24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic live show, December 9, 2006
This review is from: Okonokos: The Concert (DVD)
Question: What do U2, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Drive-By Truckers, the Grateful Dead, Radiohead, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd have in common?
Answer: Among other things, they're all great live bands.
All of these bands made their reputations on the road, playing to packed crowds night after night, winning new converts in every town. Their albums are classics, to be sure, but if you ask die-hards about their favorite albums, responses will differ. One thing, though, that all fans will agree on, is that next time their favorite band is in town, those fans will be at the show, waiting for something miraculous. Now, you can add My Morning Jacket to that list.
Their new DVD, "Okonokos," is the DVD testament to their ability as a live band, and like U2's "Live From Slane Castle, Neil Young & Crazy Horse's "Live at the Fillmore East," Drive-By Truckers' "Live at the 40 Watt," The Grateful Dead's "Europe '72," Radiohead's "27 5 94 - The Astoria - London - Live," Led Zeppelin's "How the West Was Won" or Pink Floyd's "Pulse," this DVD is a definitive live document.
How many times have you seen a live DVD that made you stop what you were doing and just sit back and marvel at the musicianship involved, wishing that you could have been at that show, enjoying it with the rest of the crowd? I'm a bit of a concert junkie, and I've seen most of the bands I've mentioned (except for Zeppelin and the Dead), and they have all amazed me with their live shows. I'm now kicking myself for having missed several opportunities to see My Morning Jacket, but I'll correct that oversight at my next opportunity, believe me.
Negatives: Some people might deride this DVD for its silly frame story "concept" (it involves a Victorian party, a llama adoption, and a bear mauling, and yes, it's just as ridiculous as it sounds), but as dumb as it is, it doesn't impede the flow of the concert the way that Neil Young's "wacky scientist" (in "Rust Never Sleeps"), Zeppelin's "old wizard" (in "The Song Remains the Same"), or Alice Cooper's interminable Pythonesque skits (in "Billion Dollar Babies") all do. It mercifully shows up only at the beginning and end of the show (with a brief "dream sequence" in the middle), freeing the viewer up to hit fast forward and get on with the show at any time. And maybe one day, if this concert rightfully goes into the history books as one of the great live DVDs of its time, people will still debate the skit business the way they do with Neil Young, Led Zeppelin and Alice Cooper:
"Man, those skits were stupid."
"Yeah, but that show was amazing."
"Yeah."
Also, some people might criticize the band for extending certain songs past the ten-minute mark. But if you're a fan of Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin (or even, in some cases, The Grateful Dead), you'll know that it's a tightrope act. Sometimes ten minutes is excruciating, and sometimes it leaves you wanting more. I personally think that My Morning Jacket walked the tightrope pretty successfully throughout this show.
Overall, if you're a fan of live music (especially if you are fans of any of the aforementioned bands), check out this DVD. It's a classic live show and not one to be missed.
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