Spellbound at the Salt Shed: My Morning Jacket Delivers
By Colette Custin Bevard
“We’re in the saltiest shed in America!” Proclaimed My Morning Jacket vocalist/guitarist Jim James shortly into the band’s second Chicago show this past weekend. “Thanks for getting in on all this salty deliciousness.” On the heels of the their tenth album release, this past spring’s Is, the Kentucky quintet offered a wide swath of tunes from their extensive discography rather than leaning heavily into the new record, which was only briefly touched on for “Squid Ink,” “Lemme Know,” “Beginning From the Ending,” all of which came across beautifully in a live setting.
Commanding a stage that was also occupied by stuffed animal bears and owls, the band’s sound ranged from moody and psychedelic to crunchy and upbeat, covering everything from hard rock to Americana in terms of genre, and a cover of Neil Young’s “Like A Hurricane” was one of Saturday’s highlights. James is one of the most unique frontmen in indie rock, one minute thrashing with a guitar like someone in a metal band, the next soulfully stalking the stage with just a mic or leading his bandmates through the funky groove of “Highly Suspicious.”
One of indie rock’s most enduring and engaging bands, My Morning Jacket’s sold-out three-night run at Salt Shed will surely go down as one of the highlights of the 2025 concert scene here in Chicago.
