DiamondClaw
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Posts posted by DiamondClaw
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Below is the Chicago Tribune Night 2 review -- interesting reasons for not covering Night 1 - don't remember about hearing about a band member possibly missing the opening night. I wonder if this was another reason they pushed the XRT simulcast to the last night of the run.
That is interesting. Glad everything worked out, but I wonder if there's any other info on this.
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I totally agree with bbop. I was there last night and it just isn't a good energy for a Wilco show compared to many other venues. UIC was a better big option.
Last night was show #74 for me. The fake and real encores were pretty stellar, but other than that a very subpar experience. I really couldn't dislike OtJ more so that is likely a big factor for me.
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.
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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.
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If you liked that combo, then a NovaCat will leave you in a puddle on the floor.
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.
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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 cut it. Maybe it's just me.
Bbop is right that the show didn't feel extra "special" for being the start of a residency run in Chicago, but 1. these aren't the "play all the deep cuts and everything on every album" Riviera days anymore and 2. we don't know what the next three shows will hold anyway. Great first night though. Here's hoping for a few surprises the rest of the way!
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Bumping this to say I am really hoping "Art of Almost" makes an appearance at the Chicago Theatre residency this week!
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Wow, "I Might" — they haven't played that one in years! Thanks as always for these recaps bbop!
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Probably more of a long shot since he was never actually a member, but it would be awesome to even have Brian Henneman come out to play a little bit of lead guitar!
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.
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Correct
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.
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Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile
You think they'll do another one together or do you mean two separate solo albums? (I'm up for either!)
Rolling Blackouts CFI was thinking about them lately. They seem due, right? I hope they have something brewing.
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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!
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Sunday’s the big official 25!!
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?
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Quote from Jeff a few years ago about the tape:
"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.
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I wouldn't say I missed it, but it's absence was noticed.
This tour sort of strikes me as a minimalistic production, and Art of Almost seems like a pretty maximalist, hi-tech piece of music. Maybe that doesn't make any sense to anyone but me. But, for example, there's no stage decoration at all this tour except for a screen. There seems to be less equipment on stage than they typically have. Most of the new music is very sparse and low-tech (maybe deceptively so). I can see how they might feel Art of Almost doesn't fit in with what they're trying to present on this tour. Rhythmically, at least, it is the exact opposite of what they were going for with Ode to Joy.
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.
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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 not enough room in the setlist for every song, even the big ones. But I I thought "Art of Almost" had reached that "classic" status among the Impossible Germanys and I Am Trying to Break Your Hearts that would keep it in relatively constant rotation as a setlist stalwart.
Anyone else miss this one in the live shows so far this year?
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I noticed he said like Phish, not the Grateful Dead. C'mon John, give credit to the pioneers of setlist variety, at least. I guess the Dead are still probably anathema to many from an art-rock, punk-rock indie-rock background. Really I don't care who is the model for setlist variety but how great would it be if they would play no repeats for three shows in a row all the time? One might even start to miss Jesus Etc ( or insert whatever overplayed warhorse you are tired of hearing) if you didn't hear it every time you saw them live! You might actually get to hear a song like Kingpin once in awhile or not have to go years without getting Monday or Ashes of American Flags. And diehards would likely attend more shows, too.
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.
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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.
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Mikael did a podcast that was released today, and at the end you can hear "White Wooden Cross." There's a lot going on in the song based on a good headphone listen.
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.
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https://www.spin.com/featured/wilco-interview-jeff-tweedy-nels-cline-ode-to-joy/
Jeff & Nels interviewed by Spin.
It sounds like We Were Lucky is going to have Nels shred.
Interesting interview that discusses the releases of Star Wars & Schmilco. Also more discussion about setlists and recording.
This interview was probably done when they were in NYC for BUILD.
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 "new" section, not in the "hit" section, not in the "rock out" section.
I also liked that Jeff admits his "underselling" or silliness were a disservice to Star Wars and Schmilco. I know it doesn't count nearly as much as the actual music, but there is still a less-than-ideal visceral reaction to the presentation of those two records, from the titles to the album art.
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There's that "pastoral folk" line again...
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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.
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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 have a show Nov. 20 in Omaha, and then nothing on the books until January. Based on TCP's sleuthing above, there could be something unannounced for Nov. 24. And the 46 vs. 51 thing suggest maybe there's more?
Checking some of their favorite local venues' calendars:
Chicago Theatre -- booked Nov. 24, open Nov. 25–28
Riviera -- booked Nov. 24, open Nov. 25 and Nov. 28
Vic -- open Nov. 24–28
Auditorium Theatre -- open Nov. 22–29
I'd say the Auditorium Theatre, which has a suspiciously large gap in their otherwise booked schedule, looks like a fit if they're doing a series of shows. The Vic could be set up for that too. The Chicago Theatre could handle a show or two. The Riv seems unlikely for that week.
What do you guys think — any hunches?
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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.
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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 run of playing the album straight through. I'd particularly like to have heard Taste the Ceiling and Magnetized. You Satellite seems like it'd be great live too.
Wilco — 16 December 2019, Chicago IL (Chicago Theatre) [Winterlude Night 2 of 4]
in After The Show
Posted
Ha! Great description, and sadly accurate sometimes.