It's been an age since I tuned in to watch The Late Show with David Letterman. When I heard that My Morning Jacket was going to perform with 13 members of the Boston Pops, conducted by the infamous Keith Lockhart, I promptly set the VCR. In rehearsal prior to last night's performance, the brilliant front man for the band, Mr. Jim James, stood on the Symphony Hall stage for the first time and had one important question to ask the Boston Pops. Were you guys planning to wear standard attire for Letterman? Actually, the Pops were considering dressing down, emulating My Morning Jacket's gruffy, "truck-stop chic". But they could be persuaded to stick with the elegant concert attire. Great!, James said, because we're thinking of renting tuxedos, just to sort of class it up. And "class it up" they did!
They performed a spine-tingling version of Gideon from their much praised CD, Z.
James' voice soared and roared, as the band played on. It was as if he was channeling some divine spirit as he belted out the lyrics with his eyes closed the entire time. Drummer Patrick Hallahan looked like a veritable cross between Animal from the Muppets and Janice Joplin. It was a five minute treat I will not soon forget.
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