My Morning Jacket, (January 27th, Billboard)

My Morning Jacket seem to think they're a heavy metal band- they have the long hair, the pointy guitars, the long instrumental solos and the stage presence. The type of music they play is far from the expected stereotype for such a band, however. It is varied, executed with style and doesn't fit neatly into any genre. On some tracks there are forays into country, or even hints of the Caribbean a la Vampire Weekend. At times they sound like a combination of Fleet Foxes and Band of Horses.

It was a frustrating night in some ways. We waited outside in the warm air until a quarter to nine (after being told there were 'technical difficulties'), waited inside until a quarter to ten for the set to start and watched numerous roadies test out the guitars. Then finally the band emerged.

My Morning Jacket apparently play long sets quite often, both in terms of duration and the number of songs they include in their sets. Seated behind the mixing desk, we had an ideal view of the set list over the shoulder of the sound engineers. The set opened with Evil Urges, from their most recent album, followed by Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Pt 1. We were also treated to I'm Amazed, the well received recent single and then Off the Record with its swaggering chorus. Other highlights included Librarian, Thank You Too, Sec Walkin, Mahgeeta, Smokin From Shootin, Gideon, Golden, Lay Low, Dondante, Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Pt 2 and Run Thru. The set was peppered with extensive guitar solos, probably much appreciated by devoted fans in the audience but a little, well... boring. I was longing for a tightly executed three minute pop song.

Luckily the encore songs were all fairly short and also well performed. Highlights included Highly Suspicious from their most recent album and the closer One Big Holiday with its signature anthemic guitar riff. An enjoyable night from a band who know how to perform.

On a separate note, if you're too hot, go and see a gig at Billboard and sit at the stools above the mixing desk under the air conditioner...