Jim James Performs Solo Set & Guests With Joe Russo’s Almost Dead At Lockn’ Festival

A year after My Morning Jacket served as one of the headliners for the 2016 edition of the Lockn’ Festival, the band’s frontman Jim James returned to Infinity Downs Farm for a solo set. James, who has an unofficial award named after him at the Newport Folk Festival for acts that embrace the spirit of collaboration, showcased that willingness yesterday both during his scheduled slot and again later in the night when he made a surprise appearance during Joe Russo’s Almost Dead’s late-night set.

James’ early evening set saw the MMJ lead singer offer up a diverse setlist that opened with a cover of Frank Sinatra’s “Young At Heart,” and included covers of Quincy Jones’ “Everything Must Change” and Bill Withers'”Lean On Me.” James also mined My Morning Jacket’s songbook for a take on “I’m Amazed” and a pair of deeper cut tracks “Look At You,” from 2008’s Evil Urges and “Throwback (When We Were Young),” an unreleased tune that was debuted last year and has only been played a handful of times. James also played a handful of selections from his solo catalog with “A New Life,” “Over and Over,” “Here in Spirit” and “State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.).”

Towards the end of his set James invited out Brandi Carlile, who was performing a set of her own directly after, to sit in with him. The singer-songwriter joined James for a take on MMJ’s “Wonderful (The Way I Feel)” and a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind.” James wrapped up his solo set with another special guest inviting out drummer Joe Russo, as the trio offered up a take on The Plastic Ono Band’s “Give Peace A Chance.”

Later in the night James returned the favor to Russo, as he stuck around to make his debut with Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, who were scheduled to play a late-night set at the Relix Stage. JRAD opened their set with a monster seamless run of “Shakedown Street,” Bob Weir’s “Gonesville,” “Uncle John’s Band” and “The Other One.” The band welcomed their first guest to the stage next, as Nicole Atkins emerged to sing lead on the Grateful Dead cover band’s debut performance of Willie Dixon’s “Little Red Rooster.” Next up, JRAD offered up their interpretation of the “Terrapin Station Suite,” which had been played in full earlier in the night by Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Nicki Bluhm and The Terrapin Family Band. “Truckin'” followed, with Atkins emerging once again for a take on “Cassidy.”

Joe Russo & Co. kicked into “Help On The Way” next, and indeed some help did follow, as Jim James unexpectedly joined the band on stage. MMJRAD threw everyone for a curveball as they dove headfirst into a cover of Jane’s Addiction’s “Been Caught Stealing,” from their 1990 album Ritual De Lo Habitual. James than stuck around to close out the set with a more traditional selection singing lead on “Brown Eyed Women,” marking the second time that he has done a Dead tune with Russo on drums, previously performing “Candyman” with Alone & Together at their Newport Folk Festival after-show. JRAD closed out the night with help from both James and Atkins on “Brokedown Palace.”

Watch a handful of clips from James’ solo set, his sit-in with JRAD and check out full setlists below:

[Give Peace A Chance w/ Brandi Carlile & Joe Russo | Captured by DCRANGERFAN]

[Everything Must Change (Quincy Jones Cover) | Captured by DCRANGERFAN]

[Throwback (When We Were Young) | Captured by DCRANGERFAN]

[JRAD w/ Jim James – Been Caught Stealing | Captured by monihampton]

JRAD Setlist (via JRAD is RAD)

Shakedown Street > Gonesville > Uncle John’s Band > The Other One > Little Red Rooster*, Terrapin Station Suite, Truckin’, Cassidy*, Help on the Way > Been Caught Stealing^, Brown Eyed Women^

Encore: Brokedown Palace*^

• * – w/ Nicole Atkins
• ^ – w/ Jim James