Monday, December 12, 2011

MMJ Melts Faces, Warms Hearts, Saves Souls

Jim James, photo by pbpulse.com
Rock and roll has always been about salvation. 

It has always been about redemption, deliverance from the mundane, the oppression, and the repetitiveness of the daily grind.  It is a release and an escape.  

My Morning Jacket's Saturday night show at the Boca Raton's cozy Sunset Cove Amphitheater was all this and more.  Jim James and Carl Broemel's twin guitar attack created a pure rock and roll moment.  There were more than a few times where all one could do was thrown your hands to the heavens and bask in the music's glory. 

The publicly-owned amphitheater, which is one of the more obscure and quirky venues in South Florida, was populated with a small (think large private party) but appreciatively hazy crowd.  The small attendance did not affect the band's stellar performance.  It was an arena show and we all had floor seats. 

The Louisville-based group featured cuts from each of their six albums during the past dozen years.  The majority of the songs came from the band's excellent spring release "Circuital."  The band was tight and funky, but, James, the charismatic frontman, was the focus.  From his searing guitar licks to his penchant for wearing capes, James demanded your attention. 

Opening the night was Delta Spirit who will most likely be headlining these types of shows next year after their new album is released in March. 

Rarely has South Florida seen two strong bands play on the same bill.  For those willing to venture out to west Boca, their efforts were greatly rewarded. 




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