Also this issue:

Bad Is Good
There’s a reason for the sudden success of The Bad Plus.
-Nate Chinen

Minister of Information
This is Al Jourgensen’s United States of Whatever.
-A.D. Amorosi

suitespot
Peter Burwasser on Classical
-Peter Burwasser

Litmus Test
Clayton the Chemist-Sean O’Neal

The Mercury Program
-Paul Burress

Philomel
-Peter Burwasser

Cousteau
-Nicole Pensiero

Strawbs
-Nicole Pensiero

May 1- 7, 2003

musicpicks

My Morning Jacket

Catching Louisville’s My Morning Jacket in concert is not unlike being whiplashed back to some circa-’75 Southern arena. Singer/guitarist Jim James and his posse of Captain Caveman-coiffed cronies up the anthem quotient, throwing hair and licks to the wind in what might appear at first blush to be ritualistic Skynyrd worship. For anyone who’s only heard the band on disc, MMJ’s live show can be something of a shocker. Gorgeous efforts like 2002’s Chocolate and Ice EP or 2001’s stark-if-underproduced At Dawn feature James’ warbly tenor cutting through an atmospheric haze in such a way as to render even a song called "Can You See the Hard Helmet on My Head?" heartbreaking. It’s this kind of emotional alchemy that attracted the attention of Dave Matthews and his RCA-distributed ATO label, which snatched up the band and is scheduled to release the band’s third full-length later this year. (An aside: Does this mean we now have to give Matthews his props and, if so, will the world then come crashing down?) Warming up for The Doves at The Trocadero late last year, MMJ committed the ultimate concert faux pas: completely overshadowing the headliner. This week at The TLA they’ll be charged with outperforming their opener, local heroes and fellow major-label signees, Burning Brides.

Fri., May 2, 9 p.m., $10-$12, with Burning Brides and The Detachment Kit, The TLA, 334 South St., 215-336-2000.

—Brian Howard