MOG

My Morning Jacket is the defining rock and roll band of this generation.

At this point, I have seen MMJ six times in the past six weeks and I can't stop, so I will see them again this coming weekend. Even though 75% of the songs will likely be the same, these songs are anthems, the kind of songs that I can always sing along with, the kind of songs that will stand the test of time. MMJ is becoming one of those bands that I will see anywhere, anytime. There were only three bands like this before them, and there's no need to revisit the past when there is a band that you can see (this week on the west coast) who is in their prime. I am hoping they have not even reached their prime. At this point, there are four solid albums, and one could easily argue that every album has gotten better than the one before. I only wonder how good the next one will be.

The band puts together a better show every time they take the stage, they are evolving and pushing their boundaries. The new Don Dante includes a new space rock section built into it, and I hope MMJ continues to ride the psychedelic wave and explore territory within their songs. On New Years Eve, they were going for this 'Donner Pass' kind of vibe so they killed their bassist Tom before the show in a brutal death scene, but minutes later he descended downstairs from "heaven" down a staircase they built on the outside of the backstage overlook in his white suit. One Big Holiday and it was on! The set was great, they always play hard and do not mail it in, and that would be the case on NYE of course. After midnight and the champagne and kissing and whatnot, they did a mini-cover set, kicking first into the appropriately timed cover of Kool & the Gang's Celebration and then right into Lionel Richie's All Night Long. Then it was so hot in there, MMJ had to cool it down a notch, so they broke out the WHAM! card and busted into Careless Whisper . Then it was on to Prince, covering I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man which was also hot, screaming solo, and always with the best in show rhythm section of Two-Tone Tommy and Patrick.

Then they just killed the rest of this great second set (starting with the funky breakdown of Cobra !!!) and continued with the oozing dub of Phone Went West and on and on, before encoring with "Highway to Hell," which brought back the obvious comparisons for those of us who used to see Phish, as that band covered that particular song from time to time. I remember when I used to feel that band was saving rock and roll before they flamed out. But I digress, allow me to get back on track with the Jacket.

My Morning Jacket really needed not an encore at this point, so they did what so few bands would attempt and even fewer could ever get away with. They dared to put on Led Zeppelin IV and walk off the stage, and up the staircase to 'heaven' while playing Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven". The show was definitely over, but no one moved, no one left. In the shadows of the Fillmore chandeliers, we basked together in the glow of the original greatest rock and roll band, and with the year less than two hours old, everyone rocked out to the greatest classic rock and roll song of all time and ruminated on what was, what is and what should never be. Was leaving to "Stairway" a statement? Was MMJ letting us know that they are the Led Zeppelin of this generation? Only time will tell, but I'm betting on it.

You may not realize it now, and most people don't know it yet, but this band will age better than any cheese in your fridge. The song hooks are catchy, but when you just scratch the surface of a band and enjoy a riff or a few songs, you then have to dig deeper to become a real fan. Listen to the lyrics and find out that it's not just about sex and drugs, the songs have actual meaning, the kind that creates deep allegiance, the kind that can create a nation of millions. This band will stand the test of time like few will. It's happened before. Happy to know it will happen again.

Thanks for saving rock and roll, My Morning Jacket.

-TK