Jeff Tweedy — 3/13/13, Chicago, IL (Vic Theatre)

[bböp]

I'm sure plenty of folks will eventually chime in, but I'll just say that tonight's show was probably about the "loosest" solo show I've ever seen. Some of that was good (Jeff was pretty chatty, and had some hilarious banter as he always does at these benefit gigs) and some of that was not necessarily optimal (there were definitely some rough patches in his playing due to a pretty long, by Jeff's standards, break from performing, as well as having to use his so-called "B team" of guitars because his preferred ones were in transit to Australia for Wilco's upcoming tour there).

 

It seemed like Jeff had to tune quite a bit more than usual, and probably never felt like he got into a great flow during the show. At least in my admittedly untrained estimation. Although that once again provided a few opportunties to answer questions solicited from the early line arrivers. (Example...Q: Who would you wait in line to see, dead or alive? A: Mark Twain...or Hal Holbrook.)

 

That said, there were some definite highlights as always. I thought the performance of Laminated Cat was strong, to cite one example, and it was fun to see Jeff tackle some covers that he doesn't often do anymore like James Alley Blues and I Wish I Was Your Mother as well as I'm Only Sleeping. In fact, it almost seemed like he felt more comfortable in some ways doing the covers that people had requested as opposed to his own songs. He did note that there were more recent songs of his requested this year, for which he was probably secretly grateful (but maybe not).

 

Anyway, like I said, I'm sure others will chime in on banter and the like. But for now, here was the complete setlist as played for Night 1 of this year's scholarship benefit gigs:

 

Wilco (the song) ("Jeff Tweedy solo will love you baby...")

Radio King

One Wing

One Sunday Morning

Lost Love

Sunken Treasure

The Long Cut

Message From Mid-Bar ("spoken word" version)

Spiders (Kidsmoke)

Radio Cure

Pot Kettle Black

Please Be Patient With Me

[The Community Song (sung twice)]

I'm Only Sleeping [The Beatles]

Why Would You Wanna Live

[The Community Song]

Simple Twist Of Fate [bob Dylan]

The Auld Triangle [traditional]

Bull Black Nova (started and restarted)

Laminated Cat (aka Not For The Season)

James Alley Blues [Richard "Rabbit" Brown]

You Are Not Alone

Let's Not Get Carried Away ("spoken word" version; fragment only)

Everlasting Everything

What Are They Doing In Heaven Today? [Washington Phillips]

ELT

[The Community Song (sung three times)]

I Wish I Was Your Mother [Mott The Hoople]

What Light

Jesus, etc.

--------------------------------------------

Theologians ("...dedicated to the new pope")

Outta Mind (Outta Sight)

[Albert Tatlock]

I Wish I Was Your Mother [Mott The Hoople]

 

That's a good choice. It is one of the most spine-tingling moments I have had at a show seeing Alexandro Escovedo perform that whilst in the middle of the audience.

By coincidence, watched the recent BBC4 doc on Mott the Hoople last night. Not particularly a fan, but almost always enjoy these music docs.

 

Meanwhile, some pics here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-jeff-tweedy-at-the-vic-20130313,0,3105543.photogallery

 

 

e.g.

 

[The Inside of Outside]

Theologians ("...dedicated to the new pope")

That is humorous.

 

Sounds like a fun night!

[-seven]

I would have been happy just to hear Radio King.

[Cold as Gasoline]

Love the photos!  Definitely a loose show, but Jeff was smiling throughout (as was I).  Lots of musical highlights, but I thought One Sunday Morning was really poignant solo -- and of course it made a hearty contribution to the "dirgefest"  Also enjoyed the solo version of Laminated Cat and enjoyed hearing Jeff perform The Long Cut.  Don't think I've heard him do that live before.

 

Non-musical highlights: Jeff's "self-mod on the fly" of a harmonica holder that was so high on his face that he couldn't reach it with his mouth while playing (he stepped on it and bent the sides).  He poked fun at himself all night.  He said that his guitar seemed to be further away from him these days due to a diet that consisted of only snickers bars.

 

Wish I were going again today!

[Albert Tatlock]

http://music-defined.com/tag/tweedy/

 

The only bits that you don't already know via Bbop:-

 

On this particular night Tweedy came out with his shaggy hair and shabby denim jacket, bearded and bespectacled. He’s a really jovial frontman at every show I’ve seen, but particularly in his solo sets. He makes a lot of self-deprecating jokes and gets into it with the crowd a bit. Tonight he called a guy an “asshole” because the guy gave his rendition of the song the guy requested a B+. He quickly backtracked and said that the comment “wasn’t very Montessori” of him.

 

My favorite funny little story came when he read a fan question. The question was: “What celebrity would you want to swap wives with on Celebrity Wifeswap?” Tweedy gave it a lot of thought before replying, “Barney Frank.” He then quickly picked up his guitar and started a new song. 

 

[mdjr]

I really hope the first 30 people in line tonight are in a better mood and pick some more up-tempo/fun songs in the tweedy catalog.  I'm not sure I can make it through "Dirgefest Part Two"...

 

highlights for me were One Wing, The Long Cut, and the cover of A Simple Twist of Fate.

[nalafej]

I was there and thought the show started out so strong - as in, one of the best I've seen ever (26th solo show). The momentum was lost after Long Cut. There were some great covers and memorable moments/banter after that, but I really didn't think the show ever recovered. What is the guitar tech doing if not tuning the guitars? That seemed to take up a lot of time (as mentioned above) - although did inspire one of the more hilarious audience shout outs I've heard at a show (Something to the effect of "That's it!" as Jeff was tuning and was getting close). To each his/her own, but really surprised that anybody would want to hear Let's Not Get Carried Away and Message From Mid-Bar solo - so many other great songs to request...

 

Jeff's guitar playing at the start of the show was exceptional. He seemed to get bored with the show as it went.

 

Highlights: Solo (The song), Radio Cure, Long Cut

[Magnetized]

Jeff is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.

[Pennyghael]

I enjoyed my first Tweedy solo show, would love him to play the UK solo every once in a while but a week in Chicago is preferable to a day trip to London!

 

I agree with a lot of the sentiments posted above but I'd rather have this than a mailed in performance/set that never changes from show to show, hello Bob Mould.....

 

Highlights for me were Spiders, Radio Cure, Laminated Cat and most of the covers.

 

Nice to meet up with other listers, some for the first time, some I'd met before in Europe.

[Albert Tatlock]

An Apple scruff

 

[JAK2112]

I can't tell from those pictures if Jeff is starting to look more like Jerry Garcia or a bearded James Mcnew. He's really lettin that hair grow long

 

But setlist looks great! It's been a while since Jeff has done even a mini solo tour, hopefully, we'll see some solo dates post solid sound this year

[linclink]

What a great show last night!! First time seeing him solo & he exceeded my expectations!!
I also lucked out & got both my reqests played (gave him a choice, as most other requesters seemed to be doing, about which he'd want to play/whichever would be easier)...because someone named Brian also requested "Everlasting Everything". Jeff noted that Bill Fay thinks it's the best song he ever wrote.
Thanks to Brian's work, that meant that my officially played request was "What Light".
Heading down to line after lunch & maybe I'll identify myself a VCer today & ask if anyone else in-line is from this team online.

[bleeinternets]

Pretty late replying here, but what time did Jeff go on last night? Right at 7:30? Much thanks if anyone sees/reads/responds. Trying to gauge for night 2!