Happy Birthday Jim James: Performing Live With My Morning Jacket At Red Rocks In 2016

Today marks My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James’ birthday. Born James Edward Olliges Jr. on April 27, 1978 in Louiseville, Kentucky, the acclaimed singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and performer went on to form MMJ in 1998 in Louisville. James has also enjoyed a celebrated solo career.

Part of having an acclaimed and celebrated career is performing at acclaimed and celebrated locales and there’s perhaps nowhere that fits that bill better than Red Rocks Amphitheatre. My Morning Jacket has delivered some memorable concerts at the iconic Colorado venue over the years including with The Black Keys in 2008 when both bands were ascending rapidly. MMJ also ended their hiatus at the storied venue in 2019.

In 2016, Jim James and MMJ kicked off a two-night run with another memorable Red Rocks outing that saw the band fit in rarities and welcome a pair of special guests including a former member. The band also paid tribute to Prince just over a month after his untimely death.

Opening with “Victory Dance,” the first rarity fell in the sixth slot of the nearly three-hour concert in the form of “Just One Thing.” Following that performance, MMJ welcomed opener Eric D. Johnson of Fruit Bats for “Wonderful (The Way I Feel).” Read an excerpt from Jambase's coverage of the show below focusing on the aforementioned bust out, guest spot and more:

One of the biggest surprises of the night came early on, when MMJ dusted off It Still Moves track “Just One Thing” for the first time in nearly three years. Jim James & Co. last played “Just One Thing” way back on July 18, 2013. Next up was a version of “Wonderful (The Way I Feel)” featuring Eric Johnson of openers Fruit Bats. Later in the set My Morning Jacket offered the 2016 debut of “Picture Of You” from their debut album The Tennessee Fire.

The James solo cut “State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.)” also counted among the first dozen songs. Jim’s cousin and former guitarist Johnny Quaid also joined in for the MMJ original “Steam Engine” from 2003’s It Still Moves, the final album Quaid contributed to. The guitarist stuck around for a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Knocking On Heaven’s Door” and would emerge again on “Run Thru” as well as on a set-closing rendition of “Purple Rain” in tribute to The Purple One. MMJ then proceed to deliver a five-song encore.

To celebrate Jim James’ birthday, watch MMJ’s entire May 28, 2016 performance at Red Rocks below: