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Dawn Breaks on MMJ
My Morning Jacket's "Evil Urges" promises great things
When I saw Louisville, Kentucky rock outfit My Morning Jacket in Detroit about three years ago, it was by accident. I'd trundled down to Saint Andrews Hall to see my pals the Deadstring Brothers who were opening up, and upon the conclusion of their set, I lurked around long enough to see MMJ take the stage. It only took a song or two for me to dismiss them as happy hippies. "Nice T-shirts," I thought, as I passed the merch booth and made my way into the night.
What a boob.
MMJ took their revenge this weekend when the band's appearance on Saturday Night Live nearly knocked me off the couch. Damn! What could I have been thinking those many moons ago? These guys are amazing.
First of all, the dazzling twin guitar attack of singer/songwriter Jim James and second guitarist Carl Broemel is the rarest of all birds – two fully actualized, passionate players whose considerable technical proficiency is vastly overshadowed by mutual, natural, true grit. These guys are emotional players, and not in the drippy "Free Bird" sense, but in a much more intangible, alchemical way. What they do together is transcendent — even when contained to a 22" color TV screen.
The other players, rhythm section "Two Tone Tommy" Blankenship (bass) and Patrick Hallahan (drums), and keyboardist Bo Koster, are also spectacular musicians – but the real magic of this band is centered around James. His bearded countenance (along with Hallahan's "Which way to Bonnaroo?" mammoth shroud of hair) is what probably inspired me to write them off as a nappy hippie act at St. Andy's. But now, I would like to extend a personal invitation for them to take turns kicking my monkey ass.
What a boob.
MMJ took their revenge this weekend when the band's appearance on Saturday Night Live nearly knocked me off the couch. Damn! What could I have been thinking those many moons ago? These guys are amazing.
First of all, the dazzling twin guitar attack of singer/songwriter Jim James and second guitarist Carl Broemel is the rarest of all birds – two fully actualized, passionate players whose considerable technical proficiency is vastly overshadowed by mutual, natural, true grit. These guys are emotional players, and not in the drippy "Free Bird" sense, but in a much more intangible, alchemical way. What they do together is transcendent — even when contained to a 22" color TV screen.
The other players, rhythm section "Two Tone Tommy" Blankenship (bass) and Patrick Hallahan (drums), and keyboardist Bo Koster, are also spectacular musicians – but the real magic of this band is centered around James. His bearded countenance (along with Hallahan's "Which way to Bonnaroo?" mammoth shroud of hair) is what probably inspired me to write them off as a nappy hippie act at St. Andy's. But now, I would like to extend a personal invitation for them to take turns kicking my monkey ass.
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