ACL Reviews

[LaurieBlue]

http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/music/entries/2007/09/17/acl_my_morning_jacket.html

[dlangendorf]

i attended this show. i thought it was stunning, perhaps the best performance of any band at ACL. the reviewer here noted MMJ's brand of southern rock. it might be southern-tinged, but to me it's just rock n roll at its finest. no one at ACL had the energy these guys had ... or sense of humor. that beach backdrop and the band members wearing something "island" was kitsch at its finest. ... i wish i could personally thank each band member for the show they put on. they made ACL worth it for me.

[aMD]

maybe he meant "coastal" not southern.  ;)

Sounds like a good show.  I'm a bit surprised / disappointed that they didn't bust out any new songs.  I guess they don't want them to be "road tested" before they lay them down this time.   :-/

[cmccubbin@work]

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003641525

My Morning Jacket was decked out in Hawaiian attire for its set, complete with Jim James wearing a blonde wig, and the band in leis. Hula girls, palm trees and a sunset backdrop provided further visual accompaniment to the performance, which featured tracks like "Golden," "Wordless Chorus," "Off the Record" and "Mahgeetah."

[bry721]

I agree.  It was an amazing show!!!  Definitely an awesome vibe.  I cracked up at the pineapple girls.  Oh guess who I met up with...

[JacketGal]

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003641525

My Morning Jacket was decked out in Hawaiian attire for its set, complete with Jim James wearing a blonde wig, and the band in leis. Hula girls, palm trees and a sunset backdrop provided further visual accompaniment to the performance, which featured tracks like "Golden," "Wordless Chorus," "Off the Record" and "Mahgeetah."

I agree it's a little disappointing that they didn't test out any new ones  but THIS the type of stuff that makes them so freakin' cool!  8-) 8-)

[midwesterner]

Here a review from the blog I work with.  I didn't write the review, I just took the photos.

http://www.glidemagazine.com/hiddentrack/?p=1032

Here is one more photo

http://www.flickr.com/photos/danfun/1395340050/

I will have more photos up later in the week

[ItsAllSticky]

We went down to Austin on Thursday and drove through the night (11ish hours).  We only had Sunday passes to ACL, but we had late night tickets to Sound Tribe Sector 9 on Friday at La Zona Rosa.  They are incredible. This was my third (and fourth on Sunday) time to see them and they just don't disappoint.  

Anyway, we got to the festival on Sunday at 1:30 just as STS9 was beginning their set with "Instantly."  A solid hour dripping sweat in the mid-day Texas sun.  We pretty much sat under a tree and listened to the acts that played in the tent (Grace Potter and the Nocturnals are the only ones that stand out).  We went for the last half of Bloc Party (never been impressed, there are plenty of indie-rock outfits  that don't get the hype of bloc party but are way better). We only went to see them to get a good spot for MMJ.  

When they finished and we walked forward, there were a ton of other people with the same idea. From what I gathered, the vast majority were simply waiting for Bob Dylan on the same stage.  Met up The_Wizzard and her friends and chatted for a while, took some photos, talked about you guys, etc.  Hopefully someone will post some pics of the stage, but there was a volcano island/palm tree back drop, with tropical plants and  totem poles on the stage.  It opened with two guys carrying metal detectors across the stage.  Then the boys came out in Hawaiian shirts and beach accessories, except Jim, who just had on a lime green sleeveless shirt with a long blond wig.  Two-tone came out with a scuba mask and snorkel and floaties.  Patrick sported swimming goggles and Bo rocked the Zinc Oxide on the nose a la Ug from Nickelodeon's classic "Salute Your Shorts."  

The review in the first post  is a little misleading.  The pineapple girls weren't "Polynesian-looking," they just wore "Polynesian-looking" clothing.  They were all different races though (the women not the clothing).  The sound people didn't have a great mix until a couple songs into it, but it was nice and loud as per the usual.  Standouts from the show (for me) were "Sooner" and "Lay Low."  I had said the night before that I'd like to hear "Sooner," and it worked so well with the island theme.  Jim broke out the omnichord for it and that's always fun.  Bird did some cool staccato riffs on the violin during this one.  On Lay Low, they got to the part where the guitars do that same riff in harmony, but Jim didn't go into it with the rest of the band, and as close as we were, you could see Carl make a face like "ohh, we're not ready for that yet?" and Jim proceeded to shred for a few more measures until they went into it as usual.  Jim's voice was on for sure too.  I really hope a recording surfaces.  

That's all I've got. It was only an hour. Oh yeah, we wore Hawaiian shirts that day so we could keep up with one another, and had no idea that we would match the theme! You'll see when Liz gets pictures up.  

-Ian

[clickhand]

First MMJ show. Drove 5 hours North from McAllen, TX, MMJ was the only reason I bought a ticket for ACL. Definately worth $80.

I was very impressed with the quality of the live sound. To me it sounded gorgeous, emotional to hear the songs I love brought to life like that in person.

I've seen quite a few concerts in the past 15 of my 31 years and I would have to say this was one of the best hours of live music I've experienced. Completely blew Bob Dylan's creaky ghost out of the festival IMO.

I can't wait to see them in an indoor venue with an MMJ only crowd.

Looking forward to reading any more reviews that come in...

[clickhand]

The sound people didn't have a great mix until a couple songs into it, but it was nice and loud as per the usual.  

Can you describe a little more about the sound problem? You're the 2nd person to mention a sound issue during the performance. This was my first time seeing MMJ live so I don't have anything to compare it to, but to my ears it sounded perfect.

[bridget]

thanks for the review, sticky 8-)

and great pic, bry!

I haven't heard many reviews of the mmj set - most of the people I know and most of the blogs I read went to Wilco for some ridiculous reason. Glad to hear some first-hand accounts.

Ugh. Seeing those photos - it just hit me. My last two Novermbers have been marked by trips home to hook up with my friends and see mmj amidst their fall tour. I can't believe I'm not going to see em again til sometime next year. it hurts it hurts...

[ItsAllSticky]

clickhand,

so happy to hear that you enjoyed yourself!  MMJ was also the only reason I came down and bought a Sunday ticket.  The sound problem was more of a mix issue.  Jim's voice was not nearly as loud in the mix as it usually is, the guitars kept changing volume, and the total mix would seriously decrease in volume from time to time.  They had much more serious problems at Bob Dylan.  The secondary speakers (the ones that are like 100 yards from the stage) weren't even on until a few songs into his set.  They sounded incredible though, to be sure.  They always do.  You can't beat the energy coming off the stage. They so clearly love what they're doing and love the fans.  

Almost forgot, you really do need to catch them in a venue at night.  They have an incredible lighting designer.  

[benjammin06]

mmj at acl was sick. they were my purpose of sunday...well and mr dylan but their live shows are unparallaled. ahhhhhh i wish i could go back

[red]

[size=18]My review: Their shit was on fire!!![/size]

[vespachick]

Okay, here's a few pics from ACL. What a great show.  Do I really have to wait until next year to do it again??? :'(  I'm still too awake to sleep, but tired as hell and I haven't really properly gone through these, but here's what I got.  

Liz, crazy to see you and hubby on the plane!  Next time we'll definately have to have a beer together.

[LaurieBlue]

http://mylittleghostfriend.blogspot.com/2007/09/my-morning-jacket-acl-one-hell-of-beach.html

[TheBigChicken]

[size=18]My review: Their shit was on fire!!![/size]

who's got the marshmellow's and hotdogs ;D

[Kory]

nice pics VC!

[c0g]

clickhand,

so happy to hear that you enjoyed yourself!  MMJ was also the only reason I came down and bought a Sunday ticket.  T

Same here.  I arrived just as Bloc Party finished, in time to get up to the front.  

Well worth the $50 I paid the scalper!

[clickhand]

Well worth the $50 I paid the scalper!

nice deal! 30 dollars off, not bad...scalpers must've overestimated the demand...