My Morning Jacket Comes Home with a Two Night Run at Iroquois Amphitheater in Louisville

My Morning Jacket came home to play Thursday and Friday night in Louisville, Kentucky at The Iroquois Amphitheater. This venue was fabulous as far as location, sound, and crowd. Not to mention that MMJ is from Louisville, so most fans were there from the beginning of their existence, which has now become triumphant. Almost every major periodical has labeled My Morning Jacket as one of the best live bands of any genre of music. Jim James and every member of the band was playing like it could be their last show with intense energy and showmanship.

Iroquois Amphitheater is an old theater in the woods with a new wooden roof that blocked a little rain Thursday night. Both nights here in Louisville were completely sold out. The opening band, Twin Limb, put on a great set as well. Jim James came out with them and played Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You," which sounded angelic.

The capacity crowd was in great spirits and people came from all over for these performances. We had friends in town from Colorado, Portland, California all the way to Vermont. Jacket played most of their best songs off of every album to date including their newest album, Waterfall. They also dazzled two Prince covers, "Purple Rain" and "Raspberry Beret" as well as the late David Bowie's "Young Americans." They played with high energy both nights and the conversations of everyone leaving the venue was to the tune of, "are you kidding me, that was unbelievable." Jacket is playing limited shows this summer and is making a few festival appearances including Shakey Knees and Lockn. They are also playing a run at Red Rock in Colorado.

Images by Doug Siegel
www.dougsiegelphotography.carbonmade.com

My Morning Jacket's Two Night Run at The Palace

Jacket is on tour again promoting their new album, The Waterfall. They played a great set last night at The Palace, which is one of the coolest venues in the country as far as visual aesthetics and great sound. Floating Action opened the show and put on a great performance. They play another show at The Palace tonight which will have several surprises in store, according to Jim James. I got to shoot directly for the band last night, which was exciting as I think they are one of the top touring live bands in the world. Check out Jacket on their US Tour or many festivals. MMJ will headline Forecastle this year, which I will be working. They have also already sold out their Red Rocks Amphitheater show. Check out more info about them and some of my tour photos of MMJ at www.mymorningjacket.com..

Images by Doug Siegel

www.dougsiegelphotography.carbonmade.com

Jim James at 2013 Hangout Music Festival

Jim James

Jim James, best known for being the front man of My Morning Jacket, played to a bright eyed crowd Friday afternoon at The Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama.  The mid-afternoon sun beamed down on the festival goers as they bobbed and swayed to the charismatic man in the eggplant purple colored suit.  Jim James switched back and forth from his Flying V electric guitar and a saxophone throughout the show.  James’ set was mainly comprised of his solo material, but he did also dabble into a My Morning Jacket tune or two.  You didn’t have to be a My Morning Jacket fan to enjoy Jim James’ performance.

My Morning Jacket - Madison Square Garden

My Morning Jacket Shakes the Garden

Images and Article by Bill Kelly

Referring to Madison Square Garden as “holy ground” MMJ frontsman Jim James led his band through a rollicking 3 hour set at the venerable arena.  Home to the NY Knicks, NY Rangers and 52 Grateful Dead shows, the Garden’s suspended floor shook from opening song “Victory Dance” through the last encore, an ensemble cover of the old holiday chestnut “I’lll Be Home For Christmas” that brought opening act Band of Horses back onstage.     The last show of the “Ciruital” tour, the band pulled songs from all corners of their catelog, including the rarely played “Mahgeetah”.  Several tunes during the evening were accompanied by the Elvis Perkins in Dearland horns, bringing punch and brightness to the bands sound.  Throughout the show, James, guitarist Carl Bremel and bass player Tom Blankenship would charge back to drummer Pat Hallahan’s riser, jumping and spinning like dervishes.  The Garden literally pulsed with the energy emanating from the stage, the crowd jumping and singing in unison with the band.Hailing from Kentucky, with the roots of a Southern rock jam band, MMJ somehow transcends that labell by bending it beyond the usual clear noodling common to the genre.  Loud, beat driven with electronica undercurrents, the band demonstrated how a jam band can sound in 2012.

Click on images to enlarge

Holiday Hootenany with My Morning Jacket in San Diego

The 2011 Holiday Hootenany at Jenny Craig Arena, featured several bands including My Morning Jacket. MMJ played a full set of their classics and new songs off the album Circuital. In an initial interview, the band seemed exhausted from their travels, but it did not affect their set as they played the three hour set with colossal energy. The show ended with a fitting track named "One Big Holiday," which had the crowd fired up and wanting more from this legendary quintet. Photos by Doug Siegel Photography.

More coverage at http://www.flickr.com/photos/doug_siegel_photography/