Concert Review: My Morning Jacket

My Morning Jacket

10/29/10 – KFC Yum Center, Louisville, KY
(w/ Louisville Youth Orchestra, and Wax Fang)

So My Morning Jacket does it again. A massive homecoming show that reminds everyone in Louisville, KY the “Just because we haven’t played here in two years, it doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten you.” Friday night they packed out the new arena with thousands of people, and a three hour set that spanned their entire career that consists of fan-favorites with no radio hits.

While the theatrics made for an energetic show – the most dynamic aspect was the way the Louisville Youth Orchestra accented about a third of the band’s set, including songs like “Wordless Chorus”, “Evil Urges”, “Bermuda Highway”, and “The Librarian”.

With the exception of the orchestra’s participation, the first half of the band’s set was bogged down with low energy. They seemed bored and disinterested in being there, it was like spinning tires. However, what they lacked in enthusiasm they made up for in song selection with “Heartbreakin’ Man”, “Golden”, and “I’m Amazed”.

Once they got through the ambient 16 minute snoozefest of “Dondante” the band managed to pick up speed and keep it full-throttle through the rest of the show. From that point on it seemed easy for the guys to barrel through tracks like “Smokin’ from Shootin’”, “Touch Me, I’m Going to Scream (parts 1 & 2)”, “The Librarian”, “Highly Suspicious”, and “Off the Record” with an energetic ease that kept everyone in the room hanging on every note.

The Halloween theatrics were appreciated by the immovable hometown crowd, who has literally watched this band go from coffee shops to last night in front of thousands in their brand new arena. With inflatable black cats on each side of the stage, they returned for their seven song encore all dressed in identical costumes, as fellow Louisville icon Col. Sanders.

It was after midnight when the black, orange, and white balloons fell from the ceiling during the band’s epic swan song, “One Big Holiday” – everyone was exhausted. My Morning Jacket was exhausted, the crowd was exhausted, and the band had once again proven why they don’t need a roster of hits to be one of the biggest bands in the music industry. Because when you sound this good live, everything else seems inconsequential.