Concert Review & Boot!!!: My Morning Jacket - Great Plaza, Philadelphia 8/29/10

I started off my "Summer Concert Series" back in May with My Morning Jacket, so it's fitting that I ended it with them this past Sunday.  It was another clear summer night at the Great Plaza River Stage, which according to Jim James of MMJ felt like playing under a circus tent.  If you've seen the striped canopy that hangs over the audience you'd probably agree.  As usual Jim classed up the joint, wearing a black suit accessorized with a cape during the encore.  It seems redundant to describe the energy this band puts into their performances but I honestly have yet to see/hear them not give it their all every time.   

The set drew from throughout their catalog of music, including the old-school fan favorite "Honest Man".  One thing that stood out to me were the transitions between some of the songs.  Several times they transitioned from one song to the next by playing a 2-3 minute jam of another song.  Obviously they only have enough time to play a certain number of songs during any given show, so this allows fans to at least hear a snippet of a song they wouldn't have heard otherwise. 

MMJ has built a very loyal fan base over the last decade and their fans are some of the best in the biz.  Below is a picture of the poster for this show.  You may notice that's it's been signed by several band members after the fan waited long after the show for a chance to see the guys.  I'd also like to send out a big thanks to Jesse Hurlburt for taping the show and posting it up on the Live Music Archive.  The link to download the show is under the setlist.  Enjoy!

Setlist:

1. Rollin Back (instrumental intro)

2. The Way That He Sings

3. Gideon

4. Mahgeetah

5. Golden

6. Circuital

7. It Beats 4 U

8. Honest Man

9. I'm Amazed

10. Easy Morning Rebel

11. Tonite I Want To Celebrate With You

12. Steam Engine

13. Smokin' From Shootin' -->

14. Run Thru (end jam only)

15. Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Part 2 -->

16. Lay Low (end jam only)

encore:

17. Wordless Chorus

18. Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Part 1

19. Highly Suspicious

20. Off The Record

21. One Big Holiday

Download:  MMJ - Great Plaza 8/29/10

Boot: Grace Potter & the Nocturnals - XPoNential Music Festival 7/16/10

This is a recording from the XPoNential Music Festival which was held last month in Camden, NJ.  During the show Grace transitions seamlessly back and forth between soulful blues singer and full-out rock goddess.  Backing band The Nocturnals fit in perfectly with her, driving home the energy in the songs.  Check out the show below.

Setlist:

1. Intro

2. Sweet Hands

3. Oasis

4. Tiny Light

5. Apologies

6. Only Love

7. One Short Night

8. Ah Mary

9. That Phone

10. Paris

11. Medicine

12. White Rabbit

Download: Grace Potter & the Nocturnals - 7/16/10

Having Trouble Keeping Up With Your Favorite Artist? Try "Songkick"

"Songkick" is a website that helps you keep track of when your favorite artists are performing in your area.  Select which artists you want to track and receive email updates when shows in your area are announced.  It's especially useful for shows at smaller venues that don't get much publicity.  You can also create a profile and with your own 'Gigography', listing shows you've attend and your thoughts/comments on it.

Concert Review: Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble - Mann Music Center 8/11/10

Yo-Yo Ma's reputation obviously precedes him, otherwise I went into this show not knowing much about the musicians who were performing.  It was refreshing to go in without any expectations and hear their music for the first time.  The song selection drew from several different time periods and regions of the world.  I'm not up to speed on my classical music but I was blown away by the arrangements and talent of the musicians.  Atmosphere can add a lot to the musical experience and lying on the lawn of the Mann looking up at the stars while hearing Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble play was a perfect example of that.  I haven't felt that peaceful in a long time.

Boot: The Arcade Fire - Nashville 8/9/10

Although I haven't been able to find a recording of their performance at The Mann I did come across a good audience recording of their show in Nashville last week.  The setlist is similar to the one I saw and includes a number of songs off their new album "The Suburbs".  This album is growing on me quickly and could end up being my favorite album of the year.  Check out the Nashville show below.

Setlist:
1 - Intro
2 - Ready to Start
3 - Neighborhood 2 (Laika)
4 - No Cars Go
5 - Haiti
6 - Half Light II (No Celebration)
7 - The Suburbs
8 - Suburban War
9 - Intervention
10 - Crown of Love
11 - Neighborhood 1 (Tunnels)
12 - Deep Blue
13 - We Used to Wait
14 - Neighborhood 3 (Power Out)
15 - Rebellion (Lies)
16 - Keep the Car Running
17 - Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
18 - Wake Up
Download:  The Arcade Fire - Nashville 8/9/10

New to Me: Annuals

I recently got turned onto 'Annuals', an indie-pop group from North Carolina.  They've released 2 albums and several EPs since forming in 2003.  I've only heard bits and pieces of their albums so far but I like the direction their sound is headed.  Check out their website and this session they recorded for Daytrotter.
Annuals - Myspace

Daytrotter Setlist:
1 - Welcome to Daytrotter
2 - Confessor
3 - Around Your Neck
4 - Always Do
5 - Springtime
Download:  Annuals -  Daytrotter 12/19/08

Jim James plays Newport & My Morning Jacket hits the studio

These are exciting times to be a MMJ fan.  Jim has been out playing some solo shows including a set at the Newport Folk Festival last week.  Soon he'll be joining up with his MMJ band mates and touring.  I'll be fortunate enough to catch them on August 29th!  As if that's not enough, Rolling Stone posted a interview with Jim revealing that the band has begun recording for it's next album and expect a Springtime 2011 release.  Supposedly they already have 5 songs recorded, here's hoping we'll get to preview them during this tour.  Here's Jim's set from Newport which was broadcast on NPR.

Yim Yames - Newport Setlist:
1- His Masters Voice
2- Wonderful (The Way I Feel)
3- Look At You
4- Tonight I Want To Celebrate With You
5- Bermuda Highway
6- Summer Never Ends
7- It Beats 4 U
8- What A Wonderful Man
9- Sylvie
10- In The Morning
11- Golden
12- Where To Begin
13- Smokin' From Shootin'
14- Gideon
Download: Yim Yames - Newport 2010

Concert Review: The Arcade Fire & Spoon - Mann Music Center 8/2/10

Unfortunately I missed the beginning of Spoon's set thanks to I-76 traffic.  From what I did get to hear, they sounded great.  I was a little surprised that an established group like Spoon would be the opener but after having seen some awful opening bands in my day, I was quite pleased to have them.  Spoon's most recent album "Transference" was a little disappointing in my opinion, but the new songs did seem to translate well live.  Hopefully I'll get to see Spoon again soon as a headliner.

Spoon's Setlist:
Black Like Me, Nobody Gets Me But You, Don't You Evah, Rhythm and Soul, You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb, Is Love Forever?, The Ghost of You Lingers, Trouble Comes Running, Small Stakes, Love Song (The Damned cover), I Summon You, Written in Reverse, Don't Make Me a Target, Got Nuffin, Stay Don't Go, Jonathon Fisk

The Arcade Fire played a set full of energy and excitement on the eve of the release of their new album titled "The Suburbs".  In keeping with the theme of the album, the stage backdrop was a highway overpass and a large video screen was constructed to look like a roadside billboard.  The band needed all the room they could get on stage since they have 8 members and a wide variety of instruments.  I wasn't expecting much crowd interaction from them but several members including lead singer Win Butler spoke and even ran out into the crowd.  The new songs sounded promising, several (Deep Blue, Modern Man, and Sprawl II) really stood out to me. 

The Arcade Fire's Setlist:
Ready to Start, Neighborhood #2 (Laika), No Cars Go, Haïti, Rococo, Oh It's Such A Shame (Jay Reatard cover), Deep Blue, The Suburbs, Intervention, We Used to Wait, Neighborhood #3 (Power Out), Rebellion (Lies), Month of May, Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains), Keep the Car Running,
Encore:  Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels), Modern Man, Wake Up 

Concert Review: The Black Keys - River Stage, Philadelphia 7/30/10

This is my The Black Keys concert review.  Do your eardrums a solid and go see these guys ASAP.  If you go, the first thing you'll learn is that the group hails from Akron, Ohio.  The next thing you'll learn is that TBK write some of the most gritty and soulful blues/rock you will ever hear.  I had high expectations for the show and TBK didn't disappoint, ripping through classics and debuting songs off their new album "Brothers".  With 6 full length albums under their belt, Dan Auerbach (vocals, guitar) and Patrick Carney (drums) have managed to take their distinctive sound and continue to build upon it with each successive release.   

Setlist:

Thickfreakness

Girl Is On My Mind

10 AM Automatic

Breaks
Stack Shot Billy
Busted
Everywhere I Go
Strange Times
Same Old Thing
Everlasting Light
Next Girl
Chop And Change
Howlin For You
Tighten Up
She's Long Gone
Ten Cent Pistol
Your Touch
No Trust
I Got Mine
---encore---
Too Afraid To Love You
Sinister Kid
Till I Get My Way