Jim James

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Jim James
Background information
Birth name James Olliges, Jr.
Also known as Yim Yames
Born April 27, 1978 (1978-04-27) (age 33)
Origin Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Genres Psychedelic rock, Indie rock, Jam rock
Instruments Guitar, vocals, Omnichord
Years active 1992–present
Associated acts My Morning Jacket, M. Ward, Bright Eyes, VHS or Beta, The Decemberists, Mont de Sundua, Hotel Roy, Monsters of Folk
Notable instruments
Gibson Flying V, Gibson ES-335.
James performing in 2007.
James singing in 2008.

James Edward Olliges Jr. (born April 27, 1978), professionally known as Jim James or Yim Yames,[1] is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of Louisville, Kentucky-based rock band My Morning Jacket.

Contents

[edit] Biography

James grew up in the Highlands Douglass neighborhood of Louisville, attended St. Martha grade school and graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1996.[2] James briefly attended the University of Kentucky, studying art.[3] Prior to forming My Morning Jacket, James was the vocalist and guitarist of Month of Sundays, currently known as Mont de Sundua. As the vocalist, frontman, producer and lead songwriter for My Morning Jacket, James has been instrumental in defining the sound of the band, in particular on their critically acclaimed Z, which he co-produced with John Leckie.[4] He was given an "Esky" for best songwriter in Esquire's 2006 Esky Music Awards in the April issue. James typically plays rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, and occasional lead guitar on My Morning Jacket songs. He recently played the role of the band leader in the Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There, singing the song "Going to Acapulco", with Calexico as his backing band, which was featured on the soundtrack of the film. Rolling Stone listed James among their "20 New Guitar Gods" along with fellow My Morning Jacket guitarist Carl Broemel. In 2008, James, along with former My Morning Jacket guitarist and cousin Johnny Quaid, formed Removador Recordings and Solutions record label. The label, as described on its website, functions "on the simple principal of yielding the highest annual percentage of aural joy back into the hearts and minds of investors and shareholders with ease and convenience".[5] He contributed vocals on The Decemberists' 2009 album The Hazards of Love.

On July 7, 2009, James released an EP covering George Harrison songs, entitled Tribute To. A portion of the proceeds from the album will go to benefit the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. The EP is available on yimyames.com as both a digital download and a physical CD/LP.[6]

Jim James and the rest of My Morning Jacket played themselves in an episode of American Dad! entitled "My Morning Straitjacket".

In 2012, Rounder Records released the Woody Guthrie tribute album New Multitudes which features work by James (as Yim Yames), Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, and Anders Parker.

[edit] Equipment

[edit] Guitars

  • Gibson Custom ES-335 (Dot Figured-top Electric Guitar with Gloss Finish Honey Burst) [7]
  • Gibson Flying V Custom Shop (brownish colored and chrome pickguard)
  • 1976 Gretsch Broadkaster (Plain wood finish. Used as secondary performance guitar 1999 - 2003 tours. Also used in recording of Tennessee Fire, At Dawn, and all EPs recorded prior to 2004)
  • Gretsch Super Axe (red)
  • Fender Stratocaster(sunburst, black pickguard, maple neck)
  • Autoharp
  • Gold Tone Banjo
  • Ovation Preacher 12-string Electric
  • Gibson J-185 Acoustic/Electric
  • Takamine acoustic G335

[edit] Electronics

Omnichord

[edit] Amplifiers and cabinets

  • Mesa Boogie Tremoverb
  • Carr Rambler
  • Mesa Boogie 2x12" cabinets

[edit] Pickups, effects and other equipment

  • SIB Mr. Echo Pedal
  • Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb Pedal
  • Boss BD-2 Blues Driver Pedal
  • Boss OC-3 Super Octave Pedal
  • Boss TU-2 Chromatic Stompbox Tuner
  • Hot Hand Phaser/Flanger
  • Zvex Wooly Mammoth Fuzz pedal
  • Zvex Vexter Box of Rock pedal
  • Jim Dunlop Green Tortex Picks

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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