Episode 145 of The JamBase Podcast, a partner of the Osiris Media Network, features an interview with My Morning Jacket‘s Jim James. The frontman spoke with JamBase’s Andy Kahn about the band’s recent tour in support of their self-titled album, the band’s upcoming Halloween hometown celebration and more.

My Morning Jacket will perform on Saturday, October 29 in their hometown of Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center. James talked extensively about the upcoming Halloween Costume Ball And Celebration over a phone call earlier this week. The chat started by talking about MMJ’s busy 2022, which saw the band playing more shows than in recent years.

James described what it’s been like hitting the road while still dealing with COVID. He talked about what it felt like to have to cancel shows in Louisville in June when he came down with COVID despite his best efforts to avoid it. The cancellation led to the rescheduling of the upcoming Halloween concert, which will feature support from local Lousiville groups Producing a Kind Generation and Louisville Leopards Percussionists. James explained how the band goes about selecting openers and whether or not to expect collaborations at the Halloween celebration.

Hometown shows can come with their own challenges and obstacles and James was asked if there is still added pressure when the band plays in Louisville. He discussed the Jacket’s history with Louisville, which dates back to the 1990s.

The interview covered James’ relationship with Halloween and how much he gets into the spooky spirit of the holiday. He was asked about the prospect of the band dressing up for the concert and if there will be a common theme. James noted that being able to play guitar and sing is something that needs to be considered with planning a costume to wear on stage.

James detailed My Morning Jacket’s process for preparing a setlist for a special concert and revealed they’ve already started working on one for the Halloween gig. James also covered how covers gets brought into the fold.

At the end of the chat, James was asked what plans My Morning Jacket has for the future – they don’t have any shows planned after the Halloween show – and he mentioned the band was likely about to start working on a new studio album.

This episode is sponsored by Psychedelic Art Exchange. Psychedelic Art Exchange is the premier source to buy, sell, and learn about vintage concert posters. Explore decades’ worth of exciting collectible concert art from the 1960s to the modern day featuring the Grateful Dead, Phish, and many more of your favorite bands and artists. Be on the lookout for JamBase’s four-part series documenting the history of concert posters. Visit www.concertpostergallery.com to explore their expanding online store or to bid on vintage rarities in one of their twice-monthly auctions. Happy collecting!

This episode is also sponsored by Sofar Sounds. Sofar Sounds is a global community of music lovers creating space where music matters. Sofar invites guests to discover new artists, places, and people, whether at home or abroad, in 400 cities around the world. Now integrated with JamBase’s Concert listings, Sofar shows transform everyday spaces – from living rooms and rooftops, to boutiques and museums – into captivating venues for secret, live shows, creating inclusive experiences that bring people closer together. Sofar keeps the location secret until the day before the show. The Sofar community creates an inclusive space where music matters so that you can get lost in the performance. To learn more about Sofar Sounds, visit www.sofarsounds.com or follow the conversation on social media at @sofarsounds or using
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Note: there were some instances where the audio was affected by an unstable connection. While not ideal, hopefully it does not distract from the insightful interview.

Stream Episode 145 of The JamBase Podcast via all major podcast services including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Podcast.