RM chats up Tom Blankenship of MMJ ahead of their Hopscotch Set.
My Morning Jacket has been preaching worn-in rock ’n’ roll for over two decades. Rising from Louisville, Kentucky, in the late ’90s, their music managed to stay rooted in a slight Southern twang while still dipping into the sights and sounds of the rising rock scene. The group seemed to understand what was so compelling about both Drive-By Truckers and Green Day, and were able to stretch themselves to both ends of the spectrum.
Alongside their ten albums, MMJ established themselves as the rock institution to see live. And the proof is evident in various live albums, a 2004 Bonnaroo performance so iconic it’s still celebrated, and even a cameo from muppet and drumming icon Animal. So, Raleigh was rightfully buzzing when Hopscotch dropped its highly anticipated lineup and the MMJ name shone front and center as Friday’s headliner.
It won’t be the five-piece’s first time in Raleigh: According to bassist Tom Blankenship’s list of live shows—which he has kept since they began touring in ’99, ~1,100 shows ago—they’ve graced the city three times. “Traveling can feel like work, but actually playing songs and hanging out with the guys never loses its charm,” he muses.
Hopscotch lands just a month out from the 20th anniversary of Z, a record which Blankenship described as a turning point for MMJ—as coming and going band members lent to a change in sound. “From the opening track, it was definitely a departure from what we had done musically,” he affirms. “At the time, I don’t think we really thought of it as taking a risk, but we were just excited to be working on new music.”
In the two decades since, their sound has (naturally) taken some twists and turns, but even their newest record, Is, echoes back to the scope of their early days. Produced by Brendan O’Brien,who cemented his name working with the likes of Pearl Jam and Bob Dylan, the more-focused-than-usual album gives just a taste of the group’s live sphere. “Brendan trimmed the fat off of all of them—‘Squid Ink’ was two or three times longer than the album version,” says Blankenship.
But holding up to their live show legacy, the trimmings were saved and the group plans to play all the songs in full live. For MMJ, albums come second: Most of their discography was played at shows for years before it was ever released. Read: “One Big Holiday” was played live for three years before it ever saw the light of the studio.
And like any good fest setlist, MMJ’s Hopscotch performance will cater to fans of all capacities. “We joke that it’s a greatest hits set,” quips Blankenship. “We don’t necessarily have any radio hits, but [we play] songs like ‘Wordless Chorus’ that we know resonate with folks who aren’t super familiar with us.” Rest assured, deep cuts—which Blankenship refers to as “nuggets”—are still sprinkled in for the longtime MMJers. All in all, their headlining set will certainly be worth a listen. hopscotchmusicfest.com; mymorningjacket.com
Happy Hopscotch to all who celebrate! It’s that time of year again—the 15th annual DTR indie music fest is back Sept. 4–6, once again hailing NC for the complex sound haven it is while spotlighting acclaimed music across all genres and from around the world, plus up-and-coming artists and household names.
Known to consistently predict the next big names in indie, Hopscotch has hosted the likes of up-and-comers Japanese Breakfast, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Waxahatchee and MJ Lenderman long before their breakout. Bottom line: Even if some names don’t ring a bell (yet), trust—you’ll be seeing and hearing a lot more from them soon. Until then—here’s how to make the most of the three-day rhythmic romp.
Soundcheck? Two stages, one in City Plaza and one in Moore Square, will showcase the headliners, and an array of smaller venues around DTR will host Day Parties to give the smaller names a stage (P.S. Day Parties don’t require a pass to attend!).
Lineup Legends? Earl Sweatshirt and Built to Spill will headline Thursday, with My Morning Jacket and Godspeed You! Black Emperor on Friday, and Sparks and Crumb on Saturday—all with opening support from the likes of Geese, Superchunk, Florry and more.
Pick Your Pass 🎫GA tickets |$160+ Access to three days of live music at both stages, plus late-night comedy sets
🎫VIP tickets |$340+ Additional perks including VIP swag bag, priority access to late-night sets and VIP-only amenities at both stages
Map Your Moves Use the Hopscotch app to locate your can’t-miss sets ahead of time—the walk between stages doesn’t take long, but it will feel a lot longer when your fave artists play within minutes of each other.
Garrett Poulos, courtesy of Hopscotch Music Festival
Bag the Rules It’s prime time to break out the belt bag, or skip the bag entirely and keep those hands free for fist pumping and dancing. Pro tip: Any bag larger than 13 x 15 inches must be clear.
Weather or Not It’s a rain or shine event, which is great until you forget a poncho (s/o to anyone who braved the Soccer Mommy set of 2023). Check the weather in the morning and pack accordingly.
Cool Kicks Read: Comfy boots or sneakers are the only choices. Your feet will thank you.
Hot Shopping If you’re after merch for a specific artist, head to the merch booth at their stage on the day of their set. And don’t forget to check out the festival merch—it’s designed by local artists.
Not able to Hopscotch? Follow us on socials for a behind the scenes look at the fest!
Spoiler alert: This is the way to get back homeward. Let golden slumbers fill your eyes with the charm, wit and voices of the tribute to the OG boy band. martinmariettacenter.com
9/27 Beethoven Symphony No. 8
Fun fact: Beethoven fondly referred to this piece as “my little Symphony in F.” Listen up as the composer’s little pet takes the stage. martinmariettacenter.com
I guess that’s why they call it the blues… All plucks given for this final Raleigh run (RIP) of the world’s largest free urban bluegrass fest repping legends and rising stars across DTR. We’ll miss you IBMA—and we would ~pick~ you all over again.ibma.org
9/27–28 The International Festival
Bring on the food, beer and wine, performers, and vendors repping over 50 different cultures for a weekend of education and celebration. As Mr. Worldwide would say, “it’s international love.” visitraleigh.com
9/28 Asia Fest
Dance through Asian culture and history with Asian food, stage performances, cultural exhibits and vendors—plus, cheer on your fave team in a dragon boat race. It’s sure to be fire. boothamphitheatre.com
9/28 My Morning Jacket
Bundle up for “one big holiday,” aka the rock band’s Eye To Eye Tour stop at Walnut Creek. livenation.com
9/28 Nate Jackson
At ~3.5 million TikTok followers and 500+ million views strong, this fast-growing comedian, actor, writer and digital creator is bringing his “super-funny” bits to Raleigh. martinmariettacenter.com
9/28 NCSU vs. NIU 🏈
The Wolfpack is set to show the Huskies who the real big dogs are. gopack.com
9/28 Over the Edge
Rappel down the side of a DTR skyscraper—if you have the guts—to mirror the adversities individuals with intellectual disabilities encounter daily and raise funds for Special Olympics North Carolina. Not for the faint of heart! sonc.net
9/29 Chromeo & The Midnight
Chromeo, oh, Chromeo. … Where art thou, Chromeo? Why, at The Ritz of course! livenation.com
10/1 Sleeping With Sirens
Don’t be afraid to be lured and lulled by this alt rock group’s sultry sounds at The Ritz—but if you can’t hang—“there’s the door.” livenation.com
10/2 Canes vs. Predators
These tigers can’t take a Caniac attack. pncarena.com
10/2 Violent Femmes
Time to go on like a blister in the sun as the OG pioneers of folk punk bangers rock the “roof” off Red Hat Amp. redhatamphitheater.com
