MMJ: That’s A Fucking Rock Show

I’m not familiar enough with MMJ’s catalogue nor alert enough this morning to properly review the show in the manner to which I’m accustomed, but I do want to post some pics and videos of last night’s ridiculousness. Let’s begin with a quick YouTube video I shot of the show’s beginning — the band started playing One Big Holiday from behind a raised curtain, and when the sheet came tumbling down, the crowd whipped into a genuine frenzy:

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One of the reasons I dug these guys so much is their incredible rock-heavy stage presence. Nearly every song — save a few slower tempo numbers — led to a jam that brought all three guitar-holding members into the center of the stage, where they all eyefucked wook drummer Patrick Hallahan and jumped around like caged monkeys. Jim James did these rock-jumps wearing knee-high Moonboots, and that may have been worth the price of admission alone. I’m dead serious.

Here’s another good shot of Double J serenading the crowd:

The sound on the following clip is absolutely atrocious — I’m warning you right now. In fact, for the first time ever, I recommend you turn the sound down as low as possible (not off, though). Still, I’m posting this up here because it’s a great video to induce epileptic seizures, and that’s what I’m into right now. I wish my camera picked up better sound, because this 50 seconds might have been one of the best segments of the evening:

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More bright lights and fuzzy pics:

We walked into the Roseland as The Slip was finishing their soundcheck, the place so empty that my evening companion — possibly the biggest Slip fan on this planet — produced a wave to the band and received a head nod of wassup in return. The Slip’s set was fantastic, a seriously well-played showcase for a group on the rise. It’s funny, when the room started to really fill up, we realized how important the set was for them. This is the type of set that can turn a whole slew of uninitiated fans onto a solid rock band. They did not disappoint.

Here’s another admittedly tough-sounding YouTube clip of all three Slip band members either ignoring or forgetting the advice of their middle-school drama teacher to “spread out and use the whole stage”:

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An action shot of The Slip, possibly taken during Airplane Primitive:

I only had one complaint about an otherwise flawless rock show — MMJ forgot to play The Band’s It Makes No Difference, which isn’t exactly in their regular rotation but a tune to which they’re no stranger. I said before the show, “If they do it, I’m going on tour with them for the rest of their lives.” Oh well, guess I’ll just have to catch them the next time they rock the fuck out of New York City.

I’m guessing Theater @ MSG next time, although with the buzz they’re getting these days, it might just be the plain ol’ Garden. I can’t wait.

11/30/06 Setlist:
One Big Holiday, What a Wonderful Man, Gideon, The Way That He Sings, Off The Record (with amazing breakdown section), Just One Thing, It Beats 4 U, Wordless Chorus, Lowdown, Lay Low, Phone Went West, Dondante, Run Thru, They Ran

Encore: Tonight I Want to Celebrate With You (Jim and Carl only), Nashville to Kentucky (full band, including saxophone), Golden, Steam Engine, Dancefloors, Mahgeetah, Anytime

Bonus audio: Here’s My Morning Jacket in the That Tent at Bonnaroo ’06, and here’s one from 11/22/06 in the band’s hometown of Louisville.