The YouTube Guide to My Morning Jacket

When My Morning Jacket performed two songs off their new album, Evil Urges, on Saturday Night Live earlier this year, the band proved to the rest of the world what longtime fans had known for years: The band's reverb-heavy ballads and ground-stomping rockers were ready for the arena.

Fresh from a tour of Europe, My Morning Jacket will begin a string of American dates on August 15, 2008, at Riverfront Park in Nashville, Tennessee. Christened by music critics as the "best touring live band" and "America's Radiohead," My Morning Jacket have lofty labels to live up to when they take the stage.

Now faced with ticket sales fast approaching, concert-goers may be wondering, "Do they live up to the hype?" Judge for yourselves. These five videos serve as a primer for what you can expect at a My Morning Jacket show.

"One Big Holiday"
Live on Late Night with Conan O'Brien

"One Big Holiday" is not only a standout from It Still Moves, My Morning Jacket's third full-length album, it's become a must-see live, often opening or closing the show. This performance from Conan O'Brien features Danny Cash and Johnny Quaid, two members who have since left the band, and the rest of the crew sporting much longer hair. Nevertheless, this clip is representative of the energy and passion of the band. Conan seems impressed, too. (He's buying that record!)

"The Bear"
Live from the 2006 Bonnaroo Music Festival

This video highlights two things that are practically synonymous with My Morning Jacket: Jim James and the Bonnaroo Music Festival. Front man James, whose voice has been called My Morning Jacket's greatest instrument, belts out a rendition of "The Bear" off of 1999's The Tennessee Fire. The band's 3-hour-long 2006 Bonnaroo set has become legendary in the story of My Morning Jacket's ascent to the forefront of American rock and roll.

"Gideon"
Live on Late Night with David Letterman

In another late night clip, My Morning Jacket performs with the Boston Pops symphony orchestra on David Letterman, a run-up to the two shows the groups put on at Boston Symphony Hall in 2006. "Gideon," off of Z, rises to new heights in this performance, a testament to the band's willingness to evolve and play old material in new ways.

"Highly Suspicious"
Live from ear X-tacy

And finally, something new. "Highly Suspicious" is the polarizing, 3-minute funk fest that had some fans scratching their heads when Evil Urges was released. My Morning Jacket at least settled the minds of listeners in their hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, when they lit up the local record shop in June with this performance. The latest comment: "prince vs zappa!!!"