It’s a beautiful summer night in Berkeley, California, here on Friday, 22 August, and even more so with My Morning Jacket returning to town to close out their summer tour at the Greek Theater. High up in the hills of Strawberry Canyon, the Greek features majestic views of the University of California clocktower, the San Francisco Bay, and the San Francisco skyline. It’s a classic venue with a timeless vibe, making it an ideal spot for a band like My Morning Jacket.
The group from Louisville, Kentucky, have played here before and are back on tour behind their vibrant new album, Is, released earlier this year on the auspicious date of the spring equinox. Singer/guitarist Jim James has become known as one of the more spiritual voices in rock, as well as a bold thought leader who isn’t shy about expressing views on how we could all make the world a better place. Thus, there’s a tangible sense of community among the band’s fan base, even among casual fans who may not be as familiar with the repertoire as more serious, longtime fans.
It’s nice to see the group back in the Bay Area in 2025, after 2024 featured a great set at the BottleRock festival in Napa Valley, followed by a rare four-night run at San Francisco’s Fillmore Auditorium. The Fillmore shows were as packed as can be, so it’s refreshing to catch My Morning Jacket outdoors again with some elbow room on a balmy night.
There’s an intriguing opening act in the form of Melt, an “indie-soul” band from New York whose Spotify bio states that “We believe in a better world and our music mostly has to do with that. We also believe in aliens and are open to pretty much all existential possibilities except for Boy God.” With a bio like that, it’s no surprise to poke around Melt’s social media accounts and find that they played a “Rock ‘n’ Roll and Rent Control” show in Brooklyn back in May that featured a conversation with Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist candidate who went on to shock the political world by winning New York City’s Democratic Party primary for Mayor.
It’s clearly apparent that singer Veronica Stewart-Frommer has lots of soul and some great pipes, as she and the band get their mojo working. “Heaven” from 2024’s If There’s a Heaven is a breezy mid-tempo tune that grabs the audience’s attention, with Stewart-Frommer singing “If there’s a heaven, everybody’s getting in, Ooh goddamn, If it takes so many tries to be alive.” Melt’s sound seems to have more of an edge in the live setting, which makes their cover of Neil Young‘s “Harvest Moon” shimmer nicely to close out their set.
My Morning Jacket hit the stage at 8:30 with “Out in the Open”, the majestic opening track from the new album which sets an excellent tone for the evening as Jim James sings of walking on the ocean and praying in the sand before going on to sing, “I can’t pretend that I’m not scared but I’ll live while I’m still free.” It’s a zeitgeisty sentiment for a crazy world that’s going to hell in a bucket, featuring the kind of spiritual encouragement that’s made James one of the high priests of the rock ‘n’ roll religion.
“X-Mas Curtain” from 2001’s At Dawn is an obvious fan favorite as the audience starts clapping in unison upon recognizing the song’s intro. James goes across the stage to rock out with bassist Tom Blankenship and guitarist Carl Broemel, and it’s clear to see that these guys really enjoy playing together, along with drummer Patrick Hallahan and keyboardist Bo Koster. There’s another big cheer for “Laylow” from 2005’s Z, a rocker that features James wailing a hot solo in total rockstar mode on his Flying V guitar.
“Time Waited” is another gem from the new album, featuring a shimmering blend of guitar and piano melodies, while James delves into some profound lyrical themes. He seems to nod to the Rolling Stones as he sings, “Well, they say time waits for no one dear… But time waited for you and me.” When he sings, “I did cry on your shoulder dear, at the thought of getting older”, he also seems to allude to one of his own solo classics, “We Ain’t Getting Any Younger Part 2” (which remains a PopMatters favorite of the past decade from his 2019 solo show at the Fillmore). James brings the message home when he concludes, “But if we move right now, all the world is here for us.”
Catching My Morning Jacket at the Greek on a beautiful summer night like this makes it feel like the world is here for everyone present, with an uplifting sense of collective euphoria. James takes a moment to note that many of these songs were recorded nearby in the Stinson Beach area of Marin County, as well as how much the band always loves returning to the Bay Area. “The Force is strong here,” James adds, alluding to his studies of the popular Jedi religion.
“Still Thinkin” from 2020’s The Waterfall II finds Broemel switching over from guitar to sax, adding another dimension to the group’s sound as the song moves into a sweet, jazzy jam. “Everyday Magic” shines as another great new song with the band rocking bright guitar chords with a big hook as James sings, “Everyday magic / A ripple in the fabric / Of all space time / Oh you have it / In your heart!”
James continues to explore deep spiritual themes on “Least Expected”, a rocker from the group’s eponymous 2021 album, where he sings of “Flying through the sunset”, seeing “the teeth of the dragon”, and how “The Earth holds the key” into the universe since we all have “only one home”. Some strong electric piano and organ from Koster elevate the sound here as James implores listeners to understand that there’s only one Earth, only one blood, only one love, and “we share it all”.
A bustout of John Lennon‘s “Love” provides a tender, heartfelt moment that also seems to connect back to the group’s sensational performance of George Harrison‘s “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)” from last year at BottleRock. There’s lots more love in the air when Veronica Stewart-Frommer from Melt returns to the stage to team up with James for a sensational duet on “Here in Spirit”, from his 2016 solo album Eternally Even. James has proven to have an excellent eye for complementary talent and scores again here as he and Stewart-Frommer form a dynamic duo to mesmerize the Greek with sentiments including, “Go on and dance through the night, Go one be one with the light…”
The collaboration is so good that it warrants another song as the group cranks it up with the hard-hitting “Holding on to Black Metal”. The anthemic song from 2011’s Circuital is a spectacular showcase for Jim and Veronica, whose harmonies soar from start to finish. The charismatic singer from Melt seems to have some rock goddess within, and those vibes make for a triumphant performance here on one of My Morning Jacket’s hardest rocking tunes. The psychedelic light show also has a dramatic effect, as it has throughout the set, generating a multidimensional spectacle for one of the night’s peak moments.
James brings the energy back down for a musical breather, but still with some deep lyrics on “I Think I’m Going to Hell”. Warning of devils and demons, he also ad libs on how heaven and hell are available, “it’s all a state of mind and it’s all available for a limited time.” Such deep thoughts bring Keanu Reeves flicks such as Constantine and The Devil’s Advocate to mind, stories that speculate on the concept of angels and demons battling here on Earth for the soul of humanity. The dark side may seem to have the upper hand in 2025, yet there’s still lots of light when Rebel Alliance rockers like My Morning Jacket hold court at a sonic temple like the Greek Theater.
The anthemic “Victory Dance” taps into this theme as the band rocks out on another great track from Circuital, with James singing of how he hopes “to watch the victory dance, In the evening’s setting sun, Over many lives to come…” The new “Die For It” adds a melodic, shimmering blast of positivity to the mood as James sings, “The more you love, the more you gain” while encouraging listeners to “live again!” There’s a great vibe here as James wails some more hard-rocking lead guitar, letting it all hang out.
“Wordless Chorus” strikes a chord to close out the lengthy set with a big audience singalong, as James sings, “Remember the promise as a kid you made, We are the innovators, They are the imitators.” My Morning Jacket have indeed evolved into one of the more innovative groups in rock, developing a uniquely majestic sound with inspiring lyrics that stand apart from the pack. The closer builds dramatically with psychedelic disco ball effects for a big climax.
When they return to the stage for the encore, James thanks the fans for their support and the Bay Area for having “so much action”. The acoustic opening of “Librarian” from 2008’s Evil Urges bears a resemblance to a Simon and Garfunkel tune, with that 1960s folk vibe seemingly ingrained in Jim James’ musical DNA. The song about a sexy librarian sounds like it could come from that era, making a fitting selection here in Berkeley. “Spring (Among the Living)” from 2015’s The Waterfall cranks the energy level back up, a dynamic tune where the rhythm section of Blankenship and Hallahan pushes the groove across a broad sonic landscape.
“Phone Went West” caps the triple encore with some mellow reggae vibes, before building in a more rocking direction. James starts ad-libbing some lyrics as the psychedelic lights swirl in the mist, while the sound begins to move in a funkier direction. James teases Sly & the Family Stone’s “Sing a Simple Song” and “You Can Make It If You Try”, before leading the band into what becomes a uniquely laid back yet mesmerizing psyche-rock version of Sly’s 1970 classic “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”.
It’s a brilliant selection, as it feels like James is thanking the fans for letting him and the band get their groove on, while the fans are simultaneously feeling the same way about My Morning Jacket lifting the Greek Theater to a higher dimension on what has become a most memorable summer night.