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Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2008 > August > 26 > Entry
Review: MMJ at ACL
Like a cross between… nothing. J. James and co. warm up for ACL
Although often considered interchangeable terms, there’s a big difference between inspiration and influence. My Morning Jacket is a band that sounds influenced by no one and yet the songs of Jim James are inspired by the smell of rain, a good meal, Prince, “Nebraska” and how it feels better to sleep on bed sheets that have come off the clothesline instead of out of the dryer. They’re pure, organic, truly original and a little boring, but that’s OK because they’re also inspired by the fact that it takes more muscles to yawn than it does to hoot.
I had never seen My Morning Jacket live until last night at their “Austin City Limits” taping and had only listened to one of their albums, the new “Evil Urges,” a couple of times. The band of mountain men from Kentucky had slinked onto the national scene after my run as music critic evolved into a more general feature writing role. Having ditched my old faves Wilco after they started sounding more influenced by Radiohead than inspired by a warm day in winter, I wasn’t really looking to be challenged by another Midwestern band with a new way to (not) rock.
But my dear friend V is a major MMJ fan (so much that the initials could stand for My Michael Jordan), so I tagged along to that windowless world at Guadalupe and 26th. While ACL tapings generally lack the energy of a concert- any way to darken the faces of audience members?- they are a good way to study a band, as if under glass. My analysis turned up a couple of major points in the band’s appeal. First, James is an exceptionally intuitive singer who can turn it off and on like a faucet. His songs sound like he was raised in a bunker miles from anywhere, out of radio’s range, but with the instinctive knowledge that Motown and the Grand Ole Opry existed. Second, the band stays out of his way and he rewards them with the occasional instrumental freakout (actually the weakest part of their m.o.). Also, there’s no way to overstate just how vital the drummer is to the band’s genre-jumping abilities. No other caveman could lay down such a perfect disco beat.
You’ll note the lack of song titles in this “review.” Just look at the track listing on “Evil Urges.” That’s the set list, scrambled up. According to V, the band also played a couple of never-recorded songs and ended with a couple of fan faves from the LP’s “Z” and “It Still Moves.”
My Morning Jacket is a band that people follow, though not as blindly (or deaf-ly) as Deadheads. They remind me, more philosophically than musically, of another band from Louisville, NRBQ. My favorite adage about NRBQ, those musicians’ musicians from the ‘70s and ‘80s, is that when they’d travel by car they’d never play the radio. Instead, someone would name a song- “Chestnut Mare” by the Byrds, for instance - and the four members would think about that record in silence for about as long as it lasted. Then someone would name another song.
So much happens in the head before it ever makes it to the hands. What I got out of last night’s taping is that My Morning Jacket makes music of the mind, that playground of inspiration.
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By Fan
August 26, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
Michael…congrats on your new “more general feature writing role”. But, please don’t B1TCH about going to see an ACL taping and sounded like you had to be dragged there!
Some of us have been trying for years to go to just ONE of these tapings. Let alone some of us diehard MMJ fans who would do anything to see such an intimate show, reading this.
Thanks for the “review”
Michael Corcoran responds: Since moving to Austin 24 years ago, and with full access, I’ve been to fewer than 10 ACL tapings. I don’t like the feel (though the seating is much improved over the old backless benches) and I always figure that there’s someone in the standby line who’d have a much better time than I. By the way, not to rub salt, but everyone in the standby line Monday night eventually got in.
By Fan
August 26, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
Michael, I understand we all have differing musical tastes and I APOLOGIZE if I came off rude.
I guess I am just frustrated with the way ACL does the tickets to these things. No offense, but you get tickets to these all the time and you have only been to ten?
Again I am SORRY, but maybe I just should not have read this so early in the morning and I should not have taken my frustration out on you.
ALSO, next time you are not that interested in a ACL show SELL ME YOUR TICKETS!!!
Michael Corcoran responds:No problem whatsoever. My advice for those who want to attend ACL tapings, but don’t have luck or connections. Come early and hang out in the “space available” line. Learn how it works from all the “red line” veterans. You might not get in every time, but I’d bet you’d be surprised at how often you do.
By Fan2
August 26, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this
I agree with Fan. Was there no one else on staff that would be better qualified for such a review? Although, the Stubb’s review was pretty poor as well. At least Mike’s on the right track of “getting it” (except for bashing the instrumental build-ups). I guess I just expect a little more from this site.
By no name
August 26, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this
Just because reviews don’t include stupid fanboy lines like “MMJ is the bestest band in the world” doesn’t mean they are poor. There’s more to reviewing than boosterism.
By Joel
August 26, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this
We were also at the MMJ taping and I was blown away. They played for 2 hours and we were fortunate to snag the setlist.
http://ultra8201.blogspot.com/2008/08/last-night-my-morning-jacket-austin.html
By Matt
August 27, 2008 1:04 AM | Link to this
NRBQ is NOT from Louisville. They were originally from Florida, but have called the Northeast home for many years.
Saw MMJ at Stubbs on Sunday. They were good, but they’ll never match the 2003 Parish show. The crowd on Sunday was obnoxious, too busy chatting and playing with their cell phones. Why do people pay to get into a show and then ignore the band?
By Michael Corcoran
August 27, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
Matt- Since band leader Terry Adams and original guitarist Steve Ferguson are from Louisville, I would trace it’s roots to the home of Cassius Clay. But you’re technically right, the actual band called NRBQ was formed when the Kentuckians met Joey Spampinato and Tom Staley in Florida.
By jojo
August 27, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this
Having been to both Austin shows this weekend, I can safely attest that the ACL taping was hands down the one to attend. Almost every Stubbs show I go to anymore is FULL of losers who waste money on tickets just to drink beer and talk loudly (and the more they drink the louder they get). I’m ready to give up on that venue altogether for concerts.