It seems as of late the amount of “concerts to see” coming to Charlotte is filling up the Shutter 16 Magazine’s calendar at an alarming rate. Frankly I will say, about time! We had a chance to not let My Morning Jacket and Neko Case pass over our crew and sent out our photographer, Meredith Jones. It was a stormy day with mixed clouds and once in a while, the sky would open up and let out massive amounts of water and spite, causing a 45 minute delay on the concert’s forward motion. Once the sky let up a little and the bands could make their way to stage, it was an amazing amalgamation of songstress delights and pure inscrutable music.

Firstly, we were blessed with the haunting vocals of Neko Case. She’s the new wave Mazzy Star-esque vocal styling that leaves you clenching your chest and fighting back tears. For a photographer, her position on stage does not change and the lighting rigs are all but a fathom of your imagination. This said as a bystander to the musical bliss known as Neko Case, she takes you back to when the world was different. I envision her around a campfire singing songs and wooing children and adults alike for miles away to come see this spectacle. This mystery of talent and foreboding tales that fall from her mouth into songs create such a beautiful voice, what a wonderful talent.

After her set, the sky fell again in liquid form for many moments.  Eventually, the pivotal band of the night, My Morning Jacket filled the stage with music and love. Lead singer, Jim James attacked his guitar, showing why he has been named one of the top 20 guitarists of all time. While not all the way my musical genre of choice, I cannot deny they draw a crowd for all the right reasons: talent, bravado and more talent.

Upon the stage, they are charismatic, intense and give a flavor to the southern rock era we’ve not seen on the scene before. They could be described simply as a band to establish the sign of the musical times, showing there is more out there to discover with music. Things do not have to sound the same as everyone else and as soon as they start a single note of any of their songs, there is no denying it’s anyone other than MMJ. This sentiment cannot be used when describing a lot of other genres nor bands, ever more showing why bands of this caliber are needed and fans rejoice in the presence of true performers.

The soulful set was close but not picture perfect. There were guitar strings breaking, rain dancing and an occasional wink to the crowd. Ends of songs were extended into jam sessions opening the floor for people to shake their tail feathers a little bit more to scare away the rain. The set finished a bit early due to the weather delay, to the band and fans dismay.  They will hopefully come back to Charlotte again soon to make up the difference, but for now the fans can listen to their new album Circuital that was released in May and is currently #5 on the charts. What a feat for a homegrown Illinois band, they deserve it.

MMJ Set List:

Victory Dance

Circuital

Off The Record

Anytime

Golden

Gideon

Slow Slow Tune

Dondante

Smokin From Shootin

End of Run Thru

Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Pt. 2

I’m Amazed

Wordless Chorus

Holdin’ On to Black Metal

One Big Holiday