...totally ripped my face off last night. Holy fuck, what a great gig. My previous MMJ live action experience had been sadly limited to their appearances on Conan, so I had a tiny inkling of what I was getting into, but still, jeeeezuz!

Plus I had the disadvantage of not knowing any of the material from Z (come through for me, Oldbulee!), and even without any familiarity the new songs were instantly accessible. Shit, not merely accessible, but they made me want to rush out and buy the album. They started out in the dark with some totally cool southern soul sorta thing - I assume it's from the new disc - which climaxed with Jim James' inarticulate falsetto wail piercing through the band's ruckus. And they just kept doing exactly that, moving from one tension-filled build-up to cathartic climax after another. Time and time again, after a song I'd think "that's it, that had to be the set ending climax" and then the band'd start up into another one that took the show to yet another level. The encore of their new single (whatever that might be called) followed by a rave-up version of "Mahgeetah" capped a truly incredible night.

And how good was it? After the show my wife HAD to buy their t-shirt. Trust me, that's an impressive measurement of how awesome this show was. I've never before seen her buy a band's merch.

The opener was Saul Williams, who did his spoken word/rap thang accompanied only by DJ CXKidtronic - no macho displays or bragging about bling, just good ol' fashioned political dissent. This was my first exposure to live hip hop, and with Williams stalking the stage while Kidtronic hunched over his sampler they reminded me of old NYC instigators Suicide - but a funkier, less directly confrontational version. It was a great change of pace for an opening slot, and kudos to MMJ for taking the initiative to introduce this music to their audience. Great night.

Wow. I need to see this band sometime. You'll love Z, Rads. It's pretty fucking great.

Great.

Another reason to kill myself for not going when they were here.

This might be the last time we can see em in these types of clubs. They definitely seem to be on an upward trajectory career-wise as long as the ol creative well doesn't dry up.

i have listened to Z a few times and I have to say I don't like it much. Parts of it sound more like a bad Flaming Lips album than an MMJ album. Maybe I need to listen a few more times but I am not feeling it so far.

They are my favorite live band. Rads, shipment is on the way.

Yeah, how did the Harry Monster not keep us updated on this. Bummer.

I think Z is the shit BTW.

nice - thanks for the review, rads.

hopefully i can hit them up here in the A-TX on November 17th. I trust my Uncle Monger.

well, thank you.

Nice to hear. I can't rave enough about how good they were when I saw them this past summer. I actually checked their site today to see if they were playing anywhere near me anytime soon, and sadly, they aren't.

This bodes VERY well for me and jagged when MMJ rolls through Big D two weeks from tonight.

OPEN DEATH!!!

Z made me a believer!

Haven't heard Z yet, but I'd be surprised if it's better than At Dawn

Steve

Completely different rekkids, but better in its own way, and not as good in its own way. You just gotta hear it, and I think you'll like it.

I saw them Tuesday in Salt Lake, and would say that they remain my favorite live act.

I do have to say that it wasn't as good a show as the 4 previous times I've seen them---given the reactions from E-stone in Denver and Radcliffe in Vancouver, I think they may have mailed in the Utah performance, just a bit. They did only play 12 songs, which I think is 4 or 5 fewer based on the set lists I've seen on this tour.

I'm seeing them again tonight in Seattle---hopefully they'll be back in true form.

Would love to see them live. I listened to the DC show that NPR webcast and that itself blew me away.

Haven't heard any MMJ but I'll be damned if this doesn't make me want to.


It's that good, guys?

I NEVER get to shows (there's nothin' around here). Now I'll HAVE to make the drive next time they're in my state. Thanks for the review, Radcliffe!

Saw the show here in Salt Lake with D. Marco and was likewise knocked on my can. Jim James' voice is absolutely amazing live - like Radcliffe said - hearing him shriek in the dark during the "Wordless Chorus" opener made the hair on my arms stand up and, oh yeah - he's got SICK guitar chops to boot (you MUST repsect the flying-V). Also impressive was these guys' ability to stretch things out without being the least bit boring - their keen understanding of crescendo and climax allows them to improvise and then build to an eruption instead of devolving into a noodly wanker-y mess. D. Marco was telling me this was probably the least exciting show of theirs he's seen and if that is so, I can only imagine what a GREAT show must be like, because this one was incredible. Saul Williams was impressive as well. Moral of the story - see these guys live.

ps. free band-authorized live shows available for download at:
http://www.archive.org/audio/etreelisting-browse.php?collection=etree&cat=My%20Morning%20Jacket

show is tomorrow night here. i went to buy tix today, not thinking they would be sold out.

and they were.

i was depressed.

i've seen saul for free a couple times though. dude is probably my favorite human being on the planet.

Jeebus am I glad you posted this Radcliff.

I picked up Z earlier this week and have not been as blown away by an album in a year or so. It is fucking slaying me. Had not listened to one note of theirs live or album until this time. Album of the year for me no doubt. Every song is good. Gideon grabbed me first. Then Off the Record. Now Laylow.

And holy fucking shit if they are not coming here on Nov 21. I vow to see them then or shall my junk fall off and rot.

wow radcliffe...i'm totally shocked that you liked 'em that much. don't know why that is...but i never woulda guessed it.

and sorry to hear your show was a bit of a letdown mike. they were in top form here in boulder on halloween night.

mmj is one of those bands that i will see EVERY time they come through town no matter what. not many bands fill that category for me anymore (wilco is the only other one i can think of at the moment).

My 2nd spin of Z, and, yeh- it is the shit.

Nice, review, Rad!!

I saw them last week in Toronto & you've captured the show beautifully.
What an amazing live show & band.
My wife, also, was into it -- and that rarely happens with the indie bands I drag her to.

Cheers,

audiobill

and we're getting Will Johnson of Centromatic for an opener...this is gonna be greatness

I believe he's opening the Austin show as well, so you gotta get out there Colin