Imagine a place where your favorite band headlines multiple nights, brings along other great bands, the free drinks are unlimited, there is no end to the free food, there are servers that tend to your every need, you are surrounded by the most amazing people on Earth and its all on the beach in perfect weather. Heaven right? Well, One Big Holiday is pretty close.

In my everyday life, it is rare to find people who have ever heard of My Morning Jacket, let alone share the same affinity for them. One Big Holiday brings together 2,000+ rabid My Morning Jacket fans for their annual resort-based festival in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Even with four days of spectacular music, it is the people attending OBH that make it such an incredible, communal experience.

The resort curates a vast array of experiences: excursions off of the resort, activities within the resort, pampering at the spa, or just relaxation by one of the many pools, lagoons or beaches. Even better, you can participate in all these activities while meeting great music fans along the way. These new friends are what set OBH apart from most other music festivals.

The week was just as fun for the bands, as most brought along friends and family and turned the week into vacations for themselves as well. The bands were around the resort all weekend and were very approachable; though it says something about the crowd that the bands were largely left to enjoy themselves. It wasn’t unusual to see Scott McMicken from Dr. Dog roaming the resort in one of his inventive outfits, Ben Jaffe of Preservation Hall Jazz Band guest DJing at a late night party, or the guys from Dawes grabbing a late lunch in the midst of all the concert goers.

My Morning Jacket headlined three of the four nights and brought along some old friends, not to mention some of the best live acts around to fill out their lineup, including Band of Horses, The War on Drugs, Dr. Dog, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the dynamic Dawes. Performances included a sunset acoustic set by Band of Horses, and late night sets by PHJB, Sylvan Esso, Biz Markie, and a DJ set by David Givan and MMJ drummer Patrick Hallahan.

Each night’s openers have developed reputations for being amazing live acts and somehow, each of them exceeded expectations. Night one opened with The War On Drugs, who have been praised for their latest album, Lost In The Dream. [Read the L4LM Review] The band did not disappoint, as lead singer Adam Granduciel led the band into an extremely tight set including some extended jams that put the crowd in the mood to party.

My Morning Jacket’s first set of OBH opened up with a cover of Christopher Cross’s “Ride Like The Wind,” followed by “Off the Record” and crowd favorite “Evil Urges.” The stellar set was heavy on of songs from It Still Moves, and included a killer medley of covers from The Doors, Bruce Springsteen, Chris Isaak, and Mazzy Star with help from Granduciel and Amelia Meath (Sylvan Esso). “At Dawn” opened the encore, followed by the debut of a new song called “Big D.” The highlight of the encore was Jacket’s rendition of Cobra into Hall & Oates’ “I Can’t Go For That” with a reprise into Cobra with the help of Meath and Clint Maedgen (Preservation Hall Jazz Band).  It was a great set and a great start to the weekend, though the song choices never quite let the crowd’s energy reach its apex. Sylvan Esso helped with that energy with a late night set until 3am on the other side of the resort.
 
Preservation Hall Jazz Band opened night two as folks started to work their way over from the Super Bowl party to the concert courtyard. PHJB was as solid as ever working their way through fan favorites and New Orleans jazz classics. It would not be the last time we would see them this weekend, as you might expect.

In a sentiment that would be echoed in conversations throughout the resort the following morning, My Morning Jacket’s night two set may be one of the best that they have ever performed (though night three may be right behind it). Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes) came out with Jacket and opened the set with “Down On The Bottom” from The New Basement Tapes project that Jim James and Goldsmith were both a part of. MMJ followed with the title track off Circuital and “Outta My System,” inspiring one of the better dance parties of the week. “Lowdown” into “I’m Amazed” into new song “Compound” paced the middle of the set and led us to what might be the best thirty minutes of music that Rock and Roll has to offer. My Morning Jacket finished the set with “Smokin From Shootin”, helped by a surprise appearance from Bright Eyes front man Conor Oberst, and a 20-plus minute version of “Dondante.” The encore break after Dondante was needed; as everyone had to make sure they were still on Earth.

The ensuing incredible encore was filled with covers and multiple guests that stretched across all genres. After opening the encore with “Honest Man” off At Dawn, James brought out Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses) to help him with Waylon Jennings’ “Luckenbach Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)” followed by a cover of country classic “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” with vocal support from Bridwell, Oberst and Goldsmith. As the folk rock trio left the stage, James broke out a crowd-pleasing version of “Benny and the Jets” (Elton John). The crowd was electric as Amelie Meath returned to help MMJ with an astounding rendition of “Phone Went West” into Bob Marley’s “Stir It Up” back into a “Phone Went West” reprise. The reggae vibes were not over as James, Meath and company broke into Marley’s “Could You Be Loved” just days before what would have been his 70th birthday. As if the night could not get any better, “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Part 2” and “Gideon” ended one of the best sets of music that many folks in the crowd had ever seen. For those who could not go to sleep after the show, a late night dance party broke out with DJ support from Patrick Hallahan (MMJ) and Ben Jaffe (PHJB).

My Morning Jacket took night three off and handed off headlining duty to alt-country rockers Band of Horses. As if MMJ knew what they were putting us through in night two, Band of Horses seemed like a great choice to headline to allow us to relax for an evening- but the night three opener wasn’t going to allow it. Dr. Dog’s set was a hit parade that kept the crowd moving from start to finish before ending with “Lonesome” and “That Old Black Hole.”
 
Band of Horses followed up with a solid set, with all of the songs one might expect from the band. BOH closed their set with an interesting cover choice- “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line.  The late night show had Pres Hall returning for a set that had everybody moving throughout and finished off with a haunting rendition of “St. James Infirmary Part 1” under a full moon, followed up by a more upbeat “St. James Infirmary Part 2.”

While MMJ’s second night was the best set, their finale was assuredly the most fun.  The night started with a sunset acoustic set by Band of Horses, which best suited them. The band sat on chairs around a cooler of beer and rocked through many of the songs heard on BOH’s great Acoustic at the Ryman live album. As the sun set on the last day of One Big Holiday, the realization of their vacation ending inspired the crowd to find their nearest server (likely within an arm’s length away) and kick up the partying.

Next up were alt-rockers, Dawes, who churned through their catalogue of rocking storytelling with a surprising live energy. Conor Oberst made an appearance for a mini-set within Dawes’ set.  Dawes served as Oberst’s backing band on tour this past year, so his inclusion was no surprise, though a fun one. Fan-favorite “When My Time Comes” included one of the best crowd sing-a-longs of the weekend, before the band brought out Bo Koster and Tom Blankenship to join on keys and pedal steel for a rollicking, jam-happy “Peace In The Valley” that had OBH patriarch Jim James rocking out on his balcony above the crowd. This was my 10th Dawes show, and Taylor and company shredded even more than usual, playing to their crowd. It was clear that the other bands on the bill realized just how unique and special this whole experience was and really showed up for it.

The final live set of One Big Holiday was another one for the record books. Jacket opened the set with the killer “Victory Dance” and “First Light” off 2011’s Circuital. Goldsmith returned for “Nothing To It” from The New Basement Tapes, and the guests continued to appear. Bridwell returned to help James with “Wonderful (The Way I Feel)” that got the crowd swaying in big group hugs, solidifying the new lifelong friendships made at OBH. The entire week bridled with positive energy and friendship and the sing-along helped everybody accentuate those feelings. From there on out, it was a gauntlet of crowd-pleasing rockers. “Lay Low” into “Holdin On To Black Metal” had the crowd in a frenzy, especially during the crowd sing-a-long during the Black Metal intro. Dance-happy renditions of “Highly Suspicious,” “Dancefloors” and “Happy” by the Rolling Stones with support from Goldsmith and Preservation Hall Jazz Band prepared the crowd for electric closer, “Mahgeetah.”

The encore for the last night turned into One Big Party on stage. Pres Hall, Dawes, members of Band of Horses, Sylvan Esso, Conor Oberst and others joined MMJ on stage for the last run of songs. Oberst helped on vocals for two Velvet Undergound covers, followed by a Ferris Bueller’s Day Off dance party with “Danke Schoen” and “Twist and Shout.” Drummer Patrick Hallahan attempted to sing lead vocals for “Danke Schoen”, but James quickly squashed that idea light-heartedly. That led into Bob Dylan’s “Rainy Day Women #12 and #35” complete with crowd participation that was probably heard in Cozumel.  The finale was, obviously, “One Big Holiday,” and the crowd rejoiced. Glow sticks and beer filled the air as OBH-goers let out their seemingly interminable energy for the final time.

The music at One Big Holiday was astonishing and showed that rock and roll is still alive and thriving. More than that, though, the people at One Big Holiday showed that positive human interaction is still possible as well. For 4+ days/nights, people were off their cell phones, had their headphones out of their ears, and were completely willing to walk up and meet brand new people, some of which will undeniably become life-long friends.

One Big Holiday is not a cheap vacation by any means, but money aside, it may be the perfect one. It takes all the negatives of music festivals (tiredness, sleep comfort, hygiene, lines, food/drink options) and all the negatives of resorts (boring people, lame night time activities, monotony) and removes them completely, creating a hybrid experience that solves everything. Even more than that, it puts you together with 2,000+ other like-minded people, who are all cool enough to travel across the country to see one of America’s great live acts. How can that not be enticing?

Jim James confirmed that One Big Holiday will be returning in 2016, and it will most likely sell out again. Rumors were circulating around the resort that next year’s iteration may be moved to somewhere else in the Caribbean or Central America. The Dominican Republic and Costa Rica were both mentioned as possibilities, but neither was confirmed. Wherever it is, I can’t wait to get back there and see all of my new friends again.
 

My Morning Jacket Set Lists:

Night 1:

Ride Like The Wind (Christopher Cross cover)
Off the Record
Evil Urges
The Dark
It Beats 4 U
Heartbreakin Man
What a Wonderful Man
Master Plan
Easy Morning Rebel
Tonight I Want To Celebrate With You
Golden
Slow Slow Tune
Drive (The Cars cover) with Adam Granduciel (The War On Drugs) & Amelia Meath (Sylvan Esso)
Fire (Bruce Springsteen cover) with Granduciel & Meath
Wicked Game (Chris Isaak cover) with Granduciel & Meath
Fade Into You (Mazzy Star cover) with Granduciel & Meath
Steam Engine
Run Thru

Encore:
At Dawn
Big D (New Song)
Wordless Chorus
Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Part 1
Cobra with Clint Maegdan (Preservation Hall Jazz Band) & Meath
I Can’t Go For That (Hall & Oates cover) with Maedgan & Meath
Cobra with Maedgan & Meath
Anytime

Night 2:
Down On The Bottom (New Basement Tapes) with Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes)
Circuital
Outta My System
Xmas Curtain
Lowdown
I’m Amazed
Compound (New Song)
I Think I’m Going To Hell
Smokin From Shootin with Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes)
Dondante

Encore:
Honest Man
Luckenbach Texas (Waylon Jennings cover) with Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses)
Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys (Waylon Jennings Cover) with Goldsmith, Bridwell & Oberst
Bennie & The Jets (Elton John cover)
Phone Went West with Meath
Stir It Up (Bob Marley cover) with Meath
Phone Went West with Meath
Could You Be Loved (Bob Marley cover)
Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Part 2
Gideon

Night 3:
Victory Dance
First Light
The Way He Sings
Evelyn Is Not Real
Nothing To It (New Basement Tapes cover) with Goldsmith
War Begun
Wonderful (The Way I Feel) with Bridwell
At the Bottom of Everything (Bright Eyes cover) with Oberst
I Will Be There When You Die
Only Memories (New Song)
Lay Low
Holdin On To Black Metal
Highly Suspicious
Dancefloors
Happy (Rolling Stones cover) with Goldsmith & Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Mahgeetah with PHJB

Encore:
Sweet Jane (Velvet Underground Cover) with PHJB, Bridwell, Goldsmith, Oberst & more
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground Cover) with PHJB, Bridwell, Goldsmith, Oberst & more
Danke Schoen (as made famous by Wayne Newton) with PHJB, Bridwell, Goldsmith, Oberst & more
Twist and Shout (as made famous by The Beatles) with PHJB, Bridwell, Goldsmith, Oberst & more
Rainy Day Women #12 and #35 (Bob Dylan cover) with PHJB, Bridwell, Goldsmith, Oberst & more
One Big Holiday