Tonight’s My Morning Jacket show, which will stream live as part of Unstaged: An Original Series from American Express, is about seven hours away, but we’ve got some cool behind-the-scenes footage to show you in advance. So check it out and tune in tonight!
My Morning Jacket’s excellent sixth studio album, Circuital, out today, is anchored by the slow-building title track, the beautiful “Wonderful (The Way I Feel)”—both of which are featured in the band’s Storytellers session—a tale of youthful indiscretion, “Outta My System” (“They told me not to smoke drugs, but I wouldn’t listen/ Never thought I’d get caught and wind up in prison”) and the high-pitched “Holdin’ On to Black Metal,” which seems destined to be a smoker when performed live. Perhaps we’ll find out tonight when MMJ plays a hometown gig at the Louisville Palace. The show is sold out, but no worries because as part of American Express’s Unstaged, it’s also streaming live at www.youtube.com/user/MyMorningJacketVEVO. And if that weren’t enough, Todd Haynes is directing the stream and Erykah Badu will be a special guest. So tune in tonight at 9 and rock out from the comfort of your own home.
My Morning Jacket’s newest album, Circuital, comes out on Tuesday, 5/31. But you’ll get to hear more than just their new songs that day because MMJ is joining forces with award-winning filmmaker Todd Haynes (Velvet Goldmine, Far from Home, I’m Not There) for the latest edition of “Unstaged: An Original Series from American Express.” In partnership with YouTube and VEVO, “Unstaged” features some of the music industry’s most breakthrough artists playing at landmark venues across the country, while tapping some of today’s most influential filmmakers to direct the live streams and using digital and social media to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways. Haynes will film the band’s performance at the Louisville Palace, which will be streamed live at 9 p.m. EST at www.youtube.com/mymorningjacketVEVO. Head to My Morning Jacket’s Facebook page to stream two songs, “Circuital” and “Holdin’ on to Black Metal,” off the new disc. And stay tuned for more news as interactive digital features are set to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
Tomorrow’s Arcade Fire show at Madison Square Garden is sold out, but tickets remain for Thursday’s show. And you can help make music history because this Thursday marks the launch of UNSTAGED, an original live-music series from American Express. There will be a high- quality music stream, but there’s also much more because UNSTAGED will connect the online audience to the live show in some pretty interesting ways: You’ll be able to choose your camera angles, vote on songs and take part in digital “happenings,” which will connect the fans and the artist through creative ways.
The series kicks off this Thursday at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with a live stream of Arcade Fire directed by none other than Terry Gilliam (Time Bandits, Brazil, Twelve Monkeys and, of course, the American guy in Monty Python). Learn more at http://youtube.com/ArcadeFireVevo. Sounds pretty cool, right? And not to get all Ron Popeil on you, but wait, there’s more:
• “SHARE YOUR SUBURBS” PHOTO PROJECT Be part of the show. In support of Arcade Fire’s new album, The Suburbs, out today, everyone (including you) can upload pictures of their suburbs—front porches, back roads, empty parking lots, you name it. The band will feature their favorite submissions onstage during their live performance. Share Your Suburb here.
• “ASK ARCADE FIRE” TWEET Q&A Have some burning questions for Arcade Fire? Tweet the band using the hash tag #amexarcadefire and they’ll respond during a special preshow Q&A before their performance.
Submit photos and questions to the band by 10 a.m. tomorrow for your chance to be part of this unique experience, and remember tickets are still available for the 8/5 show.
