Rain can’t dampen the spirits of My Morning Jacket and Nathaniel Rateliff fans
Rain can’t dampen spirits of My Morning Jacket, Nathaniel Rateliff fans
Concertgoers brave the elements for a night of rock and blues music in Syracuse, including longtime friends Katie Fortune and Tammy Rocque.
The rain fell on the brave concertgoers, who wouldn’t let their tickets go to waste on Tuesday night for the Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater’s last performance of the year.
My Morning Jacket and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats are on a joint tour, switching back and forth between headliner and opener. Before the show, the ticket upgrade line stretched far back, with attendees trying to relocate from the grass lawn to covered seating.
The crowd was a sea of different-colored rain jackets, and for those without water-repellent clothing, their sopping jackets hung on the backs of their stadium chairs in hopes of drying out during the show.
Katie Fortune, 63, and Tammy Rocque, 61, were chatting and giggling with excitement in their seats, comparable to two young girls about to see Taylor Swift in today’s age. Their dripping wet hair, smeared mascara, and muddy boots from the walk over the bridge to the theater made their smiles shine brighter.
They were among the lucky people under the shelter and only ten rows from the pit, but unusually far back for them. They don’t cheap out for Nathaniel Rateliff, always buying the closest seats to the stage they can get.
Playing hooky didn’t fade now that they’re in their sixties. Rocque, the Saranac Lake Middle School attendance secretary, called in a sub to cover for her “dentist appointment.”
Rocque swooped Fortune, and the two hit the road at 10 a.m. to make it to the venue with plenty of time to see their favorite band of all time, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, for the fifth time together.
The best friends of thirty-plus years call themselves the “Geriatric Groupies,” GG for short, a nickname they coined on their four-hour drive up to Syracuse.
Fortune discovered Rateliff years ago when he appeared on a Jimmy Falon show and proudly claimed to show his music to her best friend. The GG’s attended their first show in 2017, and Rateliff was the opening act for Kings of Leon. They left that show hooked on a newfound hobby: following Rateliff.
Since then, the two have not missed a show in the area: Saratoga, Beak & Skiff, New York City (they recall Rateliff wearing blue velvet that evening), The Jersey Shore and Syracuse.
“We’re over 60, and we love this band; we have put so many people onto them,” said Fortune. “All of our kids love Nathaniel because of us. We’re the ones influencing our young people, and they’re loving it.”
As My Morning Jacket took the stage at 7:30 pm, the GG’s were unfamiliar with the band but danced and hollered as if they had come just to see them.
Strobe lights accompanied the loud Morning Jacket band, and many people looked away or shut their eyes entirely. Sometimes, it was hard to hear the lead singer, Jim James, behind the loud electric guitars that overpowered his voice. Still, the GGs swayed back and forth, seeming pleased with their performance, not letting any note kill their vibe.
But, as the excitement for Rateliff grew, the crowd and GGs began checking the watches, their impatience becoming more evident.
Then, punctually at 9:30 p.m., Rateliff took the stage, and the GG’s both threw their hands up simultaneously, let out a “WOOO-HOOO,” clinked their drinks in cheers, and took a big gulp. It was show time.
He was wearing a black leather jacket and a button-down polka-dotted shirt with his chest peaking through. The GGs noted that he looked great and talked about him like an old friend.
Moments later, as the first song, “Suffer Me,” began, the crowd came back alive. They were energetic and loud; the GG’s wet hair started to dry from their constant headbanging.
At what seemed to be the halfway point, “I Need Never Get Old” began to play. The moment Rateliff strummed the first chord, the two spun toward each other, sharing a quick glance to acknowledge—this was their song.
Fortune twirled in the aisle, letting the music take her away until security ushered her back into her seat. Rocque laughed without surprise and said that happened at the last show, too.
Eyes glued to the stage, Fortune leaned over and whispered, “Just a tip; you always have to watch his feet; he is such a good dancer.” And that he was. Rateliff’s confident dance moves gave his booming voice a run for its money.
The GGs pointed out Rateliff and his seven band members — playing three different horns, an organ, drums, and guitar — naming each member by their first name. The mix of instruments behind Rateliff’s powerful voice kept the crowd engaged and echoed through the night.
A breeze flowed through the venue from Onondaga Lake, making it a cool fall night that both performers acknowledged with pleasure.
“This is actually perfect weather for me, but for some of you who are not covered, I apologize for the inconvenience,” said Rateliff.
The band played all the fan favorites, including “You Worry Me,” “A Little Honey,” and their number one hit, “S.O.B.,” which had everyone at their peak energy, stomping and clapping.
The concert ended at 11 p.m., and while people started to leave early to beat the crowd, Fortune and Rocque stayed put, not budging until Rateliff left first. Once Rateliff gave his final send-off, they waved goodbye to him, grabbed their concert merch T-shirts, hugged each other tightly, and left the show with arms grasped together.