Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Monsters of Folk @ The Greek Theater, 10/18/09
Monsters of Folk is one of the most honest super groups I've ever seen. What I mean is this: most super groups are so in love with their new project that they pretend that it is their only musical work to date and that the audience is solely there to hear that album. They get so wrapped up in this feeling that they refuse to play the hits that everyone came there to see. I'm pleased to report that Monsters of Folk, a group made up of Conor Oberst, Jim James, M. Ward, and Mike Mogis, did no such thing. They were fully aware that most of the people who packed the sold out Greek Theater were mildly curious about Monsters of Folk's debut but were mostly there to see Bright Eyes, My Morning Jacket, and M. Ward.
There were no openers on Sunday night, no intermission, and the band went on promptly at 7:30pm. Anybody who had planned on arriving fashionably late at nine (and there were a lot of them) were horrified to realize that they had missed the first hour and a half of music. Opening with their first single "Say Please," Monsters of Folk spent the evening happily messing around with their new creations as well as each others' original songs. It was fantastic. You heard My Morning Jacket songs with M.Ward vocals. Conor Oberst songs with lovely harmonies added by Jim James. And M. Ward songs accompanied by both. For people who adore covers it was a real treat.
"It's a goddamn pleasure to be under the stars with y'all tonight," Conor Oberst declared after the third song. They didn't pussyfoot around either. The smorgasbord of indie rock lasted for almost three hours (despite the fact that the Monsters disk is only 55 minutes long) as each member of the band tried to outdo each other. You could see the set change each time a different singer took the mic, which is unsurprising considering there were three instantly recognizable lead vocalists in the band. When Conor Oberst took the mic, everything became solemn and a little depressing. You could actually feel the gloom radiate over the stage. Whenever the rasp of M. Ward's voice came over the speakers, the gig felt like the folk night which was promised. But the king of the evening was the magnificent Jim James, who's ethereal voice brought people to tears. (Seriously, I saw people mist up for "Bermuda Highway.") It was like having bought a ticket to three shows instead of one.
The night ended with the melancholy "His Master's Voice," which sounds just like a My Morning Jacket song. Green smoke filled the stage and swirled like Jim James' voice through the speakers into the sky. Not the riotous big finish some of us were hoping for, but a real testament to the Monster's of Folk album, which is at it's heart a mixture of three good bands.
Support for LAist comes from
Check out the set list here.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist