On Monday night, My Morning Jacket rolled through Alpharetta, Georgia at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre with a rousing 20 song set. Originally scheduled for Friday, September 4th, the long awaited show was postponed over a week due to a tour member testing positive for COVID-19, despite the band and crew being fully-vaccinated. This is the way it is these days, despite big disappointments that have and will occur, we all just have to adjust. By the time Brittany Howard took to the stage before MMJ on Monday night, all the stress of the world right now didn’t matter any more. The wait was worth it.
This My Morning Jacket tour, which started in Charlotte on August 27th, is the band’s first headlining US tour in six years; add in the pandemic essentially shutting down live music for almost a year and a half, well, to say this was a highly anticipated show would be an understatement. With the show originally scheduled on a Friday, MMJ has been circled on the calendar as the true return of live music. Even with eight studio albums released over their storied career, My Morning Jacket has always been known for the live shows as the core that built their loving fanbase.
As soon as Jim James came out, cape draped over his back and looking mighty dapper, when the first notes of “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Pt. 1” played, the crowd knew this show was just what the doctor ordered to give relief to the stressful times we are living in. It was a particularly spiritual set as James’ howl pierced the soul throughout.
Towards the middle of the set, the band slowed it down slightly with stunning renditions of “Feel You” and especially “Wonderful (The Way I Feel)”. While “Wonderful” may have been released on their 2011 album Circuital, the song clearly hits home in 2021 as evidenced by the goosebumps the crowd experienced and cheered for when Jim sang “I’m going where there ain’t no police / I’m going where there ain’t no disease / I’m going where there ain’t no need to escape from what is / Only spirits at ease” It felt like the band, the crowd, the crew, and all were experiencing the needed relief we all seek right there at that moment.
Just before this tour kicked off, My Morning Jacket announced their ninth studio, the self titled MY MORNING JACKET which is set to be released on October 22nd via ATO Records. With the announcement of the new album also came the release of the album opener, “Regularly Scheduled Programming” which they played Monday night to a large ovation. While the new song perfectly fit into the setlist, Atlanta was also treated to another new song from the upcoming album. “Love Love Love”, which was officially released into the world Tuesday morning, immediately stuck out with a slightly different groove than the band has shown in the past, getting the Atlanta crowd dancing and swaying to a the new sounds we are sure to experience on the new album. Based on these first two songs, it’s vintage MMJ that continues to grow and experiment with each album, sounding newer and fresher each time, while never losing sight of who this band really is. It’s clear the band is reenergized and we’ve got another classic My Morning Jacket coming in October. Pre-order the new album here.
From there, the band played plenty of classics that had the crowd singing and dancing late into the night. “Dondante”, “Wordless Chorus”, “One Big Holiday” were existential experiences like always. The band ended their encore with “Victory Dance”, “Anytime” and closer “Wasted” off their last album Waterfall II, which finished the show in the big, grand style the band is known for.
There wasn’t a soul that left the My Morning Jacket show Monday night feeling that much better about their current life, even if only for a few hours. It was the kind of show that soothes the soul and psyche, enabling us to push forward through these times. It felt good, it felt right, and it was just what was needed as we all reconnected with our music community, live and in person. It was damn good to be back.
Check out photos below from the My Morning Jacket show at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre in Alpharetta, GA on Monday, September 13th, all photo by Mike Gerry:
LIVE CLIPS FROM THE MY MORNING JACKET SHOW @ AMERIS BANK AMPHITHEATRE 9-13-21
MY MORNING JACKET ONLINE:
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UPCOMING MY MORNING JACKET TOUR DATES
- Sept. 23 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl *
- Sept. 24 – Dana Point, CA @ Ohana Festival
- Sept. 25 – Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley *
- Sept. 28 – Troutdale, OR @ McMenamins Edgefield Concerts *
- Sept. 29 – Spokane, WA @ Riverfront Park Pavilion *
- Oct. 1 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre *
- Oct. 2– Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre *
- Oct. 3 – Bend, OR @ Les Schwab Amphitheater *
- Oct. 29 – Birmingham, AL @ Alabama Theatre #
- Oct. 30 – Live Oak, FL @ Suwannee Hulaween
- Oct. 31 – New Orleans, LA @ Orpheum Theatre #
- Nov. 2 – St. Louis, MO @ Stifel Theater #
- Nov. 4 – Chicago, IL @ Auditorium Theatre #
- Nov. 5 – Chicago, IL @ Auditorium Theatre #
- Nov. 6 – Chicago, IL @ Auditorium Theatre #
- Dec. 29 – Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom
- Dec. 30 – Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom
- Dec. 31 – Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom
- March 2-5 – Riviera Cancún, Mexico @ One Big Holiday ^
- Brittany Howard ^
- Durand Jones & The Indications *
- Bedouine #
- Flock of Dimes “
