By Virginia Hernandez
Indie giants My Morning Jacket returned to Austin on April 10, 2025, supported by Australian singer-songwriter Grace Cummings. Performing at one of the city’s freshest venues, Cummings stunned the crowd with her commanding vocals, while MMJ proved they’re still operating at the peak of their powers.
Opening the evening, Cummings took the stage with her band and immediately captivated the audience. With a voice that is both powerful and raw, she moved seamlessly from delicate high notes to gritty, growling snarls. Her vocals seemed to erupt from within, packed with emotion, intimacy, and a rare vulnerability that set her apart from even the most seasoned performers.
After a few songs with the full band, she transitioned into solo territory, showcasing her skills on piano and guitar—and her ability to hold a crowd on her own. The band returned for the final third of her set, culminating in a blistering rendition of “Ramona,” the standout title track from her latest album.
In her opening slot, Grace Cummings proved she’s one to watch—easily one of the most memorable support acts I’ve seen in years.
My Morning Jacket first broke through in the early 2000s with their album Z, which featured genre-blurring indie/psychedelic rock gems like “Wordless Chorus,” “Gideon,” and “Off the Record.” Their 2008 release Evil Urges saw the band expand their sonic landscape even further, blending blues, jazz, and electronic textures on tracks like “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream” (Parts 1 & 2) and “I’m Amazed.”
Later albums like Circuital, The Waterfall, and their 2025 release Is solidified MMJ as genre-defying innovators—not just musically, but lyrically, thanks to Jim James’ poetic voice and striking range. From soaring falsetto to intimate croon, his vocal dynamics remain a centerpiece of the band’s emotional resonance.
All of this came to life during MMJ’s set at Moody Amphitheater. Their sprawling catalog set the tone for a deeply immersive sonic journey, shifting from the heartfelt to the euphoric. Whether it was the quiet introspection of “Only Memories Remain,” the danceable pulse of “Outta My System,” or the thunderous opener “Lay Low,” the band delivered a vibrant, multi-layered performance that moved the audience both physically and emotionally.
A standout moment came when Grace Cummings returned to the stage to join Jim James for a hauntingly beautiful duet of Willie Nelson’s “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.” Hearing their two voices blend in harmony on such an iconic song was a uniquely Austin moment—pure magic.
MMJ closed the night with a four-song encore, ending on a high with “Dancefloors,” a fan favorite from their 2003 album It Still Moves. Equal parts Western-tinged groove and freewheeling jam, it was the perfect closer—sending fans home with full hearts and ringing ears.
My Morning Jacket’s latest album, Is, was released in March 2025 and is available now.
MMJ setlist:
Lay Low
Anytime
Just Because I Do
Squid Ink
Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Pt. 2
Golden
Time Waited
Everyday Magic
Gideon
Least Expected
Beginning From the Ending
Outta My System
Love Love Love
Phone Went West
Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (with Grace Cummings)
Only Memories Remain
Off the Record
Die for It
Wordless Chorus
Encore:
Hopefully
State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.)
Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Pt. 1
Dancefloors
