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The solo sets of My Morning Jacket's Jim James have become somewhat of a hushed spectacle, the kind that leaves a person spellbound for days afterward. Performing with just an acoustic guitar and a little help from M. Ward, the bearded singer practically hypnotized his audience with his stunning voice. On this late afternoon, he even treated his fans to an omnichord solo.
James would seem to have too much to do to take on solo concerts. He leads My Morning Jacket, a reverb-drenched band with roots in American music forms. James also sang "Goin' to Acapulco" in the Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There, with Calexico backing him up. But James' solo sets have quickly become just as noteworthy as those of his main band. In an interview with Newport Folk Festival organizer Jay Sweet, Sweet says that a solo SXSW concert by James confirmed the direction he wanted to take the lineup this year.
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