1. Metallica’s Kirk Hammett jams with My Morning Jacket at Bonnaroo 2008
Many people would agree that one of Bonnaroo’s most celebratory recurring acts has been My Morning Jacket. Starting in 2004, the band has played multiple mind-blowing shows at the Tennessee festival, including their 4-hour monster set in 2008, where they made rock n’ roll magic by playing beside Metallica’s Kirk Hammett. Check out full audio of the show on archive.org(http://bit.ly/23ZhzUj)and watch this glorious version of “One Big Holiday” below.
2. Jim James leads Supergroup Jam at Bonnaroo 2013
Jim James may have topped all previous Bonnaroo shows with his Superjam set at the festival in 2013, in which he fronted a heavy lineup including the likes of John Oates, Larry Graham, Brittany Howard, Billy Idol, and R. Kelly, through an unbelievable setlist of classic soul and rock numbers. Look back at a bit of that stellar night with this Bonnaroo video of “Move On Up.”
3. My Morning Jacket cover The Who with Eddie Vedder
In 2006, after just releasing their album Z, My Morning Jacket propelled their much deserved success by joining Pearl Jam for a number of spectacular shows on a tour through Italy. From that tour came this memorable moment in which Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder took the stage with Jim James and co. for an impressive, spirited take on The Who’s “A Quick One While He’s Away.” Check it out below.
4. “Goin’ To Acapulco” with Calexico
Jim James can lay claim to multiple Dylan tributes by now, but the most interesting might be his collaboration with indie group Calexico for the very unique Dylan biographical film I’m Not There. In a list of other fantastic Dylan covers, James recorded with Calexico a stirring version of “Goin’ To Acapulco.” You can actually watch James sing his cover version in the film itself, or in a strong live version with Calexico at the 2008 Newport Folk Fest below.
5. Jim James and Jeff Tweedy join Bob Dylan in 2013
How about the time that Jim James got to tour with two different generations of personal musical inspirations? The Summer of 2013 saw him join Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy on Bob Dylan’s Americanarama tour for a number of exceptionally special shows. Check out Jim James contributing some downright beautiful vocals on “The Weight” from the tour’s stop in Hoboken, NJ on July 26, 2013.
6. Jim James guests With The Levon Helm Band
The legendary music of The Band was another huge musical influence for Jim James, as well as for My Morning Jacket. Their groundbreaking style of Americana and rock n’ roll would inspire MMJ’s sound immensely. In 2010, Jim James got the opportunity of a lifetime when he was asked to open one of Levon Helm’s legendary Midnight Rambles. James went on afterwards to perform with Levon a number of other times. Listen to James channel Rick Danko perfectly on “It Makes No Difference,” with the Levon Helm Band at the 2010 Outside Lands Festival.
7. My Morning Jacket covers Lou Reed with Neil Young
My Morning Jacket can also lay claim to some of the best versions of the Velvet Underground classic, “Oh Sweet Nuthin.” One such version happened at Neil Young’s annual Bridge School Benefit, a yearly concert thrown by Young and his wife to support school children with communication impairments. At the 2013 benefit, Jim James and his band lead an all-star group, including the likes of Elvis Costello and Jenny Lewis, through a special version of the Lou Reed number.
8. Jim James and Trombone Shorty get soulful with Preservation Hall Jazz Band
In 2013, another great collaboration came with James’ support of New Orleans legends Preservation Hall Jazz Band during their 15th year. In addition to helping produce the band’s album, That’s It!, James joined them later that year on their live album release at Carnegie Hall. Listen to James joining Preservation Hall with Trombone Shorty as they soulfully belt out “St. James Infirmary.”
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9. The New Multitudes Project
Outside of My Morning Jacket, Jim James has undertaken many different, unique musical projects. One of his coolest for sure went by the name of New Multitudes, a tribute project putting new music to old Woody Guthrie lyrics with musical partners Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, and Anders Parker. Be sure to check out the full album, and let’s look back at the time The New Multitudes band backed James on his own “The Way They He Sings” at Webster Hall on March 14, 2012.
10. The New Basement Tapes Project
The most recent piece of musical heritage Jim James has lent his prodigious personal touch on is the collaboration between himself, Taylor Goldsmith, Marcus Mumford, Rhiannon Giddens, and Elvis Costello, otherwise known as The New Basement Tapes. Now putting music to old Bob Dylan lyrics, these five, brought together by T. Bone Burnett, made an album of sheer beauty. One of their only live performances thus far took place at the Ricardo Montalban Theater, which also brought up guests Johnny Depp and Haim. Watch James rock out with passion towards the end of “Down On The Bottom” from that amazing night.
11. Band Of Horses take the stage with My Morning Jacket
The best collaborations often happen with your true musical contemporaries. Somewhat similar in musical appreciation to My Morning Jacket are Band Of Horses, who joined MMJ on tour in 2012. At their show in Raleigh, North Carolina on August 26, 2012, the groups joined forces for a cover of George Harrison’s “Isn’t It A Pity.”
12. Bob Weir joins My Morning Jacket at One Big Holiday Festival
Another staple in recent My Morning Jacket history has been their annual One Big Holiday festival, which takes place in Maya, Mexico and features two nights from the band in addition to sets from special guests. At the 2014 One Big Holiday Festival, MMJ invited the one and only Bob Weir up for a few songs including “Dear Prudence,” “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door,” and the Grateful Dead’s “I Know You Rider.” Weir and James trade beautiful vocals on Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” below.