This past Friday, My Morning Jacket helped celebrate the grand re-opening of the beautiful State Theater in Portland, Maine by performing a likewise beautiful show. Playing to a packed house, MMJ did not disappoint their faithful fans, covering both slower, more intimate tunes and sending everyone out into the night on the heels of a huge "One Big Holiday."
After the show, with the camera away and bourbon in hand, I had the unique pleasure of seeing the entire band walk into the hotel bar for the night. The guys just merged into the crowd, stopping to talk to a few gushing fans, being gracious and completely approachable. I spoke with Jim James for a very brief minute about their show the next night at Levon Helm's Ramble in Woodstock, which he seemed excited for (of course), and we both went back to our bourbons. It was a very cool and unique experience that I have no doubt would be much more difficult in a larger, more pretentious city. But not Portland, and not with MMJ--this night, we were all just part of the crowd. And it was awesome.