NYE Show - Some Comments and Observations

[Jitterboogie]

Hey All,

Just wanted to add my two cents about last night's NYE show in SF.   I don't often write show reviews/comments, but had to do so here.

have been to several NYE shows over the years, west coast and mid west, including a few at the Fillmore, and I must say:  this one really, really took the cake.  Truly joyous and inspired in every way.

In fact, there were several times during the night when my friends and I, and even the other people around us, would turn to each other simultaneously with wide-eyed looks just to get a reality check on what was going on.

Here is a not-so-short list of things that came together last night to make it a memory we won't forget:

-- The Fillmore staff were apparently all in a good mood---yes, even the bartenders!

-- The sound was perfect....powerful and expansive without being distorted.  Usually I wear earplugs through entire shows, but the sound was so crystal clear last night that I found myself listening naked-eared all night.  Remarkable.

-- The crowd was sincerely happy, joyful, and respectful/reverrant of the band, the occasion and each other.  It's not often that there isn't at least one dickhead or personal-space-challenged dude in the crowd who ever-so-slightly taints the experience....NONE of that last night, and I was in the thick of the middle-right area. In fact, strangers were actually talking to each other and introducing themselves, etc. I remarked to a friend that it was a rare modern-times moment of real fellowship and camaraderie.  

-- The effects and intro/outro: So awesome, hilarious, and evocative of rock's over-the-top live blow-out history.  The band, the roadies and the staff obviously did a ton of extra work to make all this happen---including scripting a funny stage play for the beginning and end of the show that tied the theme *and* some classic rock history all together -- WOW!!!!  

And here's the thing:  they didn't have to do any of that stuff. They could have just done a countdown at midnight, handed out the free champagne and people would have been happy.  Instead, they did all this incredible and extra-cost stuff for the pure fun of it and to make it a special night for the crowd.

I knew we were in for a wild ride when they raised a 50-foot tall silk-screen of a forest motif in front of the stage right before the first set started.....and then it STARTED SNOWING INSIDE the Fillmore....NEVER seen anything like that before.  AND THEN the huge screen dropped from the ceiling on cue with the first power chords of One Big Holiday.  People just freaked out.

It reached here-to-for unimagined heights with Tommy descending from the "heaven" balcony above the stage in a tailored white tux (after previously being slain by the band-turned-cannibals) to play bass all night as a ghost, followed at the end of the night by Highway to Hell, his revenge killing of the rest of the band, and the souls of the band leaving the venue in white robes by ascending a white Stairway to Heaven as Zeppelin blasted on the PA.  No words can really describe it.  There were moments when we could have just as easily been at an early 70's Zeppelin show, or a Keith-Moon-era Who show, or maybe a Queen show at the height of their power.

-- The Band and the music:  What more can one say but that they blew everyone away and played their hearts out, but were also clearly having a *great* time doing it.  Jim's voice was strong, and everyone was totally "on" and tuned into each other.  It was one of those rare nights when the concentration and hard work of live musicianship were taken to an even higher level by obvious friendship, a shared sense of fun, and a band's plain happiness to be with each other, with the crowd, and in the moment.  

The fact that they sat down together and apparently spent time learning 3-4 supercheeze 80's pop songs note-for-note to throw the crowd for a total freak-out loop at midnight was just another indicator of, as they say in sports, the pure love of the game.  My friends and fellow strangers won't forget it.

Rock on MMJ, and thank you for making the end of a hard year one of my most fun and memorable shows---past, present or future.  --JB

[NateB]

Beautifully put. Thanks for the sincerity.

[BH]

Well done. :)

[lisaskye]

agree!

Lisa Marie

[ms. yvon]

Hey All,
-- The Fillmore staff were apparently all in a good mood---yes, even the bartenders!

-- The effects and intro/outro: So awesome, hilarious, and evocative of rock's over-the-top live blow-out history.  The band, the roadies and the staff obviously did a ton of extra work to make all this happen---including scripting a funny stage play for the beginning and end of the show that tied the theme *and* some classic rock history all together -- WOW!!!!  

And here's the thing:  they didn't have to do any of that stuff. They could have just done a countdown at midnight, handed out the free champagne and people would have been happy.  Instead, they did all this incredible and extra-cost stuff for the pure fun of it and to make it a special night for the crowd.

great points!  you could see it in their faces:  they were throwing one hell of a party.   :D

[sweatboard]

Bravo!!!!!!!!

[TheBigChicken]

really couldn't have said it any better....it really did snow didn't it........WOW

[megisnotreal]

Jitterboogie, your story has made my day. Thanks for beguiling me with tales of what had to be the most fucking awesome thing ever.

:)

[The Boar]

I was going to write a review. Now I don't have to. You nailed it all. Well done and thanks for recapping the memories for me. Now I'm just going to copy/paste your review and send it to others wondering how it all went!

Best,
Andrew

[A_delle]

snow! that's RIGHT! And we had bubbles the night before. But, snow in the Fillmore!!! How outrageously over the top.  ;D

Jitterboogie, your review is incredible and well put!

long live the Jacket!
A_delle

[BH]

How long did it snow?

[Jitterboogie]

Thanks All.  Glad to share these impressions with you....and glad that you found them worth reading.  I'm getting some additional unsolicited thoughts from friends at this point and will ask them to post as they see fit, or post for them if they request.

Happy New Year to All.  May it be filled with good music, good health and good friends,

 --JB

[Jitterboogie]

Sasha,

I think it snowed for essentially the length of OBH and then quietly faded out, not unlike a real snowfall stops.  Don't know if anyone else remembers differently....(?)

[apolson310]

was at the NYE show at fillmore. my first mmj show. what can i say? amazing! I've been to many shows in my life (grateful dead, pavement, belle and sebastian, etc.) and have to say that this was one of the best shows i've ever seen. kept thinking to myself "this must have been what it was like to see zeppelin or the who at the height of their powers." liked the show so much that i am going to the jan. 5 show down in anaheim. can't wait to rock out!

[The Boar]

Did anyone else notice that the lights were a notch above normal? I was pretty much mezmorized and don't remember them being as good as they were at the New Years run (God I love saying that). Have they upgraded? Did anyone notice?

Andrew

[Anu]

Thank you, Jitterboogie.

More glorious goosebumps. How much more amazing than amazing is this band?

I literally am living in a Denver dream. Pray for peaceful weather as I am flying in and out of Nashville and can't miss work Tuesday, January 16.

[LaurieBlue]

http://kissmecate.vox.com/library/post/new-years-eve-my-morning-jacket-at-the-fillmore.html

[Jitterboogie]

Good luck Anu and enjoy!  Hopefully the worst is over in Denver.....I've realized it's more fun when it snows inside the venue than outside!   ;)