MMJ and Preservation Hall Jazz Band give thrilling show

By Devin Grant

Charleston Scene

The first time I saw My Morning Jacket (MMJ) was at the Bonnaroo music festival in 2004, when the band played in the middle of a thunderstorm that included a tornado warning. I was amazed at the energy coming off the stage at that show, and was halfway convinced that the band itself may have had something to do with the wild weather. The last time the band performed in Charleston, in November of 2006 at the now-defunct Plex venue, those who turned out for that show were treated to a light show that rivaled Pink Floyd, and a lead singer who seemed genuinely concerned with putting on a great show.

Folks that attended Wednesday night’s MMJ show at the Family Circle Cup Stadium on Daniel Island definitely got a great concert experience, one even better than the Plex show. With the sun still out and the crowd still filtering into the stadium, show openers the Preservation Hall Jazz Band got things swinging with a healthy dose of N’awlins jazz. With a lineup that included sousaphone and clarinet players, the band was joined late in their set by James, who sang along with the band through a megaphone for a couple of songs. The rest of MMJ came out on stage for the opening act’s final song, each MMJ member playing a percussion instrument. Preservation Hall Jazz Band recently released a CD, “Preservation,” which features the band performing with artists that include Ani DiFranco, Andrew Bird, and Tom Waits. If you were at the show and liked what you heard from the openers, then you definitely need to pick that CD up.

Jim James is one of those musicians who doesn’t mind trying new things, be it a new musical sound, or wearing a formal cape onstage. That is how James rolls, or at least how he was rolling Wednesday night. As the band took to the stage, James appeared in a black cape and started off the show with “Tonite I Want to Celebrate with You” and “At Dawn.”

The crowd let out an appreciative roar during the opening strains of “Gideon,” a track from MMJ’s 2005 release, “Z.” James did an impressive job of duplicating the dreamlike vocals on the album track. Over the course of the next two hours MMJ wowed the crowd with a music and light show that demonstrated why the band is one of the best live acts playing today. This is a group of musicians that give 110% while onstage, and Wednesday night was no exception as the band ran through a generous selection of its music. Highlights included blazing versions of “Off the Record” “What a Wonderful Man,” and “I’m Amazed,” one after the other.

Songs such as “Mahgeetah,” “Wonderful (The Way I Feel),” and “Steam Engine” demonstrated the band’s ability to go from a guitar-driven rock band to something more avant-garde like Radiohead. The main set concluded with an incendiary version of “One Big Holiday” that finished with James leaving his guitar, still wailing with feedback, leaning against the drum riser as he left the stage. Minutes later, as a beautiful full moon rose over the stage, Preservation Hall Jazz Band saxophonist Daniel “Weenie” Farrow) stood alone on stage playing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” E was then joined by MMJ and the rest of Preservation Hall Jazz Band, for a six-song encore that included “Wordless Chorus,” “Evil Urges,” “Highly Suspicious,” and a show-ending cover of Curtis Mayfield’s “Move On Up,” that found James doing the late soul singer proud on lead vocals.

I think one of the reasons Wednesday night’s show was so incredible, outside of the fact that there were two amazing bands performing, had a lot to do with the venue. If you have not seen a show at the Family Circle Cup Stadium yet, you are missing out. After years of not having a decent outdoor music venue, Charleston finally has a world class facility that makes an effort to book an eclectic array of acts. Live music played outdoors under the stars is, to me at least, one of the greatest ways I can think of to spend an evening in the Lowcountry. Check out upcoming shows at the venue, such as the Zac Brown Band (June 5), Funk Fest with Charlie Wilson, Keith Sweat, Bell Biv Devoe, and Heavy D (June 19), Hootie and The Blowfish (August 11), and The Black Crowes (September 10) to see what I mean.

Set list:

Tonite I want To Celebrate With You

At Dawn

Gideon

Off The Record

What A Wonderful Man

I'm Amazed

Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Pt.1

Golden

Thank You Too!

Mahgeetah

Lay Low

Lowdown

Wonderful (The Way I Feel)

Librarian

Steam Engine

Smokin From Shootin

(end of) Run Thru

Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Pt.2

One Big Holiday

Encore:

Over The Rainbow (Daniel "Weenie" Farrow solo)

Wordless Chorus

Evil Urges *

Dancefloors *

Highly Suspicious *

Carnival Time (Al Johnson) *

Move On Up (Curtis Mayfield) *

*w/Preservation Hall Jazz Band