i’m amazed

Thursday, September 4th, 2008 | Music

He wore a cape. Not many artists can wear a cape and make it work. Jim James can. I love capes and I love cloaks. The man behind the cape knows more than you. Even in his most sincere of moments, he has something that he keeps to himself. He is the singer in a band. Though he only wears it a couple of times throughout the night, his cape is his shield. He is invisible. He is “standing on the sound of some lonesome hearted people going down” sang Neil Young.

I saw My Morning Jacket last night. Once again, I walked away somewhat bemused and very much excited. This is what it is all about.

I’ve seen the group a couple of times, mostly because I was around them and had heard they were good (ah, festivals… such a good thing to do). Anyway, I didn’t plan on seeing them this time either. We talked about maybe going, but I didn’t think we would. I don’t love Constitution Hall for music. I’ve had good shows there and I’ve had bad ones. It isn’t meant for music. It is a convenient size room for promoters developing groups that have outgrown smaller clubs – which for the record, since this blog is just getting going… smaller rooms are the mecca for hearing any group you’re really into. But you know that already.

My cousin and I headed down to the show without tickets – we just showed up knowing that things would work out. Joe and I have shared many a musical experience together. Our ears like to go in similar places. There is DNA involved. So we just went with it. We got tickets right away, though, they were singles so we were on our own. He even got “miracled” for all of you hippies reading this post. Ok, another secret. Listening to live music is this odd dichotomy between a community experience and a very personal one. These 2 forces converge and are happening at the same time. What that means is that not sitting next to your friend is ok. It doesn’t matter. It actually can help open you up more to the experience. Think about that time you took your girlfriend to a show and how she just wasn’t interested. Think about how you had to care about her feelings instead of sitting back and enjoying those that you paid to listen to. Not fun. Going to a show alone can be better. The people around you are your friends. You share a bond.

MMJ is a great live band. They are unique, talented writers with a sound that is so huge. In some ways they are still an enigma to me. Their sound comes from another place. Somewhere familiar, but yet, not so much (this is a theme you’ll hear echoed on this blog). It is eerie, beautiful, layered, deep, and diverse in influence. I hate comparing groups to others to explain them. It is unfair and never really does the music justice. By our very nature, we associate things in frames of reference. That is how we relate. It is how we learn. It is how law is governed. Precedence. It is how we live. Often it is not fair, especially in art. It is over simplification and it is dumb. I do it too, but try and catch myself when I can. At some point, maybe I’ll write more on the subject. Going off topic. To close the loop, with MMJ, I couldn’t tell you who they were like even if I wanted to. They have their own thing going on and it is good (listen to “Z” and their new one “Evil Urges.”) I can get more into specific songs if you want. Just ask. Better yet, listen for yourself. You’re a grown up now.

It was a great show. Helped me remember that when you show up, things happen. I’m amazed.