My Morning Jacket at the Chicago Theater

I won't make a pretenses about being a big fan of My Morning Jacket.  I bought "At Dawn" in 2001 when it was released but I'm not about to turn this into a "I knew them way back then" post. Despite it's buzz on message boards, it didn't do too much for me.  A little too much reverb, a little long at 70 plus minutes, and then the purple on black lyric sheet didn't endure me very well either.  I'd give it a spin from time to time but mostly it was relagated to a cameo on shuffle on my iPod (once I joined the 21st century and got an iPod in 2007).

I'd take note of the bands rise from smaller clubs, building a buzz with fans, as well as getting the rep as a fantastic live band, as well as a "Jam Band".  It was also noted that they were getting rave reviews on their records.  It still didn't possess me to go and buy their records. . . until Saturday December 27th.  This is when I saw them at Chicago Theater.  I was invited by a friend and left to my own devices, it's a show I would not have sought a ticket for.

With a fervent fan base in tow, My Morning Jacket rocked the Chicago Theater.  One of the grand old theaters in Chicago.  It has a balcony equivalent to where those old dudes from the Muppet Show would critique Fozie and Kermit.  It's also where ushers sometimes hush patrons and point them to stay seated with flashlights (read:  No Dancing In the Aisles!).  Tonight, the crowd was allowed to boogie and sing all they wanted, even in the upper reaches of the theater.  I slinked out and picked up their latest release, "Evil Urges" on vinyl for $20 at the merchandise table.

Once I got home to listen to the record I found out just what a powerhouse live outfit MMJ really is.  The record is almost downright tame compared to the experience of a MMJ show.  So while I'm really tempted to get "It Still Moves" I think I'm more inclined to get the live boxset "Okonokos".  

While I don't regret going to see My Morning Jacket when they played at a place like Schuba's I will admit that I'm glad that I did finally get to see them.  See, it's more proof that I have no idea what is good for me.  Left to my own devices I'd have stayed home and played records with myself.

Since we know everything you read on the internet is true, here is a wikipedia link for My_Morning_Jacket

From the "Dept. of Did You Know:"

Stax label bluesman Albert King ("Born Under A Bad Sign", "Crosscut Saw", "The Hunter") plays the guitar left-handed, without restringing the instrument from the typical right-handed configuration.  From the book:  1000 Recordings Before You Die/

My Top 10 Records of 2008

Here is a not so quick run down of some of my favorite records of this past year.  I would say it was a pretty decent year for music.  If you continue to say that today's music is awful, you aren' t looking hard enough.  There's a lot of great music out there, you just have to search for it.  For some of you reading this, I know I am preaching to the choir.

1.  Gentleman Jesse - Introducing Gentleman Jesse

Rockin' little power pop record with great sing-a-long choruses, jangly guitars, and wonderful harmonies.  Here is his myspace page:  http://www.myspace.com/gentlemanjesse

2.  Foxboro hot tubs - An alter-ego to a more famous band.  Look them up and then buy the record.  Turn it up!  The website has a cool picture of the record cover

3.  Calexico. - Carried to Dust

Emotional output from Tucson's finest.  Joey Burns and John Convertino are truly masters of their craft.  How do you classify Calexico?  You can't really, literate lyrics, masterful instrumentation, spanish lyrics, whistling, hard to top.  Find them on Quarterstick records

4.  Okkervil_River - The Stand Ins

Singer-songwriter Will Sheff never ceases to amaze with his songwriting.  Quite possibly one of the great living songwriters of this time.  It's a shame he's not a household name.  Buy it on viny!  okkervilriver.com

5.  Matthew Sweet - Sunshine Lies 

Jangly guitars, harmonies, this is what Matthew Sweet does best and this record is no different.  Those of you with just "Girlfriend" may have to pay a vist to this record.  The vinyl has 4 bonus tracks.  Also, a nice picture of Jeff Goldblum in the gatefold!

6.  The_Black_Keys - Attack and Release

Criminally under-rated not only in the "2 piece hard-rockin' outfit" genre but under-rated in the rock world as a whole.  Dangermouse handles the production duties.

7.  The_Raconteurs - Consolors of the Lonely 

Jack White and Brendan Benson's 4 piece ode the classic 60's and 70's rock.

8.  Head_of_Femur - Great Plains

Is there a trend here with me with pop, or power-pop records?  This one is no exception other than it is exceptional.  Download "Covered Wagons"

9.  Centro-Matic - Dual Hawks

Double album by Centro-matic and their alter-ego South_San_Gabriel with SSG being the more melow of the two.  Another great song-writer named "Will" is in this band in the form of Will Johnson.

10.  Will Quinlan - Navasota

Anyone here looking for 1997 era alt.-country?  This gem truly captures the moment of that time.  They'd have been the "No Depression" cover boys instead of that bratty Adams kid.  ;-)

Here is another blog entry that I could only hope to write:  http://www.hearya.com/2008/11/14/will-quinlan-and-the-diviners-navasota/

Nice long url I got there, right?  

Well, there they are, thanks for reading and even reading this far down the page.  Ask me tomorrow what my Top 10 may look like and it may have3,4 or 8 different entries.  Enjoy your day and most importanly . . . Enjoy the Music!

Other records that warrant consideration for this list

Dr. Dog - Fate

Deerhunter - Microcastle

The 49 minute Paul Westerberg Amazon download

Nada Surf - Lucky

Jay Reatard - Matador '08 singles

Sea and Cake

Vampire Weekend

British Sea Power

Fleet Foxes

Recent Vinyl Haul

Yesterday I went to a couple of good ol' fashion "brick and mortar" record stores.  One was lauries planet of sound and the other was dusty groove both of which are in Chicago.

Here is what I picked up, all on vinyl.  Some were brand-

spankin' new, some were used.

The Meters

XTC - Skylarking

Talking Heads- The Name of this Band is Talking Heads

Every Brothers - The Best of The Everly Brothers

Junior Wells - Hoodoo Man Blues

The Ugly Suit - The Ugly Suit

Jimmy Smith - Groovin at Smalls' Paradise

Elmo James - The Sky Is Crying

Wishbone Ash - Wishbone Ash

Dave Brubeck Quartet -  Time Out

Not too bad a haul, a few old things, a few new things, a few things I didn't have at all.  Nothin' quite like Jimmy Smith on the B-3 Organ, a little Everly Brothers harmony, a little blues, and a new Chicago band release with The Ugly Suit.

Shovel off!

So we had a big snow storm this morning.  The wet and heavy variety that makes your shovel feel like it was loaded with bricks.  I'm out there huffin' and puffin' and I see my neighbor out with a quadrunner with a shovel on the front.

I ask him to see if he could drop his plow to, you know, help a guy out.  He says, "No problem" and then the next thing I know the guy has his pants down to his ankles!

I said, "Drop plow, drop plow, not drop trow!"

He says as he quickly lifts his drawers, "Oh-oh-oh, plow, plow.  Some weather we're havin', huh?"

I soon went back to my shovel.

I'm just sitting here waiting for the snow, mundane, huh?  I'm listening to the Drive-By Truckers  and a few other tunes.  Quite frankly, I'm trying to figure a lot of this blog set up but at this time, I'm too proud to ask someone.  Story of my life.  I'll figure it out, poke around, test my threshold of pain, then ask for help.

Opening Fanfare

To paraphrase Admiral Stockdale, "Who am I and why am I here?"