Columbus Roll Call.......

[TEO]

They played Phone at this venue last time and it was probably the best version I had heard...

[mdc24]

They played Phone at this venue last time and it was probably the best version I had heard...

i second this. loved it last time they played that here.

[TEO]

Shaved and shined. Going to leave in about an hour. Check in at the Crowne Plaza, relax, and then HEAD TO THE VENUE>>> :)

[mike]

Jusk listening to MMJ while waiting for the show in not so many hours. Can't wait. Interested to see if they play a longer show tonight as this venue does not really enforce a strict curfew. Have seen Gov't Mule play to midnight at this venue and hope they will run late tonight as well.

[mmj8890]

Does anyone know if the thunder/lightning that's expected could cancel/postpone this thing? I am driving from pretty far away (3.5 hours) and I don't want to have wasted the trip. Thanks!

[TEO]

*Jim, megaphone, and yodeling. 'Nuff said! Enjoyed PHJB more than I thought I would. Had a lot of "swing" to it.
*Ran into Jacketgirl surprisingly and enjoyed visiting with her
*Saw thatswhatshesaid and got caught up after a long absence
*Have seen better setlists, but who cares, after a 1 1/2 year hiatus they could have played happy birthday for 2 hours and I would have been happy
*Lost crazylove as usual. (3 shows now, I have come to expect it) she pushed up about 3 rows deep and hung with some cool college guys up front
*Rawked total balls with Love Dogg. We leaned against the concrete wall and went to Church on a Sunday. I love that kid. His dedication/knowledge of the band inspires all around him
*Lotsa Cuties! Too bad they were covered up with all of that rain gear and all
*Pit cool and chill. Did not see a single glow stick or dumb fucking drunk besides myself
*I love this venue. Just the right size and peeps in Columbus seem cordial and considerate of others
    gotta' get some breakfast and my paid time is almost up...MMJ FOREVA' BABY!!!

[Erik26]

Another 'Where to Begin'...lucky @#%^#'s. I thought it was a solid set list. Maybe my 3rd or 4th favorite on this mini tour.

[xmascriminal]

First of all, WHERE TO BEGIN. When I realized they had begun playing it, I experienced one of the most surreal moments I've ever had at a show. I couldn't believe it, even as it was happening.

I loved Preservation Hall's opening set. I don't know most of the songs by name, but I really dug that percussion-heavy one especially. Jim came out to a huge scream and proceeded to yodel for us during his first song. I was smiling the whole time. And then there was St. James Infirmary Blues. His singing on it was perfect with some amazing screams between verses. It was one of the best vocal performances I've ever seen from him live. Then he left the stage and the rest of MMJ came out to play percussion on a faster reprise of the song with the saxophonist completely killing it on the vocal part. Awesomeness.

It was a pretty standard setlist (I'd already heard 17 of the songs live) but the way they played the songs was anything but. Last night had the best Mahgeetah and The Way That He Sings I've ever heard. Off the Record was pretty much stripped down to its skeleton with very little extra jamming and the band more or less keeping to the album version, but it sounded dead on. This was also the loudest Dondante I've ever heard. The guys went completely crazy in the section leading up to the saxophone and it was amazing. Run Thru was as killer as ever, even if it was only half. Speaking of Run Thru, the lights were awesome, especially during that song and Lay Low. And Anytime was a great way to end the set. They did the same thing to me in Detroit. I keep thinking they're going to end with Touch Me Pt. 2, but they never do when I'm around. I love surprises.

As for the songs that weren't standard, they were all wonderful to hear. I've already mentioned Where to Begin. But there was also Tonite I Want 2 Celebrate W/ U!, which I really enjoyed. I thought putting it in the midst of the set, instead of in the encore where it usually is, worked really well. I also appreciated the full band arrangement of Wonderful (The Way I Feel), nice and subtle. I dug Carl's solo song Carried Away much more than I was expecting based on listening to the recordings. It was actually one of my favorite performances of the night. Great choices guys.

The encore with Preservation Hall was ridiculous in a very beautiful way. I really think that they should have recorded the studio version of Highly Suspicious with horns. The arrangement really enhances the song. Evil Urges benefited too certainly. And after Carnival Time, when I was expecting the show to end with Move On Up, there was Dancefloors. So much fun. I almost thought it would be the last song considering the way they were attacking it. But nope, Move On Up closed the show out as I expected and it was a great performance with the pianist from Preservation Hall going amusingly nuts at the end.

Overall, it was a completely amazing show.  When are they touring again?  :'(  ;)

[Penny Lane]

**Lost crazylove as usual. (3 shows now, I have come to expect it) she pushed up about 3 rows deep and hung with some cool college guys up front

that's my girl.... ;) ;)

[twofingers]

Excellent night, can't wait to post my pictures and videos. Mike, Joe, Karen and Jen, great to meet all of you.

I was just right of center in the first row, got some great shots. It's the happiest I've ever seen Jim I think too, all the guys looked So well rested.

That dondonte is still giving me the chills..

[mike]

Don't have time for a proper review at the moment except to say fun fun fun! And lets give Columbus props, on a day with 90 percent chance of thunderstorms and rain all day  there was nice turnout for the Preservation set which I am sure pleased Jim and the boys. My friend and I talked to the booker for the venue and they were very pleased with the turnout.

[megalicious]

*Have seen better setlists, but who cares, after a 1 1/2 year hiatus they could have played happy birthday for 2 hours and I would have been happy

my sentiments exactly. glad y'all enjoyed the show!

[ms. yvon]

how is it that i didn't see ANY of you last night?  i thought i spotted TEO before the show, but couldn't catch his eye.  before the PHJB set i was scanning the crowd and i caught the eye of my pal ryan, who i had no idea would be there.  not the first time this has happened.  and not the first town.

rickie monie smashing that guitar and throwing up \m/ \m/ absolutely killed me.   that encore was such a dance party.  mark braud was playing these great bits during "highly" too.  just sly stuff.

and here we are at the end of the tour.  hmm.  

i've slept 10 hours, am a little post-show stiff and am heading out for coffee and record stores.  

i'm so glad the band decided to do these dates.  see you kids on the next go 'round!  [smiley=beer.gif]

[SmokinShootin]

I loved the show, but I must note that some things where off.

Jim wasn't getting there on Wordless Chorus for some reason and the sound was spotty in areas.

Other then that I had an amazing time and the set list was great.  I loved the variety they played, way more then what i expected and after seeing them before I have to say I had high expectations and those where exceeded.  Carl's song was amazing, I could of listened to that for the whole night and been happy lol.

[woodnymph]

HOLY COWWWW what a trip! Opening with Blue Yodel #9 with PHJB!!!! My deadhead friends would've been more than pumped if they weren't too cool to tag along! hehehe it was ALLSOME to meet you guys from the forum here! Finally had an outlet for all of my MMJ talk/thoughts...

What a perfect day... head shops were open, parking meters were off for Sundays.... I passed a highway marker that said "Columbus 111 Miles," at 1:11PM!!! I just had to high-five myself hah

 Sooooo wish I could have heard the soundcheck though, but super pumped they wound up playing Wonderful later on too! Won two free Ween tickets from the little email sign-up/raffle type prize table!

No glowsticks or outta control folks made it an even more joyful occasion! Definitely snagged some great pics; I may post some on here when I get to sorting them!

For a first-timer, it was pure magick... Front row, a handshake with Mr. James, the Where to Begin I'd been praying for, the timely wave of rain during Dondante that seemed to make it even deeper than it usually is... and that cape has me all riled up still hahahahhah

In TENTS

Can't wait for my next one!![smiley=tekst-toppie.gif]

[TEO]

I can't believe I missed you msy! We scanned the crowd before the show from the deck of the bar and you were no where in sight. We just figured you weren't there... :(

[Love Dogg]

Coming off of Derby Day, the weather that I woke up to was very devilishly whispering, "Don't go to Columbus today.  Stay in bed. You need the rest.  You can't do it like you used to, Toby."  And for the majority of the morning, I was like, "Yeah...you're right.  I'll just cozy up with a good rainy Sunday and CTFO."  

But then I thought about this being the last show of the mini tour, and how much I had looked forward to this show.  I couldn't figure out how to get there by myself without driving.  I tried willing it that way, I tried to fly like Superman but I couldn't get enough speed, I looked for a Turbo Boost button in my car...but came to the conclusion that I had to just jump in and practice the old fashioned art of driving to a show for a band that I really care about.  I don't go to church, so this is it for me.  The gas money is my tythe and the Budweisers when I get there will be communion.

The weather was SHITTY!  And people still can't drive, but the road led all the way to Columbus.  It's such a pretty and clean city too, having only visited once before, and driven thru a couple of times, I knew that was going to be a treat.  And it was!

I always have the best experiences when I go at them alone.  This was no different.  There's a nervous pride instilled in me when I do this.  I had to keep up with no one, and I didn't have to do anything I didn't want to do.

First person I see is TEO!  I love this man.  What a thru and thru guy.  Probably the 5th or 6th time we've hung and it's awesome every time.  I feel like we've know each other forever though.  Genuine peeps right there!  Everybody should listen to him when he speaks.  He doesn't like to waste his time on nonsense, so you can be sure that everything he says is worth listening to...even when he's drinking cup, upon cup of double-Maker's!  And of course Crazy Love was there!  She is so funny.  She's been in good company in the passed, with John and Paul, but still alows me to hang around her once in awhile.  A beautiful woman with true feelings for JJ.  Sure, she'll wonder off, but I know she's going to the light.

Got to meet Jacketgirl and her Steep Water peeps (can't wait to check out this band)!  Angela is definitely tuned in to what's going on with the Jacket and seems to be very grounded philosophically.  I admire that in her, and hope to run into her every chance I get.  Had a good conversation with Joe too.  Great peeps from Chi-town!

Wound up leaning on the back rail of the floor with TEO and the tall and very beautiful Agatha (who will be joining the Forum soon) and her boyfriend James, who came all the way from Brooklyn.  The good part was that we all got our faces melted at the same time in the same place, but it was a mess trying to figure out who's features were who's  in the fleshy puddle after the show.  I think we got it together okay.

The crowd was great!  I think the rain A) humbled everybody there and B) weeded out all the posers.  Plus I think there was something sentimental in the crowd that night with it being their last show of the tour.  I know I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

As far as the music:  Jim was in a GREAT mood that night!  I don't remember any rants, but he was loving playing music to adorers.  (Don't Get) Carried Away hits me so hard.  I LOVE that song so much.  I'm so glad I got to hear it again.  It sounds like a Jacket song.  Where To Begin, Dancefloors, Wonder (full band), etc...you know...!  As soon as Jim walked onstage to sing with the PHJB the rain stopped..until of course Dondante got cooking.  And even then it only sprinkled briefly.

The drive home was great until I got to Cincy, then dragged ass. I made it though...and I loved every second of May 2nd.  I love my Jacket peeps.  And I love being alive at the same time Jim James is alive.  Makes me feel special.   PEACE!

Jacket Fest 2010, Bitches!!!!!!  Bring it on!

[crazylove]

Toby, great to see you as usual.  We will have a clean bed, cold beer and open arms any time you can to make it to Indy!  You know you hold a special place im my heart, and sorry, but when the light beckons, I gotta go.

Nate, you are a turkey lurkey!!!  Get a name dude, and join the rest of us on this great place.  You will find some very special people on here! And make friends for life that share a lot of the same love. Thanks to you and your crew for being so inviting and fun!

Miss Y, I am so mad that we missed you!  We really looked for you.  How could that have happened??  I needed my "Jim is my heart throb buddy down front!"

Even though, MMJ left off a few of my favorites, I can't get enough. Especially you; yim yames, JJ, Jim James and maybe even SaraBanannaBear?!

I can't wait until we can all get together and celebrate the love!

Jacket Fest 2010 Bitches!!!!!!!!!   Be there!

[woodnymph]

[kydiddle]

Ya'll got Where to Begin!?! I am so happy for everyone there, but I am sad in my heart place. The song eludes me yet again.