There was a palpable buzz across the Arbor Hill neighborhood in North Albany on Wednesday, as rockers My Morning Jacket made their long-awaited return to the area with a performance at the Palace Theatre. The band last played in the city in 2006. Madi Diaz opened the performance.
Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, My Morning Jacket has amassed quite the resume over its twenty-five years. Fronted by Jim James (vocals, guitar), the band also features Carl Broemel (guitars), Tom Blankenship (bass guitar), Bo Koster (keyboards), and Patrick Hallahan (percussion). The band has released nine studio albums, along with several EPs and live albums. Their current tour is in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the release of It Still Moves, and has seen the band perform the album in its entirety at certain shows.
Those arriving early on this evening were treated to an opening performance by singer-songwriter Madi Diaz. A lone spotlight illuminated the stage, as Diaz took opened the performance, just herself and a guitar. Diaz would take those in attendance on an emotional journey, performing songs like “Crying In Public” and “Same Risk.” Her powerful vocals, reminiscent of Phoebe Bridgers, filled the theater and captivated those in attendance.
As the clock struck 9:15, the stage went dark and the band’s familiar orchestral walk-on music played over the house speakers. The band members took to the stage to a thunderous roar from the audience. The familiar chord strums of “Circuital” would open the show and immediately all in attendance were on their feet. As the song slowly built in energy, fans made their way to the front of the stage, filling the side wings to dance about as the song kicked into full gear. The band kept the momentum going early, playing fan favorites such as “It Beats 4 U,” “I’m Amazed,” and “Mahgeetah” early in the set.
Jim James would bring Madi Diaz back to the stage early in the performance, to offer a beautiful rendition of the band’s classic ballad “I Will Be There When You Die.” The song would see Diaz harmonizing with James, with the two trading lyrics during the second verse, which even included Diaz adding a line to call out her hometown in Pennsylvania.
In all, the performance would feature all the familiar staples of a My Morning Jacket concert. Jim James’ signature vocals danced about the beautiful Palace Theatre. The band consistently elevated songs from their studio form, with jams and improvisations making each song unique to this night, with several tracks stretching into extended jam sessions. A prolific light show mesmerized those in attendance, with a giant disco ball dropping from the ceiling during “Wordless Chorus.”
After a nearly two-hour, career-spanning main set, the band would return to the stage for four more songs, opening the encore opening the encore with the hypnotizing “Feel You.” The band broke out older classics “The Dark” and “Anytime” before ending with the high-energy “One Big Holiday.” After such a brilliant set, fans poured into the streets, hopeful the wait for a return performance wouldn’t be nearly as long next time.
My Morning Jacket – Palace Theatre, Albany – Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Setlist: Circuital, It Beats 4 U, Love Love Love, I’m Amazed, Mahgeetah, Spinning My Wheels, I Will Be There When You Die (with Madi Diaz), Spring (Among the Living), Off the Record, Lay Low, Old Sept. Blues, I Will Sing You Songs, Phone Went West, Victory Dance, Holdin On to Black Metal, Lucky to Be Alive, Wordless Chorus
Encore: Feel You, The Dark, Anytime, One Big Holiday
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