Jim James at First Avenue

Jim James Glides Through a Spectacular Performance at First Avenue

I will preface this review by saying that I am a huge My Morning Jacket fan. With that said, I’m not sure that I have ever heard a more pure sounding performance at First Avenue than what Jim James played on Sunday, April 21. The set opened with an extended “State Of The Art (A.E.I.O.U)”, which is also the opening track from James’ first solo album Regions of Light and Sound of God. By the end of this song I had to pick my jaw up off of the floor. And what came after was even better.

Jim James glided smoothly across the stage all night, at times stepping up to his Flying V guitar that was perched on a stand to grind out some super distorted guitar chords. Every time James stepped up to his guitar it ended with an onslaught of headbanging, his wild hair flying everywhere. For a few songs, James played the saxophone, perhaps taking lessons from My Morning Jacket guitarist Carl Broemel. The band played spot on and looked like utmost professionals, dapperly dressed in suits.

Regions Of Light And Sound Of God sounds like 70s soul and R&B mixed with today’s electronic technologies. The album is fantastic, but hearing the songs live brought it to an entirely new level. The sound was much more fleshed out, and crisp, with drummer Dave Givan hammering home a big beat, and keyboardist/guitarist Kevin Ratterman adding electro beats and other sound effects into the mix. The result was outstanding and at times bone rattling. First Avenue was an ideal venue for this sound and I feel so fortunate to have been there.

James drove home the rock tunes like a master, with a majority of them being extending into drawn out jams. When the softer songs like “A New Life” came up, his reverbed and pure sounding voice demanded everyone’s closest attention and it became easy to believe every word he crooned out. During the encore he strummed out “Wonderful”, the only My Morning Jacket song played all night. The set was a beautiful mix of rock and soul, with that back and forth mix feeling a little uneven by the end. Even so, it was still one of the best performances I have ever seen at First Avenue.

Opening the night was Canadian songstress, Cold Specks. She sent chills with her amazingly soulful voice. She was a choir of one, with three backing musicians that didn’t distract from her voice. She ended her set a cappella, finally stepping away from the mic and stomping her foot in rhythm and singing. It was interesting and different, and I can see why Jim James would appreciate that.

There was no pit access for photos.

Jim James

Cold Specks