My Morning Jacket | 09.19.08 | Berkeley

Looks like good times!

whoa!

Dennis,

Thanks so much for your spot on review of a show we've been waiting for here in the bay for a long time...the Jacket spreading their majestic owl-like wings in an arena like the Greek. I think the crowd warmed to give the band what they needed in order to deliver the Best of the Best for us.

Way to go BayArea and big thanks to the most un-jaded, creative and generous band in rock n' roll today.

Cool pictures.

This was one of the best shows, out of many, many, that I have seen in the last 15 years at the Greek. Phish, WSP w/ Santana, and now this go in my mental library. The band AND the fans were really flowing. Great pics of the drummers' cheerleader-like-arm-syncopation...their lights have really progressed. Fun shit. Perfect weather for MMJ

Seeing 'em on 10.3 at the riverside in Milwaukee, been waiting like 3 years and I cant wait! Great review, getting me even more stoked.

This show was as great as the pics make it look! I loved seeing MMJ in my favorite venue of all time. The Greek makes for a grand stage for any band, but MMJ more than did it justice. Nice review.

This saturday at Edgefield! Can't freakin' wait!!!

The band looks great and i'm really excited that i'm seeing them tomorrow in AZ! I've stated before how i love the fact this state is so ignorant with their musical tastes and how nobody knows who this band is and how they are shaking up the industry...they are a rockin show and i can't wait to see them again!

new years is going to be sick

MMJ! NYE! MSG! Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

do yourself a favor and go see these guys. rock!

i cant believe i have to wait a full 3 months to see these guys but is there any better first time seeing them than new years eve at the garden? i cant wait im already anticipating a life changing night.

7 song encor? sounds a little over the top

it is intense! very very intense...

NYE is gonna be the sickest show ever! I can't wait. These dudes rock!!!!

insignia: Set 1 was 2 hours. They took a 5 minute break and returned to rock us for another 45 minutes. Your "over the top" comment is meaningless.

Insignia...Really? you really made that comment...WOW.

No disrespect for MMJ, but how many times do we need to read their shows reviewed? Three reviews in a month and a half? Really?

Keep the reviews coming, keep the "over the top" encores coming. Best F#$#$ing band around! NYE is going to epic.

The Show in Boston was insane, some however many thousand people came to see them in a terrible rainstorm which was the remnants of Hurricane Hanna. However the energy there was incredible and almost everyone did not leave there seats for almost 3 hours. Best concert of 08. If the Jammys were being held next year, this would surely be the best tour.

MMJ is terrible!!!!!!! Why does jambase love them so much?

Sweet take DC!

question to LooseLouis - Why do you think they are terrible?

Do you not dig thoughtful, passionate, well-delivered music?

Do you not enjoy tremendous peaks and wide open valleys of sound set off with raging headbang to deeply funky, danceable moments?

Do you not like a singer who can hit one of the widest ranges going today?

After taking in a slice of music this summer as varied as the nations on the earth - MMJ's show stood out as an exceptional live concerts. I guess that's why JB loves em so much because MMJ is on top of their game.

It's exciting to follow them as they continue to dominate only getting better with each new album and tour.

There is alot of terrible music out there to call out MMJ just struck me as funny - but to each his own.

Best band on earth right now!! Chicago's only a few weeks away!

So I am seeing them tonight in Tempe and this review has got me uber excited and I still gotta finish out my day at work!!!

Your right toestothenose, to each his own. I could care less if people enjoy MMJ, i just hate them with a passion. I still don't understand how JamBase can pass up so many amazing shows for 3 MMJ reviews????

p.s. toestothenose your picture is pretty bad ass

I always thought this band was just OK, but I would get bored after a few songs. Like many artists I have been turned on to, it took one night in the right frame of mind to really get me into the songs. The Okonokos DVD did the trick. I have not seen them live & can not wait for the MPLS show 10-2!

Louis - Glad you dig the pic - was from an electric factory RD show 4 years ago. Seriously - any reason why you hate them w/ a passion? Dali at least said they bored him in the beginning. What show review should have been here in place of Cook's bang-up greek review?

maybe an Up-North festival review?

for JamBase to not have someone up there is pathetic.

Levon Helm's Ramble at The Ryman Auditorium would have been a nice review. Heard it was a stellar show and had all star list of guest performers. The Jacket is the best live act on the road right now. If your gonna do 3 Jacket reviews in such a short period of time why not the Louisville and Red Rocks shows? Great review though.

yes NYE MMJ will be sick, too bad the biscuits will be more sick. i'm sorry i just had to rep the biscuits. to be honest though an encore loses its value when its seven songs. the dead didn't play too many 2 song encores, but when they did it was to treat the fans and themselves for a rockin performance, now i know i'll get some neg nods bc of the biscuits comment but a seven song encore is too much.

Nice Review. Incredible show. Sorry if you don't GET IT. And, btw, Jambase post LOTS of show reviews. Don't read if you don't like.

MSG is going to be incredible. This band is growing exponentially right now. By 12/31 they might be ready to explode.

Ween's 2 night run at the Fillmore would of been a much better review.

OK -- let's not call it an encore -- let's call it Set 2. They played a total of 2 hours and 45 minutes of LIVE music that was electrifying. Damn Greek curfew...

"i just hate them with a passion"

unfortunately, this means you were born without a soul.

Saw them at the L.A. Greek on Sunday. Simply put...Amazing! Just thinking about Dondante gives me the chills. Best band touring right now!

see you in chicago, cant wait!!

The long (5+) encore is nothing unusual in many concerts. Before (and since) the dead, very few bands followed the 2 sets plus an encore format. Most shows had one set from multiple performers, often with an encore from the headliner at the end. Two set shows are the exception not the rule. I haven't seen them in a few years, but I know the Allmans were using the one long set followed by an extended encore for years (at least like 98-02). This is what Wilco does; it's what Springsteen does. It's not unusual at all except in the jamband (i.e. dead-influenced) scene.

On another note, keep the MMj reviews coming. Although the setlists don't vary too much from night to night (certainly more than some bands, but not as much as most jambands), the energy of the crowd and band is always worth a review. I been seeing these guys since they were playing coffee houses in Louisville and they just keep getting better. Can't fucking wait for the show at Edgefield this Saturday. Long live rock and roll!

great band, they put on a very fun show. or i should say jim james puts on a fun show, you really don't recognize the other guys that much. they are extremely repetitive though, don't expect much change from show to show.

i have to question anyone's taste in music if they seriously hate this band, or honestly think it's terrible. understandable if it doesn't do it for ya, but that would be like me saying panic is terrible. i don't enjoy it as much as others, but i give them mad respect, and i'm still willing to go see them live. also, 7 song encore/2nd set (whatever) = MMJ giving their fans everything they've got.

Well LL I dig the bros Ween also - here's a recent little nugget(in lew of a review). Built to Spill 9/20/08 - Deaner and the Meat Puppets sat in w/ em for a ballsy "Car" encore".

Check it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoHq6zmFkBk

I'd highly reccomend you revisiting MMJ in the future to see if they have something that you hate less. They are doing too many grand things to ignore.

I was very disappointed in the LA Greek Theatre show. I felt the band was just one big tease. They pretty much played their songs verbatim as heard on their CDs. Though they did jam two or three times, these mini-jams only lasted one or two minutes at best. I love their songs but was expecting a much more impressive display of musicianship from a band that has garnered so much hype. Who else went to the LA show and what are your thoughts? Did anybody go the LA show and the Bay Area show? How did they compare?

"I was very disappointed in the LA Greek Theatre show. I felt the band was just one big tease. They pretty much played their songs verbatim as heard on their CDs. Though they did jam two or three times, these mini-jams only lasted one or two minutes at best. I love their songs but was expecting a much more impressive display of musicianship from a band that has garnered so much hype. Who else went to the LA show and what are your thoughts? Did anybody go the LA show and the Bay Area show? How did they compare?"

...It was a great show, even if I'm not so keen on the new found popularity and having to share them with a ton more people...however, MMJ really isn't a "jam" band...Don't get me wrong, they rock like a mo fo, but they really don't improvise or go off script too much. Just cuz they may be the house band for a traditionally jam band festival and have hair is no reason to expect a 17 minute One Big Holiday - Drums - Space - Golden reprise jam. They are more focused on tunes/hooks at this point it seems, so the long winded freakouts aren't happening. Part of the climb up the rock ladder, perhaps? Yes, it was fun to see them in smaller venues with lower expectations and a more casual approach to the sets.... but the Greek (Berkeley) was good fun too. Jim is pushing the envelope vocally as much as ever the other night, so there not entirely playing it safe these days.

"the dead didn't play too many 2 song encores, but when they did it was to treat the fans and themselves for a rockin performance, now i know i'll get some neg nods bc of the biscuits comment but a seven song encore is too much."

...but does anyone remember a few years back when (at the fillmore wasn't it?) Pavement played 3 encores...the 3rd one after at least half the people had left and the lights/Greensleaves had already come on?! Yes, 7 songs is too many for an encore, but we were glad to hear it...Victim of the curfew I suppose, as that's really kind of a short show for them...especially due to the late start imposed by Ma Nature's drizzle

okay anyone bitching about the 7 song encore is a complete moron especially the fucking moron with the bisco comment... one of the worst concerts i have ever seen and i was on a bunch of good x

minneapolis in 9 days...can't wait. viva kentucky music

I'm really glad the band rocked...most everyone had a great time...but I'm pretty miffed (and confused) why Las Vegas AND Bozeman shows got cancelled because of "scheduling conflicts" !? Those are the only 2 shows of the tour I had tickets for, and could go to. What's up MMJ? Didn't sell enough tickets in Bozeman?

And...I'm glad I have tickets for Widespread Panic in Denver for NYE...cause I know they don't cancel because of "scheduling conflicts". Have fun in NYC.

One of the greatest rock and roll bands going. Took the show to the head. Charged across the Bay Bridge....hit EOTO at Mojito's for second set w/ Kang. WOOT WOOT!!!!!!!!!!!

i love JJ's voice, but one of the widest ranges going today? not too sure about that one. The high notes he hits live are decent but usually ends with a not so great scream. Volta's Cedric.... now that fella has got some range

I love MMJ and just caught them in DC. They're def on a major roll right now. JJ's voice was masterful. The band sounded tight, with an exceptional light show. My vibe is that they do in fact play a similar show each night. (Always ending with their "Freebird", OBH) But I guess that's the direction they're going in with their tremendous growth, expanding into the mainstream of music. I don't have a problem with that, that's where the money is! Well deserved! I just dig variations in setlists too.

Just saw them last night here in Tempe and they blew the roof off, even better than the last time they were here. They played a good 2+hrs of music, i was hoping for at least one more long good jam, but oh well, i was happy to get to see this band again and to do it the year they are doing MSG/NYE! If i would've known they were gonna be in Tucson tonight, i would go to that one too, if you haven't seen this band, do it once in your life ASAP, they are a Great American Rock Band!

Ive tried really hard to like these guys and I do like about half of the last album. But they just arent very good musicians the missed cues and bad notes really turned me off in a big way.

I agree with August West there isnt much "jamming" in this band and thats fine. I think the jamband "branding" of these guys is smart though, hippies will eat whatever you put in front of them.

mahgeetah at midnight on nye. for sure.

I thought this was an awesome show and I dug it for sure but those who were commenting on the lack of jamming are totally on point. They do very good renditions of their songs but stick pretty much to the album format. Yeah some solos or vocals are a bit different but there is almost no improv. That said these guys write some amazing songs and I really love their material. I'm looking forward to seeing them at MSG for NYE!

Reading this review made me even more excited for this Sat. at Edgefield!!!! BEST LIVE BAND! I'm glad they don't drag their songs out. I like them the way they are. They don't need to jam because they ROCK!

"They don't need to jam because they ROCK!" --> I couldn't have said it better. The Edgefield show is gonna be hot! I'll be the tall redhead up front screaming my head off. Can't wait.

1st time for MMJ and one of my best shows of 2008!

got NYE?

"If you didn't have a good time tonight, you didn't want to". Well said, Denis!

Saw them for the first time last night @ SDSU. F'n phenomenal show. Anyone who knocks the 5+ song encore/2nd set, whatever you wanna call it, obviously didn't experience it first hand...I got turned on by the okonokos discs a while back and would definitly see these guys again. Great energy...

I saw them at the SDSU Open Air Theater the other night too. I was definitely more impressed with this show than the previous time I saw them, but I still think that they don't quite live up to all the attention that they are given. Good show though overall.

They are the most powerful and emotional live act out there right now, that you don't need drugs to enjoy. If anyone was at their Bonnaroo show this year (or any year) they would know.

^^their sunday afternoon set at b-roo 05 was a lot like every other time I've seen them... just dreary and borderline generic. The big heads were kinda cool, but "the most powerful and emotional live act out there right now"??? i dont think so. I guess different perceptions of 'powerful' and 'emotional' are being felt here, but jeez peeps go see a VOLTA show.