It’s been five long years without a My Morning Jacket show in Cleveland, but that streak was fortunately broken last week in a scorcher of a set (both literally—it was hot AF—and figuratively—the band itself also melted faces) at Jacob’s Pavilion.
The show kicked off MMJ’s summer tour, which unfortunately came to a grinding halt two days later, as frontman Jim James tested positive for Covid. Consequently their two Louisville homecoming shows were cancelled, Detroit and Columbus were rescheduled, and I’ve spent the last week feeling pretty damn lucky that I got to see them at all. MMJ is set to resume their tour in Madison, Wisconsin on July 1st and hopefully this is the last time that Covid interferes with their health and wealth.
As for the Cleveland show, it was full of everything I love about My Morning Jacket: soaring vocals, epic solos, full-on jam-outs, and thoughtful production lighting. Their band chemistry is simply off-the-charts—not to mention that they’re all musical wizards—and that combo makes for something seriously special.
Keyboardist and Lakewood native Bo Koster got a little extra love from the crowd after his solo on “Feel You,” but ultimately every member of the band dazzled. On more than one occasion I saw mouths gaping open all around me. It’s how you can identify new members of the flock.
INDIGO De SOUZA
SETLIST
Regularly Scheduled Programming
Off the Record
Spring (Among the Living)
Lay Low
Feel You
Least Expected
Wasted
Wordless Chorus (Extended outro)
Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Pt. 2
Wonderful (The Way I Feel)
Victory Dance
Circuital
Never in the Real World
One Big Holiday
ENCORE
In Color
Holdin On to Black Metal
Phone Went West
Mahgeetah
