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September 18, 2007

Austin City Limits '07: My Morning Jacket Are The Best (Dressed) Band In America

MMJ know how to make a fest memorable, don't they. Bonnaroo '06 they set themselves apart from the pack with a three hour marathon, Lolla '06 they inspired us to call 'em the best live band in America, but that all was just the beginning: this year, they showed us they know how to dress. Last month in Chicago the Jim James crew rocked in purple tuxes, and perhaps having heard your complaints that purple penguin suits just are too formal for a rock show, MMJ's ACL set had 'em dressed like big-wigged surfheads, beachbums, and snorklers, along with the intermittently wandering, metal-detector toting guy; Polynesian princesses hoisting pineapples; and Andrew Bird (with violin) dressed the part, along to jam on "Golden."

The set had the rabble rousing standards ("What A Wonderful Man," "Gideon," "One Big Holiday," etc.), but the tropical vibe really pulled together on "Wordless Chorus," when the pretty pineapple ladies first made their way out, swaying to Jim J's "ooh"s, "ahh"s, and "yeah"s. So, ooh ahh and yeah, look out Flaming Lips, think MMJ's making a bid for most essential festival band. Lots and lots of pics for ya, after the jump.

















Posted at 9:22 AM in
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23 Comments

That's just silly.

Posted by: Ferris at 09/18/07 10:09 AM | Reply
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MMJ is the best band in America.

Posted by: bluntacious at 09/18/07 10:59 AM | Reply
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Silly like a fox, I say. It's fantastic to see these seasoned road veterans take the effort for one of their festival sets that most bands wouldn't even think of. This is the shit that makes festivals great.

Posted by: Justin at 09/18/07 11:04 AM | Reply
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The more I listen to My Morning Jacket, the more I want to listen to My Morning Jacket. And they look like too much fun live, which is a nice change of pace from the army of indie pursed lips and eyes cast downward....

Posted by: mrs at 09/18/07 11:04 AM | Reply
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I would compare Z to the Black Album or Appetite... Thank you!

Best Band of All-time!

Posted by: Mastanugz at 09/18/07 11:11 AM | Reply
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pound for pound the best band alive. period. if you want to contest this point you will fucking LOSE. be ready lovers/haters, MMJ will take over in 2008...

Posted by: NJD at 09/18/07 11:24 AM | Reply
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MMJ was easily my favorite show at ACL. i was blown away.

Posted by: kylie at 09/18/07 11:25 AM | Reply
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pound for pound the best band alive. period.

Posted by: MMJ-fanatic at 09/18/07 11:26 AM | Reply
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As I said when I wrote this up on Sunday night, they were one of the few bands at this festival that remembered it’s actually acceptable to put on a show. MMJ brings it every time. Shame they had to play against Wilco.

Posted by: Ace Cowboy at 09/18/07 11:30 AM | Reply
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"Wordless Chorus" was indeed the magic moment of that set. The aloha theme seemed wildly mismatched with their bearded Kentuckian vibe until that song ... then it was all tropical bliss. I wanted to be one of those pineapple girls more than you can imagine.

Posted by: Tejana at 09/18/07 11:46 AM | Reply
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Everyone take note of that cute little red lobster on Jim's black electric guitar...

He took that from me when I was decorating for prom this past March at the 40 Watt in Athens and he wore another one on the lapel of his tux. I'm in shock right now. My lobster has seen Red Rocks and Bob Dylan, Lolla, and Austin, my favorite city in the world since then... just amazing! So sad to have missed this weekend and in total agreement with everyone...

Posted by: teamsassypants at 09/18/07 1:10 PM | Reply
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what a great touch with Andrew Bird, and the hula girls holding pineapples. Hands down the most fun act of the entire festival.

Posted by: c at 09/18/07 1:11 PM | Reply
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doh! from these pics, i see now that i should've been at MMJ instead. wilco was boring.

Posted by: Katrina at 09/18/07 1:16 PM | Reply
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I also dig on TONS of Affrin Sprays, lewd slutters, and Jimmy James.

I don't?

I DO!!!!

Posted by: MastaNugz at 09/18/07 1:22 PM | Reply
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j mascis goes blonde!

Posted by: spencer at 09/18/07 1:42 PM | Reply
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jim james is wearing bronzer.

Posted by: brent at 09/18/07 3:19 PM | Reply
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I bumped into Jim at Waterloo Records in Austin Saturday. Here's a photo if you want to see what his hair is really lookin' like these days:

http://www.delawareonline.com/blogs/2007/09/my-morning-jacket-meets-pulp-culture.html

Posted by: Ryan at 09/18/07 4:16 PM | Reply
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"jim james is wearing bronzer."

that's how dedicated he is to theme

Posted by: jimm at 09/18/07 6:13 PM | Reply
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YES!! but, you forgot to mention their NYE show at the Fillmore this past year. I'm late for class, so I can't explain. Look it up for yourself, trust me.

Posted by: edubs at 09/19/07 11:32 AM | Reply
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@ blunty: MMJ have BEEN the best band in America.
@ NJD: MMJ better "break out" in '08. Z was 05 and that album has made so many waves. MMJ gets a star from me when they release a new album (new material, too)

Posted by: Howaerd at 09/20/07 9:36 PM | Reply
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They have been the best band in America since At Dawn IMO. And Z, though I admit I didn't think was all that great when it dropped, gets better every day and has to be one of the all time great modern rock albums. However, I hope they DON'T blow up in 2008 - they are incredible as is and their shows are pure magic because most if not all of the people there are captivated by and appreciate them. The last thing we need is for the semi-interested masses to start gobbling up concert tickets only to spend 75% of the show texting their friends about the new Hollister ringer tee they just picked up. To me, not odd that Jim listens to Common - you can hear in their music how round their influences are and how much soul they have. Truly my favorites and one of the best in my 30 years.

Posted by: efellyemmus at 09/21/07 11:16 AM | Reply
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Who is that HOT "intermittently wandering, metal-detector toting guy." What an epic show and certianly one of the best at ACL this year alone. Who is WILCO anyway?

Posted by: BigGuy at 09/28/07 11:09 AM | Reply
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My Morning Jacket fans… check out www.wolfgangsvault.com for free streams of rare concert recordings like the “I’m Not There” concert tribute featuring Bob Dylan music performed by J Mascis, My Morning Jacket, Calexico, Yo La Tengo, John Doe and others.

Posted by: gabrielle at 11/19/07 7:50 PM | Reply
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