Ah, there's nothing like the enveloping warmth of a My Morning Jacket update on a frosty winter's day. Last week, ATO Records announced that the Louisville band's as-yet-untitled fifth studio album—helmed by lead singer/beardo Jim James and Grammy-winning veteran producer Joe Chiccarelli (White Stripes, The Shins, subject of a Paste feature in the Dec. '07/Jan. '08 issue)—will arrive at dawn on June 10.
It's been three long years since Z, the last proper My Morning Jacket studio album, but in the meantime, the band has been generous with the old, quirky and charitable, live and collaborative Dylan-honoring tidbits, plus two ridiculously fun nights of fake prom!
But Texan fans don't have to wait until summer for a fix of the Jacket's bombastic, sundry blend of Southern rock and various other soulful stylings. In March, the Lone Star state will host two MMJ shows (one with Yo La Tengo and one as part of South by Southwest) and one Jim James solo performance (also part of SXSW). You might recall that the whole bewigged band was in Austin just a few months ago for the 2007 Austin City Limits festival.
As for regular tour dates, the band currently has just one on the schedule, but it's a doozy: "An Evening With My Morning Jacket" at New York City's Radio City Music Hall. Fan club presale tickets for the Radio City show went on sale at 10 a.m. Friday (Jan. 18). Details are scant on exactly what "An Evening With" will entail other than lots of music and lots of hair.
Speaking of hair, though lead singer Jim James recently chopped off his aureole of springy curls, his voice is still as ethereal as ever. Dig this live in-studio performance of "What A Wonderful Man" at San Diego's FM 94/9 from last July.
"You're a serious man." "Yep." "You have a beard." "Yep." Classic.
Four small holidays:
March
10 - Houston, Texas @ Verizon Wireless Theatre (w/Yo La Tengo)
13 - Austin, Texas @ Austin Music Hall (SXSW)
15 - Austin, Texas @ St. David's Church (SXSW) (Jim James solo)
June
20 - New York, N.Y. @ Radio City Music Hall
Related links:
MyMorningJacket.com
Paste Blogs: My Morning Jacket "Quick Hit" video from ACL '07
Paste feature: On the Bus and On the Record, 'It's All Happening' For My Morning Jacket
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