My Morning Jacket (Other Stage, Saturday)

As a one time owner of long hair and leathers I was really looking forward to some heavier tuneage at the Other Stage and as they mount the stage it would appear with all that hair and even a flying V that we’re gonna get it.



But looks appear deceiving and they just don’t engage the crowd. So much so that at one point they are all three facing the drummer with their backs to us. That’s not the only problem - their songs appear to go on forever.

This would be okay if we could lie back and drift off with it, but it’s muddy it’s wet and the beer isn’t even thawing out our souls yet. There’s another problem with them too. They may look the part but they aren’t very heavy, this is metal lite and as such they play it well. It’s just, I like my rock heavy or Monster Magnet or Kyuss like, this falls wide of the mark.

No doubt with a better PA set up - I can’t even make out the lyrics - and better weather they would be more captivating but it’s not, well, not for me. The kids around me appear thrilled by it. I wonder what they’d do if they were at a full flight Metallica concert – probably explode with delirium.

It’s a case of huge hair, occasionally sweeping country moments reminiscent of Neil Young or even Roy Orbison but much too rarely, shame about the result. Clearly these Yanks aren’t used to the cold and wet, give them a blisteringly hot day and I feel they could be a whole different rock beast.

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