My Morning Jacket live at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, May 18, 2002

Review by Douglas C. Sell

You gotta hand it to Drexel University (an expensive, private school in Philadelphia), they
put on a pretty good show for the kids at this year's Spring Jam: My Morning Jacket + Guster.
The Spring Jam thing happens at most colleges here in the US. It is a day of music, food, and
carnival-type games like sumo wrestling suites and a moon walk thing where college kids blow
off steam before their final exams.

I got to go because my nice friend Lisa has a sister that goes to Drexel so we got in with
her. You had to be a/with a student to get in. We sat and munched on funnel cakes before the
show and watched the kids do the carnival thing. I got confection sugar all over my jeans of
course. They blasted really bad rap really loud. The fesitivities were held in the gym because
it was cold and gray outside. I was hoping to see MMJ outside, maybe get a fell for the outdoor
shows they've played as massively popular rock stars in Belgium and Holland. But no such luck.

MMJ took the stage promptly at 7pm. Jim cam out wearing what looked like  a big paper popcorn
bucket you get at the movies. He wore upside down with two eye holes cut out and the botton
ripped off so he is long ass hair could jut out the top. He looked fucking ridiculous but still
cool. The hat lasted about three songs then it got discarded. The sound was good for the first
few songs, then the vocals dropped out. I think they were once again the vicitim of too much
reverb and way-high guitar levels. I mentioned this to Jim after the show as I chatted with them
and bought a cool t shirt. He was like, "I don't know what happened." Otherwise, the band was
tight and rocking.

Set list included (from memory, so forgive me):

X-Mas Curtain
The Way That He Sings
Lowdown
The War Begun
Pictures Of You
Phone Went West

And others I can't recall....

My Morning Jacket Live 2002