My Morning Jacket Conclude Brooklyn Paramount Run with Assistance from Karina Rykman on Black Sabbath Debut
Photo: Stevo Rood
Last night, My Morning Jacket returned to the Brooklyn Paramount to deliver the send-off to their three-night run. Performances at this particular location by the Jim James-led ensemble began on Thursday, October 16, billed as the 20th anniversary concert for the 2005 breakthrough Z. Night one included a live debut of a new number, “The Devil’s Peanut Butter,” and progressed into collaborative territory by Friday, with the arrival of Karina Rykman. The guest bassist ultimately returned last night to help the band close out their time in the Big Apple with a select cover, played for the first time.
Saturday’s final appearance on the Brooklyn Paramount stage led with James’ 2016 Eternally Even feature, “Here in Spirit.” The band played “In Its Infancy (The Waterfall)” and fellow album sister song, “Spring (Among the Living)” with a naturally emerging snippet of the Beatles’ “Dear Prudence” at the outro. The band coasted through a large batch of originals, coalescing different eras of their careers into an amalgamation of the band’s best: “Holdin On to Black Metal,” “Feel You,” “By My Car,” and “Big Decisions” before catharsis on “Evelyn Is Not Real.”
A short segment of material from their LP is emerged as “Everyday Magic” and “Time Waited.” After choosing songs and honoring the album, they turned in “Victory Dance,” “Evil Urges,” and “Highly Suspicious” before touching back on their 10th studio record via “Beginning From the Ending.” “Strangulation!” summed up 25 years of experience, before another long-time feature of the MMJ songbook, “Run Thru.”
Like the night prior, the host band welcomed Rykman back to the Brooklyn Paramount stage to assist with a choice song. During Saturday night’s performance, the musician known for “Joyride” contributed to Black Sabbath’s “Fairies Wear Boots,” which according to setlist.FM represents the only time they have covered the number. Notably, the band appeared to include the borrowed song during a 2000 concert in Brussels, only in medley form as opposed to a tried-and-true cover, played start to finish
Before sending Rykman on her way, the group and their guest bridged back to “Run Thru” and then continued [sans guest] with “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Pt. 2” and “Love Love Love,” which was met with a fire alarm that caused a delay in the remainder of the concert. Once the problem was solved, the band returned for their final series of songs: “Wonderful (The Way I Feel),” “I Can Hear Your Love,” a cover of Tears for Fears “Head Over Heels,” and “Phone Went West” ender.
After three nights in Brooklyn, My Morning Jacket will take tonight, Sunday, Oct. 19 off, and return to the stage tomorrow, Monday, Oct. 20 at Megacorp Pavilion in Newport, Ky., for a home state gig. Tickets remain on sale and can be purchased via www.mymorningjacket.com.