The ongoing Vevo and American Express "Unstaged" concert series featuring esteemed filmmakers directing webcasts for popular bands—which has so far taken the fancy of Terry Gilliam, Spike Lee, and David Lynch and combined it with the schmancy of Arcade Fire, The Roots, and Duran Duran, respectively—has found its next unlikely match-up in Todd Haynes and My Morning Jacket. Although, compared to some previous pairings, this one actually makes a bit more sense, as MMJ’s Jim James appeared in Haynes’ Bob Dylan think-piece I’m Not There (singing “Going To Acapulco” with Calexico), and Haynes has apparently been a big fan ever since.
Of course, although both that film and Velvet Goldmine established Haynes’ music cred, the director doesn’t seem too sure yet of how he’ll apply his usual postmodern appropriation of formalist film styles to the May 31 concert, which streams live from Kentucky’s Louisville Palace Theater: “The way I sort of approach my work is that the historical and socioeconomic and cultural worlds that the music is exploring dictate the visual experience, and the way that we approach it specifically on film,” Haynes said. So… Lots of smoke machines then?
Here's James' scene from I'm Not There: