My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James has been out on the road, touring in support of his recent album release Eternally Even. James has been mainly focusing on his new material during the tour, as well as other Jim James music that isn’t in the My Morning Jacket catalog. He’s also slipped various covers into the rotation, using those moments as an opportunity to perform by himself on stage. Last weekend, one of those moments took on a very special significance in New Orleans.
James played at the Civic Theatre in NOLA last Saturday, December 17th, where he debuted the song “Yes We Can Can” written by Allen Toussaint. Toussaint passed away in late 2015, though his musical legacy remains vital in the Crescent City. James’ decision to cover the song spoke to the people of New Orleans directly, but also the country at large, as the song’s political message rang true from the stage.
Watch fan-shot video of Jim James’ performance of Allen Toussaint’s “Yes We Can Can,” streaming below.