Greetings everyone. I hope your enjoying this nonhumid, beautiful summer weather. I’ve been trying. No post last week because of the dreaded summer cold I picked up from a germ factory, aka my friends’ infants (That was the father’s term, not mine). I’m wrapping up summer in fine form with yet another kick ass weekend of music. First up, My Morning Jacket at Merriweather Post Pavilion.
I absolutely love My Morning Jacket. They are one of the premiere live acts out there today. Lead singer Jim James is a showman extordinaire and always leaves everything he has on the stage. One of my friends from Penn State, who was responsible for turning me on to Widespread Panic way back in the day, called MMJ “postmodern Americana”. I could not think of a more apt description. They play a mix of various genres but have their own unique sound which many other bands have aped. One term I’ve read describing them is “beard rock”. Anyone doubt I’d be a fan of something called beard rock?
Andy Miller and myself headed down a little later than normal. We took a back way through Westminster to avoid the rush hour traffic of the Beltway. Andy also had to pick up his contacts. See how much I care about my musicians? (In addition to my full time gig of being me, I am consigliere for Devolver, Frank Miller’s Beard, and Boxcar Social). We ended up getting a little lost. My GPS kept recalculating the route before we even got off the beaten path. It told us to take a left where there used to be a road and at one point claimed I wasn’t even on a road. We eventually made it to I 70 and got into the Lot.
As some of my more faithful readers may remember, I consider Merriweather my own backyard. These shows always bring out the locals. I love the venue despite my unfortunate close encounter of the worst kind way back in 1999 at the Phish show. We pull in and I notice that the Lot looks pretty filled and I don’t want to get buried. So before we even get to the first right, I see an empty space occupied by one of those board-at-an-angle-beanbag-toss games. Andy gets out, asks the guys to move it so we can park there and we are set with a prime spot.
Gretchen Gadzoski (sp) recognized me. I haven’t seen her in maybe 15+ years but she spots me immediately. I had an experience with ESP involving her back in the day. I was doing a balloon on the Spectrum Lot, Spring of 1995 Dead Tour. I flashed to someone talking about giving and receiving presents for Easter. I had never heard of such a tradition so I remembered my hallucination being about that. Later that summer, she was talking about it. What can I say, I’m in tune with the Phlow.
Meet up with Corey O and Ralphie. Chill in the Lot and then head in. It was such a different experience than when Phish plays there. First, no cops in the lot at ALL. The police RV is not there. Second, no security walking around. Inside the venue, no lines for anything. It was maybe a third filled. I actually noticed the contours of the lawn. A rather beautiful place when not overrun by wookies.
I caught the last 3 songs by Neko Case. I’m not familiar with any of her stuff so I can’t comment on it. Half an hour break and then it was on. The lights went down and the minimalist lighting and set design lit up.
My Morning Jacket, 8/12/2011, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD
Victory Dance, Circuital, Off the Record, I’m Amazed, Gideon, Outta My System, Golden, Evil Urges, Mageetah, Slow, Dondante, Smokin From Shootin, First Light, End of Run Thru, Movin Away, Phone, Black Metal, I Will Sing,
Encore: Wordless Chorus, Day Is Coming, Islands in the Stream (w/ Neko Case), Touch Me Prt 2, Highly Suspicious, One Big Holiday
It was all high energy from the get go. Many of their songs have structured jams and they play the hell out of them. Andy Miller pointed out a total Star Wars theme that Jim James had going on. He came out with some type of computer that lit up hanging around his chest. It looked like Darth Vader’s chest plate. He also wore a towel over his head for a few songs. He looked like Emperor Palpatine the way he was lit by the stage lights. But it all looked awesome. No one can doubt that the Force is strong in Jim James. Timcheck once remarked that he looks like a mountain man but sings like an angel. Well said.
I love being on the lawn. There is something special about being out under the stars listening to live music. The full moon was the next night so it was super bright as it rose over the trees. The sound was incredible. The new HD screen adds so much to the lawn experience. There was a guy who had a tie-dyed sheet about 3 feet by 5 feet. He had it attached to a stick and was dancing around with it very intensely. He did this pretty much the whole show. While chilling on the lawn, I ran into a couple that I met last year at the MMJ show. Like I’ve said, this is my house. Alexis talked to the tie dye guy. He was walking around like he was looking for something. She asked him what was up. His reply “Not only did I lose my mind, I lost my car keys as well” He was all over the lawn so who knows where his keys ended up. Probably still looking for them.
The show ended right before curfew. We headed out into the Lot and were on the road within 5 minutes. There weren’t even any cops directing traffic when we left. But once again, My Morning Jacket reaffirmed my belief in the redemptive power of rock and roll.
Dave Kemp
BA American Studies
PhD Rock and Roll
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