Every summer Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons book their infamous 3 night run in Virginia City, MT. They also usually add a couple extra dates leading up to this epic run. This year the 5 shows in 5 days run started in beautiful Whitefish, MT at the Great Northern Bar. Many members of the core JMOS fan base take this week off as their annual vacation week so they can see there close friends, favorite band, and one of the most beautiful parts of the great USA. I being one of them am lucky enough to have a family lake house on Swan Lake just between Whitefish and Missoula. Once again we rallied the troops and met up at our house in BigFork, MT a couple days before the first show for some boating, swimming, games and all around, good old fashioned get together. After a couple days on the lake, it was on to Whitefish for the first of what would be five incredible shows, in three different towns.
As usual the band was refreshed and ready to get things rolling and the first night in Whitefish proved to be a traditional Jackmormons throw down and a solid start of the run. They opened up with “Apollo” a song off the most recent Stockholm Syndrome disc, followed by heavy renditions of “Beautiful Dirt” and “Second Skin.” After a couple new songs they busted out great versions of “Sparkle” and “Sometime You Just Lose It.” With an always beautiful “Syracuse,” to close the first set.
On the drive up, my cohort and I discussed some of the songs we wanted to hear over the weekend and the seond set this first night contained a few of our favorites, including “I Know there’s a Darkness”, the reggae fueled “Electra Glide in Blue”, as well as “Back in a Hole”, and “Watching Me”.” The always welcomed “New Psychology of Love” into the newer powerhouse “Mile High, Mile Deep” closed the show. After a high octane second set, we were treated to an encore of “This is the Place.” I have to tell you that Montana is definitely THE place!!
8/28/2013
Whitefish, MT (Great Northern Bar and Grill)
Set I: Apollo, Beautiful Dirt, Second Skin(w/ Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner rap), Sparkle, Sometimes You Just Lose It, Syracuse.
Set II: I Know There’s a Darkness, The Kind of Place, Electra Glide in Blue, Back in the Hole, Watching Me, These Grey Days, New Psychology of Love(w/Before They Make Me Run, Beast of Burden, and Across 110th Street raps), Mile High, Mile Deep(w/ War rap).
Enc: This is the Place (Where Everybody Finds Out Who They Are)
As we headed back to the lake and attempted to lower our adrenaline, we reminisced about the first night show and set list and hyped ourselves up for the next show in Missoula. After a solid rest, we woke to a King’s breakfast and spent our last day on the lake, kayaking, swimming, and taking boat rides, as more friends arrived from around the country. One more BBQ feast and we were on the road to Missoula for night two of the run. The short two hour ride from Swan to Missoula is a very scenic easy drive and we found ourselves there in no time. This night we stayed with some mutual friends and got to the show right on time. The Great Elks Lodge turned out to be one of the most comfortable venues of the week. Stiff drinks and an easy going staff kept the JMOS crew comfortable, and it became noticeable that our group was getting larger each day.
Once again the band came out firing on all cylinders as they chose to open up with the slower, “King of Love” and then launched out of the gates with “Yellow Ribbons” into Neil Young’s “Powderfinger.” Other favorites included Daddy Bruce*, the new “White Peaches” and the MT appropriate “Henry” to close the 1st set. I tried to video this show, but due to some technical difficulties of my own, I only captured the 1st four songs. The link to “Daddy Bruce” on my YouTube is below.
After a short break, Second set brought us face to face with tight versions of “Staple Gun”, “Poison”, and a great rendition of Modest Mouse’s “Missed the Boat.” A long and steady version of “Soda Man” not only closed the set, but showed us how great the chemistry of the band is right now. Wow!
The encore was one of the more unique moments of the night. They came out and teased the opening notes to “1936 Jesus”, then proceeded to get grooving in the rhythm of “Happy Book.” Sure enough Jerry started the lyrics of “1936 Jesus” over the music of “Happy Book”. This kept up through the song and into the actual song, “Happy Book.” Confused yet? I was, but was loving’ every minute of it!!
After the show we went back to our new comrade’s home for more drinks and conversation, and thankfully another great night’s sleep. After a nice brunch in town it was finally time for the final stretch down to Virginia City, MT; the true ‘Wild Wild West.’
To be continued
8/29/2013
Missoula, MT (Hell’s Gate Elks Lodge, AKA Stage 112)
Set I: King of Love, Yellow Ribbons>Powderfinger>Yellow Ribbons, Mountain Home, Daddy Bruce, The Road Home, White Peaches, Cloud Eyes, Belmont Radiator, Henry (slow).
Set II: Coliseum, Bright Young Thing, Kicking Hong Kong, Staple Gun/Boston Rag/Showbiz Kids, Poison, Missed the Boat, Unprotected, Soda Man (w/Lucretia My Reflection, Sex-o-matic Venus Freak, Mysterious Ways, & Young Blood raps).
Enc: 1936 Jesus>Happy Book
All Photos courtesy of BillyMac Photography
All shows are currently available for free on archive.org
As always I dedicate this to my Mother, Kathleen McAlaine. You are my inspiration!! RIP.
