Supersized Halloween Finale: My Morning Jacket Tap Members of Preservation Hall Jazz Band During New Orleans Encore

Photo Credit: Stephen Bloch

On Tuesday, Oct. 31, My Morning Jacket celebrated Halloween at New Orleans’ Orpheum Theater. Before the headliner’s ascent on stage, the night began with an opening frame courtesy of singer-songwriter Madi Diaz, who followed up by joining her hosts during the main set, a current trend on the road, sitting in on 2008’s Evil Urges cut, the aptly titled “Thank You Too!” After concluding their 15-song set, the Jim James-led group returned for a supersized encore with local heroes/ members of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. 

Upon the completion of the final song of the main frame, “One Big Holiday,” James and company strode back onstage, bringing with them New Orlean mainstays, Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Collectively, the ensemble nodded toward the spooky season with a six-song finale, which included originals from both bands, as well as choice covers. The group of seasoned players started off the joint stage time with a take on Pres Hall’s original, “Rattlin’ Bones,” from their 2013 LP, That’s It!

To follow, the group picked up Classic IV’s “Spooky,” reinvigorating the 1967-originated tune. Returning to their archive, My Morning Jacket led their guests through a pair of their songs, beginning with “Highly Suspicious,” another pluck off of Evil Urges. They proceeded with 2011’s Circuital cut, “Holdin On to Black Metal.” Nodding toward the holiday, they offered a take on Donovan’s classic “Season of the Witch.” For the final song of the action-packed sit-in, which also functioned as the night’s closer, MMJ and members of Preservation Hall ignited the party one last time on “Dancefloors.”

After last night’s memorable Halloween display, My Morning Jacket will take some time away from the stage before resuming their Fall Tour 2023 at Atlanta’s Fox Theater. Tickets remain on sale for their impending concert; for tickets, visit mymorningjacket.com. 

My Morning Jacket

Orpheum Theater – New Orleans 

Oct. 31, 2023 

Set: State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.), Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Pt. 1, Spring (Among the Living) > Off the Record, Love Love Love, Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Pt. 2, Wordless Chorus, Wonderful (The Way I Feel), Thank You Too!+, Victory Dance > Circuital, Outta My System, Lay Low, Mahgeetah, One Big Holiday 

Enc.: Rattlin’ Bones%, Spooky%, Highly Suspicious%, Holdin On to Black Metal%, Season of the Witch%, Dancefloors%

Notes: 

+ With Madi Diaz

% With Preservation Hall Jazz Band 

Setlist via Setlist.FM.