.  :P

[Danny Cash]

Knock it off, Dan.

And to the rest of you, thanks for all the kind words and support. As some have said, John and I were in the band because of the music. It's our love of the music that brought us to the band just the same as Carl and Bo. I've been hearing nothing but great things about them, so it's nice to see them getting the same support that you've all been giving us for years. I'm sure they appreciate, just as John and I appreciate your support in our decision to move on. It means a lot to us.

[plank10]

Danny good luck to you in whatever you choose to pursue.

Could elaborate anymore on how this decision came about? Its strange to us diehard fans to see you and Johnny leaving as the band is at such a good place.

[cfloyd3]

I just saw the guys in Knoxville on Sunday like the other poster.  I personally was not lucky enough to get into them back in the early days, but a few weeks prior I listened to It Still Moves after reading reviews on the internet and got really into it.  Personally I never visited the website beforehand or even saw the band lineup (picture) to know there was a change.  All I can say is I have listened to At Dawn and The Tennessee Fire in the past couple days and they are both a great listen.  Good luck to those who left in the future.
  
Also the show was good on Sunday, 2 hours of the best live show I have ever been apart of.  Front row was a good experience.  Just wanted to share how it went with the new guys.

[Tooth]

I just saw the band last night in Chapel Hill, NC.

Must admit I was more than a little nervous about how the show would go since the "evolution".

I'm happy to report that the band performed very well.  In fact, MMJ kicked like a gawdamn mule.  Just like always.

Now what I wanna know is this:

Where did the band find replacement guys that look so similar to the ones that just departed?

I mean, Johnny's replacement has sandy, shoulder-length hair.

Danny's replacement has dark, short hair.



Bizarro world!

[dogandponyshow]

You have to take for what is it worth...if these guys were ready to move on, then it was time for them to go.  There is no doubt they will be missed. But if their passion to push MMJ to bigger and better things wasn't in them any longer, than they were only going to drag the band down. I am hopeful that the two new recruits can attain the chemistry and power of the band onstage because as far as I am concrened there is no band that has had the energy and power of performing than MMJ.  I am attending the DC show at the 9:30 club on the 31st and will be hoping that the news guys make it seems like nothing had changed.  Perhpas wishful thinking, but with Jimmy,Tommy and Patrick hand picking these guys out I can only think that things will be still be amazing.  

DLS

[plank10]

DLS
I'm sure that the show on 1/31 is as great as they've all been but i'm interested to see how the new guys do.

[Jacob Wolf]

Yeah, I just wanted to report that I saw the new lineup in Charlottesville, VA two nights ago and they were, of course, unbelievable. The new guys are really really on point. Not a note dropped, to my ear anyway. And whats more, they definately looked cool and comfortable in their new spots. Mad props to the new guys.

-Jacob

[swampscrapper]

Does anyone know what kind of guitar Carl has been playing at the recent shows?

[dwight]

Les Paul

[swampscrapper]

this is not good ladies and gentelemen.
I mean coming from someone who got Gibson SG at the age of 11, and to see Johnny rock on his --- this is a devastating blow.  Now here's the deal, I have 2 tickets to the show on Friday in Lancaster and it will be at least 8 hours of driving through potentially hazardous conditions.  I have to tell you, this is a tough decision now.

[lfish]

Don't hesitate, just go. It will be great.  Read the other reviews of the gigs after the niw line-up. The two new musicians seem to be great. On the other hand it is a long drive indeed, but you're going to see the jacket and they will make those eight hours dissapear in space.  

[peanut butter puddin surprise]

this is not good ladies and gentelemen.
I mean coming from someone who got Gibson SG at the age of 11, and to see Johnny rock on his --- this is a devastating blow.  Now here's the deal, I have 2 tickets to the show on Friday in Lancaster and it will be at least 8 hours of driving through potentially hazardous conditions.  I have to tell you, this is a tough decision now.

Awww shucks man, just go ahead and go.  Like Lfish said, you're goin' to see the Jacket! Live and in Living Color!

Surely it will be worthy of such a long drive...do it!

[swampscrapper]

ok, you guys are right.  it will still be worth it to leave the big city and head down to the land of the Amish for the show.  As someone who dealt with (to a much lesser degree) the choice between traveling in a van for months on end and takin a more stable route in life I cant blame those guys.  Being a star is not all its cracked up to be.  I personally am just as happy strummin away in my apt. hallway as opposed to becoming a part of the music biz machine.  ONly thing is, with the onslaught of digital music, up and coming musicians have a bit more control over their careers these days.  COuldnt there have been some way to find a happy medium . . . I mean take some time off from the road and then decide?

[peanut butter puddin surprise]

My personal respect for Danny and Johnny rose by leaps and bounds for making such a tough call.  Not that I didn't have the ocean's level of respect for them in the first place, but it takes big ol' kahunas to make a decision like they did, when they did.  

As loyal fans, I think it is best that we let their decision stand without second guessing their motives, timing...it's all open for discussion, of course...but what I'm sayin' is that these dudes have true hearts and souls, and if they wanted to be free, they should be free.

As for bein' a travelling musician, man...if I had talent, I'd put myself on the road in a New York minute.  But that's me... :)

[Garth69]

While I'm glad to hear that the band is supposedly sounding good on the current tour, here are a few lingering thoughts:
1) These new guys aren't going to last. My thought is that they're strictly hired touring guns, and by the time recording for the next album starts, I doubt they'll be involved at all. Maybe, but I think we're gonna see Mr. James take over all areas like never before. Think about it: he's got a fantastic solid rhythm section, what else does he need? Plus, he can play every damn instrument in the book. I wouldn't be surprised to see a stripped down lineup in the future. I think Jim's a very smart and talented guy, and he knows how much of a blow it was to lose Johnny, and to a lesser extent Danny.
2) I agree that they should've taken more time off. If so, maybe Johnny would still be in the band. I mean touring the east coast and New England in the dead of winter? They've already got an incredible fan base; what's a few more months of downtime gonna hurt?
3) Finally, don't get me wrong: I love these guys, and I'm confident that the music will continue to be as strong as ever. But live, I'm very skeptical that it'll hold up to what it used to be. I've got a great video from their show in Chicago in early '01. I pulled it out last week out of respect, and it nearly brought a tear to my eye. That was back when Chris was on drums, but it was fucking unbelievable. Without Johnny, I doubt they can reach the same heights.
Comments...?

[peanut butter puddin surprise]

I think that the proof is in the puddin'.  A friend of mine sent me an email yesterday (Thanks Tony!) on the show in Richmond, VA...and he swears that it is just as awesome.  

Now, since I've stood next to him at countless MMJ shows in the past, I really trust his opinion and take on this.  Time will tell, and I think you should decide for yourself by going to see them live with the new lineup.

Also, I don't forsee MMJ becoming the Jim James Experience or anything like that.  Patrick and Tommy are permanent (as I see it) and I don't think they're going anywhere.

[Garth69]

I hear ya. I'll have to see the new lineup for myself, and who knows how they'll sound after another six months or so. But my feeling is that Jim's the boss, and he's more likely to take more control over the sound now than to absorb and assimilate new ideas and sounds from the new guys into this massive beast that he's created over the last several years. He's a man with a vision, and I'd be surprised to see the new guys having any say at all, other than getting up there and doing basically what Johnny and Danny were doing before. It'll be interesting to see how things unfold after this solo tour coming up. And dammit, the Chicago show sold out. Any word if more tickets will be released...?
Also, any current setlists available anywhere? I read somewhere on the board that they played 'War Begun,' one of my favorites. While I'm at it, I'll say that I think 'The Tennessee Fire' is the best record. Low-fi for sure, but more consistent, more intimate and above all, it's got 'the spook' which isn't as prevalent in the newer records.

[peanut butter puddin surprise]

Well, from what I've gathered over the past four years and by reading pretty much anything written in English on MMJ, I'd say that Jim brings a skeleton of a song, and everyone else adds layers to it in their own ways.  I'd also say that MMJ has always been a band, a collective effort, a team...you get the drift.  After reading a few things on Carl's site (new guitarist), I don't think he's onboard just for filling in-he's a full fledged songwriter, so I can imagine that he's bringing a lot to the table, creative-wise.

Time will tell.  From the very beginning, at a tiny theatre in Louisville, with like 30 people in the auidence (my first show), I could tell these guys were going to deliver the goods, and then some.  Things have changed, to be sure-but the changes have never been out of place, and I am certain that the future is bright for a long, healthy MMJ career.  

I can recall when J. Glenn left the band-right after At Dawn came out.  People said the same thing-it won't be the same, it won't sound the same, etc.-and it was the same, only better, different.  When Patrick came on board, everyone said the same stuff-yet look at the way it is now.

All I'm rambling about is that changes have been happening throughout the life cycle of this band, and their judgement, talent, earnestness, hard work, integrity, soul, and love have always shined through.  These changes are no exception.