My Morning Jacket

Accused of being wilfully old fashioned, My Morning Jacket certainly can't be charged of not keeping up with current events. Shuffling on stage, they declare that their gig tonight is to be declared to "The Godfather - Marlon Brando". The tribute is quite a shock to many of the audience, as most probably weren't aware that he had deceased - it being merely hours after his death was announced. A suitably electric way to begin the night, and for the next 80 minutes, the frission in the air doesn't cease.

Opening with the fiesta-folk of 'Magheeta', the band hurtle through most of their 'It Still Moves' album (one of THE best of last year), with a smattering songs from their previous two records thrown in and a new track to boot. No surprises there then; it's the set that the band have been touring solidly for the last 18 months or so. What does stick is the fact that it all sounds so fresh, beautiful and when they want to, utterly, utterly kick-ass. Take for example the circling guitar intro of 'One Big Holiday'; it elicits the sort of cheer from the crowd normally reserved for the 'Wonderwall's and 'Losing My Religion's of this world. Not surprising, when the song otherwise known as 'The Guitars Of Death' (copyright me) is a banjo-smashing call to partying arms. It sounds like the theme to 'Deliverance' as played by **Neil Young**. On Ecstasy. And it's utterly fabulous. You see, most bands, if they're lucky, will write a song in their career that has 'A Riff' in it (as in; "_man that is A Riff_"), or if they're very talented, will pen a tune with the accolade of 'The Riff' (as in; "_you know, that song, the one with The Riff in it_"). MMJ write songs with multiple 'The Riffs' in it. They're that good. And whilst Neil Young has always been an easy and obvious touch point for critics, it's neither an unfair nor unflattering comment. Neil Young On Space Drugs, obviously though. Be it through the cracked vocals of leader Jim James or the incendiary one-string guitar solos of new recruit Carl Broemel, they evoke the king horse rides majesty of Young and Crazy Horse, but of course, they are so much more than their influences.

Tonight's gig is one of the best possible affirmations that rock n roll in its purest pleasurable form is alive and well. Whilst the kicks and the licks of fashionable London may be igniting the scenesters in the Capital and beyond, those really in the know realise that we can get all the soul we need from Kentucky. Astounding stuff.