My Morning Jacket Meet Their Grateful Dead Moment at San Francisco Residency

In a distinctive homage to one of rock’s most revered legacies, My Morning Jacket recently completed a seven-night residency at San Francisco’s iconic Fillmore, drawing a vivid connection to the Grateful Dead’s enduring influence. The series, arranged around the seven colors of the rainbow, showcased the band’s deepening engagement with the Dead’s musical heritage and the cultural fabric of the Bay Area.

This residency marked a significant chapter in My Morning Jacket’s own history with the Fillmore—a venue synonymous with the psychedelic rock movement of the 1960s and the birthplace of many Grateful Dead milestones. Over the course of the seven evenings, the band curated a setlist that wove together their original work with selections inspired by or directly linked to the Dead’s repertoire, as well as nods to other seminal artists tied to the city and venue.

The decision to center the residency around the Grateful Dead’s legacy stemmed in part from lead singer Jim James’s personal artistic journey, having recently immersed himself in the band’s catalog. This connection was palpable throughout the run, as My Morning Jacket performed a carefully chosen Grateful Dead song each night, highlighting the musical and emotional bond between the groups and the city that shaped them.

Adding depth to this tribute, the band integrated covers of Bay Area icons like Sly Stone and classics from Marvin Gaye, Fleetwood Mac, and others, underscoring the Fillmore’s rich and diverse musical history. My Morning Jacket also embraced the Dead’s improvisational spirit by replicating their famed song transitions, notably performing "Scarlet Begonias" followed by "Fire on the Mountain" across consecutive nights, a signature Dead suite.

The residency also featured a lineup of guest performers closely linked to the band or the Grateful Dead’s extended musical family. Noteworthy appearances included artists such as Molly Tuttle and Grahame Lesh, the son of Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh. Grahame Lesh’s participation culminated in a poignant finale where he joined My Morning Jacket onstage, contributing bass on classic Dead tunes and further blurring the lines between tribute and continuation.

My Morning Jacket’s commitment to the Fillmore’s legacy was evident in their revisiting of their own history with the venue. On the fifth night, they performed the first disc of their acclaimed live album Okonokos, originally recorded at the Fillmore over two decades ago. This gesture not only honored their past but also reinforced the venue’s role as a living archive of rock history.

Instrumental to the residency’s emotional resonance were the appearances of guitars linked to the Grateful Dead’s founding members. Jim James had the opportunity to play Jerry Garcia’s Martin acoustic guitar, an instrument famously used on the American Beauty album, during renditions of “Ripple” and other songs. This moment was described by James as profoundly moving, symbolizing a passing of musical spirit rather than a mere tribute.

Throughout the residency, My Morning Jacket balanced reverence with originality, creating performances that celebrated the Grateful Dead’s ethos of egoless musicianship and communal experience. While the band’s Fillmore tenure now approaches two dozen shows, this residency solidified their role not just as successors but as active participants in the ongoing narrative of the venue and its storied past.

Ultimately, the seven-night series was more than a concert run; it was a layered exploration of musical lineage and cultural memory, intertwining the threads of My Morning Jacket’s evolving artistry with the enduring spirit of the Grateful Dead and the unique atmosphere of San Francisco’s legendary Fillmore. This residency stands as a testament to how music scenes build on their histories, carrying forward traditions while making room for new stories to be told.