DiamondClaw

I don't think the Chicago Theatre can ever compare to the good ol' days of the Riv. It's just never going to have the same vibe. But I like the Chicago Theatre overall, and think it's probably the best choice for where the band is these days. Stunningly beautiful, great acoustics, good views. I don't agree that the UIC Pavillion was better. In fact, I remember thinking Jeff didn't like that venue at all, and they haven't been back for 10 years.

Not sure how many here are into him, but Josh Rouse put out a Christmas album of originals last month that I thought was pretty good.

I was hoping for that, based largely on the glowing descriptions I've read here! Maybe it's in store for one of the next shows. I'm not able to go tonight, but hope to see it Wednesday or Thursday.

Great show! This was my first time seeing the OTJ songs live and I thought they really sounded sharp, with some extra punch than the album versions. "Before Us" really jumped out at me. "Bull Black Nova" was amazing — the 1-2 punch of that one and "Random Name Generator" was the highlight of the night for me. The only negative thing I will say is the "toy" guitar Jeff uses on the OTJ songs sounds awful to me live. I wish he would use a different guitar from his arm of vintage acoustics. I understand it's place on the album, but in concert, alongside a pristine-sounding band, it just doesn't

Bumping this to say I am really hoping "Art of Almost" makes an appearance at the Chicago Theatre residency this week!

Wow, "I Might" — they haven't played that one in years! Thanks as always for these recaps bbop!

I was thinking the same thing! In my dream scenario, they'd play three songs: 1. Something from AM with Jeff/John/Ken/Max/Brian 2. Something from YHF or AGIB with Jeff/John/Glenn/Leroy/Mike/special guest appearance by Jim O'Rourke 3. Impossible Germany with current lineup This leaves Bob out, and doesn't represent Being There or Summerteeth, so there are so many other permutations that would be interesting as well.

So, Wilco Class of 2021?? I don't know if they'll get in on the first ballot, but I hope they do make it at some point. The RnR HoF itself is probably not a big deal to them, but it would be cool to see Jeff and John reconnect with some combination of Ken/Max/Bob/Leroy for a ceremony or performance.

You think they'll do another one together or do you mean two separate solo albums? (I'm up for either!) I was thinking about them lately. They seem due, right? I hope they have something brewing.

I'll add: Spoon Real Estate Mike Campbell/Dirty Knobs – first-ever solo album War on Drugs (they seem due) Tom Petty - Wildflowers All the Rest box set ?? Paul Westerbe.... haha, I can't even write that credibly. If only!

Then next spring is the 25th anniversary of the first album release: March 28, 1995, which I believe will make them Rock n Roll Hall of Fame eligible, right?

Quote from Jeff a few years ago about the tape: https://www.chicagotribune.com/redeye/redeye-jeff-tweedy-wilco-stories-behind-songs-personal-playlist-20160902-story.html "It's the only song that's the same tempo exactly every night because it's the only one we actually play along to some backing tracks with—just because that's one of the only songs we don't have enough hands to really present it the way we want it to be." IMO, that doesn't factor into the merit or authenticity of it being performed. But it could be a reason it doesn't just randomly pop up into a setlist one night.

Yeah, I can see how they might be avoiding the big production of the song on this tour. Still though, that moment when the dissonance of the end of the previous song transitions into the intro to "Art of Almost" was usually my favorite moment of a Wilco concert.

After playing it at pretty much every single show from 2011 to 2017, Wilco has not played "Art of Almost" once since they came back from the hiatus this summer. I'm sure there are good reasons for this — for one thing, I've heard them mention it's the one song they have to play along to a tape to perform, so that may present challenges or be a hassle they didn't want to deal with on this tour. Aside from that, Jeff may feel like it doesn't fit the vibe he is going for with the new Ode to Joy material. Or maybe he was just burned out on it. But I for one miss that song! Obviously there's

I think Jeff has said recently it makes him uneasy to change up the setlist that much every single night. I can't say I blame him. There has to be a certain degree of anxiety about feeling pressure to do something different/unique every single night. Of course I'd like to see variety, especially in multi-night stands, and am hoping for a lot of different stuff at the Chicago shows in December. But no repeats for three shows in a row all the time in different cities seems excessive. Something in the middle would be more reasonable.

I've always liked DTAS, probably more than most Mats fans. But it's amazing how much of a difference this new Matt Wallace mix makes. It blows the old version out of the water.

Lots of interesting stuff about joining the band and touring by Mikael in that podcast. But that host, my God. He would not shut up! Kept talking over Mikael. Incredibly annoying.

That was a great interview, thanks. Aside from all the stuff about the new album, which only increases my anticipation, I found the tidbit about the band's "middle-period" self-consciousness interesting. Jeff thinks they gave up on playing Wilco the Album and The Whole Love songs live too soon, and that is certainly reflected in the setlists of the last few years. At the same time, Nels makes a good point about how tough it would be too fit quirky songs in the set. "Rising Red Lung" and "Solitaire" are great songs, for example, but they just don't really fit anywhere in a setlist — not in the

There's that "pastoral folk" line again...

Hmm, you're right, that 11/24 pin does look like it's too far west to be Chicago. Maybe there are other hidden pins in that cluster that could be Chicago. Or maybe we don't get a show in town here until the next leg of the tour. It's worth noting that the band has stuck to the schedule of holding a Chicago residency every three years for a while now: 2005 (Vic), '08 (Riv), '11 (shrinking tour), '14 (Riv) and '17 (Chicago Theatre). If that pattern holds, 2020 would be next.

All right Chicago people, let's speculate (baselessly) here for a minute. It's September now, and there are no shows announced yet for the Ode to Joy tour here in town, despite many other Midwest dates on the schedule in November. They're obviously going to play a hometown show (or shows) at some point, but where and when? I get the feeling something is already planned but not announced. To quote Lionel Hutz, "We've got plenty of hearsay and conjecture — those are kinds of evidence." If it's going to happen in 2019, the most obvious possibility is probably the last week of November. They h

Love seeing these setlists and recaps, thanks bbop! It's going to be interesting to see how they juggle 10 albums worth of old material (plus MA stuff) in with the new songs. For example, looks like no Summerteeth, The Whole Love or Schmilco material last night.

Sunloathe Hey, somebody had to say it! Honestly though, I've been luck to live in Chicago and see the band air out just about everything I could ever hope for, especially in the residencies, even deep cuts I've loved but would have never expected live like Panthers, Dark Neon and Message From Mid Bar. Of the songs the band actually performs or has performed live (at least occasionally), the two I've never seen live but always wanted to are: That's Not the Issue More Like the Moon More recently, I've never seen the half of Star Wars that got dropped from the sets after the initial ru

Maybe someone else can weigh in if they know, or maybe we'll have to wait to see them perform it live, but my guess would be Nels on lap steel and Pat on the arpeggio/hammer-on/pull-off electric riff.

Late to this thread, but man, that show was excellent! Since it was more than likely a one-off, we might not get a show like this again for a good while. Actually, outside of Solid Sound, I don't think the there has ever been a full show like this. If you were a casual Wilco fan (if there is such a thing) and didn't know what you were getting into, all the unfamiliar material might've been off putting. And there were a few shout outs near me of "Poor Places," or "Handshake Drugs" or "Play some Wilco." But I'm glad Jeff went solo stuff all the way. I loved the mix of Sukierae, Warm and Warmer m