Customer Reviews

Okonokos: The Concert

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

Using this collection as evidence, My Morning Jacket just might be the best live band around today. It is simply amazing. 16:9, 5.1 surround, and worth every penny, even if you already own the CD version.

Okonokos: The Concert DVD
Tracks
1. The Party
2. Wordless Chorus
3. It Beats 4 U
4. Gideon
5. One Big Holiday
6. I Will Sing You Songs
7. Lowdown
8. The Way That He Sings
9. What A Wonderful Man
10. Off The Record
11. Golden
12. Lay Low
13. Dondante
14. Run Thru
15. Xmas Curtain
16. O Is The One That Is Real
17. Steam Engine
18. Anytime
19. Mahgeetah
20. The Attack

I saw a screening of this last night in a theater and it is probably the best concert video I've ever seen. A great showcase of their range of songs, their full sound and great stage presence. I'm not sure what they could have done to make this any better, it's a pretty incredible performance.

I saw the second day taping of this concert at the Fillmore in San Francisco last year and this DVD catches this band perfectly. I went to the special screening in West LA last night and saw the concert on a movie screen. The sound and video were awesome. I was a little disappointed with the CD because the first eight or nine songs sound like Jim James voice is cracking. I don't know if they isolated his voice more on the album. The album does get better into the second disc. The DVD captured their live shows as I remember them. This is one of the greatest bands touring today. If you haven't seen them yet, buy the DVD. It's as close to the real thing as you can get.

My Morning Jacket's Okonokos DVD is like a trip into another land. A land where a llama leads a sharply dressed man from a swank cocktail party to a magical live show in a lush forest setting. A land where the music is played loud and fast, but with a certain tenderness that is impossible to describe. A land where hair flies and notes drift and Jim James' falsetto and vocals with heavy reverb take you to a place that is both vintage and futuristic. (sidenote :I swear I watched this sober.)

This DVD is as close as you can get to a live MMJ show. The lights, the sounds, the intensity of the music. The excitement of the crowd and the great energy coming from a band who truly love what they are doing.

Easily one of the top music DVDS of all time. This, my friends, is rock and roll.

I'M VERY HAPPY TO HAVE SEE THIS GREAT BAND FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE PEARL JAM CONCERT IN ITALY, IT'S A VERY GREAT BAND THAT MAKE A GREAT DVD CONCERT, EXCELLENT ATMOPHERE AND SOUND IN THIS DVD!!

I have only seen My Morning Jacket play twice, once at Bonnaroo, and they are by far, in my opinion, the best live band in the world. I was hoping they would make a DVD so I can watch them play live whenever I want, and finally one day, after I was complaining to my girlfriend that they didn't have a live dvd, I saw on their website that they were going to release this. I bought the Okonokos live album as well, and while I loved it, the DVD sounds 2x better. Every instrument seems to stand out, and Jim James' vocals are outstanding. It's nice to see their almost mythical live performance ability finally caught on video so anybody can see it. I've watched this probably 5 times already, and I'm amazed every time at how great everything sounds.

I'm seeing them this weekend in Indianapolis; can't wait. This is a band so good live, it's hard to get that excited about seeing any other band.

...great music and this is one great concert dvd. I've not seen MMJ live yet, but hope to soon.

Awesome stuff!

seen em all, Last Waltz, Led Zeppelin, Monterey, Hard days Night, and put this at the top of the stack. a music enthusiast, I already consider this band one of the greatest of all time and this live DVD is a true testament to their brilliant live act. extremely well produced, with camera angles capturing the key moments of each of the musicians at their peak. if at all curious or have a friend who's told you to check em out, this is a great starting point.