Photo of My Morning Jacket’s Jim James by Laura Jerele.
My Morning Jacket brought their ls tour to The Factory in Chesterfield Friday night, a venue and area they affectionately referred to as part of the “St. Louis metropolitan area.” The house was nearly full and was really buzzing with diehards showing up early to get those coveted front-row spots, many of them commenting that this was a way better venue to see them than their last tour stop. We covered that show, too, and My Morning Jacket was utterly fabulous. This time out, they started by creating a mood complete with lots of fog, plus stark and moody lights that fit their opening song “State of the Art,” then bringing in the rock with “I Can Hear Your Love” rolling into “Compound Fracture.”
Frontman Jim James seemed especially at ease, sharing that he has family in the area and expressing a heartfelt affection for the city. He commands the crowd in such a unique way with the way he reaches to the crowd, reaches to the light, moving his arms and hands like he’s a mix of conducting the music and being lost in it. Unlike many bands that cycle through members over the years, My Morning Jacket has maintained a remarkably steady lineup, with founding members Jim James (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Tom Blankenship (bass) holding it down since 1998, joined by Patrick Hallahan on drums since 2002, and Bo Koster (keyboards) and Carl Broemel (lead guitar) rounding out the group since 2004.
Their set was a stunner because “I’m Amazed” appeared surprisingly early in the show, sidestepping the expected encore slot and landing instead with effortless power in the middle stretch. “Off the Record” delivered irresistible psychedelic grooves that felt jammish, while “Golden” offered a beautifully subdued moment of reflection. Like I mentioned at the start, their lighting played a major role throughout the night, enveloping the stage with darkness and depth, a vibrant landscape that shifted with the tone of each song. It wasn’t just visuals for the sake of ‘hey let’s do really cool lights on this tour’—it felt more intentional than most shows. It was part of the experience, enhancing the emotional arc of the set without overwhelming it. The stage design was minimal (yeah, those bears were real, you did NOT hallucinate), allowing the music and lighting to take center stage. That simple vibe worked in the band’s favor, letting the audience focus on what truly matters: the songs, the musicianship, and the unmistakable chemistry that makes a My Morning Jacket show feel so amazing.
The crowd was a lot of fun with all their dancing, bouncing, singing along, and totally vibing, making it so much fun to be there. My Morning Jacket continues to defy categorization for me, not sure what genre to say they are in, because I feel like if they feel like they’re in a lane, they shift, and yet somehow stay heavy, deep, recognizable, and catchy AF. And that, my friend, is music is so amazing.
Just like My Morning Jacket, we’ve covered the opener Bendigo Fletcher before, and I felt like this was a super-great pairing. Bendigo Fletcher’s set was a warm, soul-soaked swirl of indie folk and psych-rock charm, and I could tell they were winning the crowd over with their uniquely mellow orbit on songs like “Country Lemonade” and “Strange Encounters”. With a stage presence that was not forceful or in-your-face, it was inviting with an atmosphere that felt kinda intimate, making the night one of those shows that stick with you because the opener won your heart (and spots on your new playlist) with ease. | Laura Jerele
