My Morning Jacket's Brooklyn Paramount Bash Marks 20 Years of Z: A Show That Still Ignites the Soul Imagine witnessing a band whose live performances are etched into rock legend, delivering an anniversary set that's not just a trip down memory lane but a vibrant call to embrace change in turbulent times. If you're a music lover, this might just make you rethink how albums evolve—and why their messages hit harder live than ever.
What more can we truly add about My Morning Jacket as a powerhouse live act? Stories from fans and critics alike paint them as unstoppable forces, from their electrifying early days opening for acts like Ben Kweller and Guided by Voices, to their legendary Bonnaroo set in 2008 that set the stage ablaze. Last night's opening night of their three-show run at Brooklyn Paramount wasn't even their debut full-album performance of 2005's Z in New York City—yet it felt like a fresh revelation.
As someone experiencing their concert for the very first time, I'd normally dive into the usual highlights: visuals, sounds, and the band's chemistry. Picture Jim James dancing with fluid grace on "Wordless Chorus" before unleashing thunderous guitar work on "Anytime." Then there's Carl Broemel, the versatile guitarist who smoothly transitioned into saxophone for the elongated closer "Dondante," embodying the band's seasoned evolution. Don't forget Patrick Hallahan's explosive drum fills that could rattle your very bones, or the retro LED backdrops that cleverly transformed a simple smiley face into the intricate owl beak from Z's album cover through clever geometric play.
But here's where it gets controversial... If you're already a die-hard fan or have stumbled upon one of MMJ's shows before, you've witnessed their masterful artistry and explosive energy firsthand. No need for me to preach about their unmatched live prowess—it's been that way since day one. This morning, with my head still echoing from the night, I'm pondering what Z signified upon its release two decades ago and how it resonates through today's live lens.
In our current era of endless social media and blurred musical genres, Z might seem like a quaint shift, but back in the mid-2000s, it was a bold leap. The band evolved from their earlier works filled with earthy, extended jams—think 2003's It Still Moves, where songs flowed like endless river sessions—to embracing ethereal synths, concise tracks, and lyrics that veered into the dreamlike or deeply spiritual realms, depending on your personal beliefs. This metamorphosis led to MMJ being dubbed "the American Radiohead" by various outlets, a label that's become overused today.
And this is the part most people miss... That psychedelic turn wasn't just a detour for the band—it foreshadowed their own future releases like Evil Urges and Circuital, which similarly stirred debates for their transformative styles. It also paved the way for other artists under the "alt country" banner who started with folk-leaning roots but soon ventured into cosmic territories. Take Sturgill Simpson, Big Thief, or even Kings of Leon: They began labeled as Americana acts, only to explode into more experimental sounds a few albums later. While MMJ wasn't the pioneer in blending country influences with weirdness, Z—paired with Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot—serves as a blueprint for such artistic reinventions.
Yet, while the 2005 transformation felt purely like a stylistic makeover, revisiting Z live two decades on added layers of context and urgency—a direct echo of the world's unfolding chaos. Midway through the album, between an extended, trippy version of "Off the Record" and a carnival-infused "Into the Woods," Jim James stepped up to address the crowd. He reflected on Z's pivotal role in their journey and its ties to New York, where they moved from Louisville to the Catskills for recording. Then, in a moment of unity, he declared that everyone in the elegant Brooklyn Paramount ballroom was ascending to a shared level of awareness, celebrating peace and love together.
Now, I get how those words might read as vague, mystical, or even reminiscent of a cult on the page. Inviting people to unwind and find joy amid growing authoritarian pressures doesn't sound groundbreaking. But in a world rife with fear, conflict, and uncertainty—especially heading into 2025 and beyond—it becomes vitally important. James always strikes me as genuinely committed to fostering harmony, and his short, sincere delivery kept it from feeling preachy or patronizing.
With this in mind, Z's broad scope took on added weight, urging us to remain adaptable—in our art, our communities, and society at large—to cling to joy in an unpredictable existence. By the encore, it was evident that MMJ's multifaceted persona remained intact, spanning eras: "Magheeta" infused some of Z's futuristic edge (amplified by those LEDs), the live premiere of "The Devil’s Peanut Butter" from the Z 20th anniversary edition seamlessly merged old and new vibes, and even "Off the Record" seemed both more layered and powerfully amplified. Perhaps it was always that way, or maybe the live energy enhanced it. The trio of songs from their latest album, is, already hinted at shifting from straightforward melodies to more abstract forms.
It's also fascinating to note the oversized plush bears that have been a constant on stage, almost as iconic as the band itself. They've symbolized guidance, famously adorning the cover of It Still Moves as beacons of meaningful direction. Last night, their presence was particularly striking, evoking a past that never truly faded. For a group renowned for their concerts, the owl and bear motifs coexist in a shared artistic zoo, where genre-bending shifts ultimately circle back, and flexibility turns into a path for satisfaction—and survival—for both performers and fans.
Grab tickets to My Morning Jacket’s upcoming tour stops, including more complete Z performances, right here. Check out the full photo gallery and setlist from their Brooklyn Paramount event below.
My Morning Jacket Setlist:
Z:
Wordless Chorus
It Beats 4 U
Gideon
What a Wonderful Man
Off the Record
Into the Woods
Anytime
Lay Low
Knot Comes Loose
Dondante
Chills
Where to Begin
Half a Lifetime
The Devil’s Peanut Butter
Squid Ink
Wasted / En La Ceremony / Wasted
Encore:
Tropics (Erase Traces)
Smokin’ From Shootin’
Die For It
Mahgeetah
What do you think—has My Morning Jacket's evolution from rootsy jams to psychedelic explorations truly influenced modern music, or is it just a band finding their sound? Do you see Z as a timeless call for peace in today's divided world, or does it come off as overly idealistic? Share your thoughts in the comments—I'm curious to hear if you agree, disagree, or have your own interpretations!
