viatroy

Thank you all for your prayers and good thoughts -- it means so much to me, and i'm glad I reached out to my VC family.  I'm surrounded by many family and friends, and just learning how far Chris cast his net of friends.   He was a wonderful, complicated and caring man, and leaves a huge abyss in the hearts of hundreds of people he touched.

I haven't been here much recently, but I had to share with my Wilco family the heartbreaking news that I lost my beautiful son Christopher in a motorcyle accident Sunday night. He was on his way home from a concert in Saratoga where I had recently seen Wilco with Dylan.  My kids, like so many of  yours, were raised on an endless Wilco soundtrack, and VC brought wonderful people into my family's life.  We have created a benefit fund to help Chris' three beautiful children, including a new 8 week old baby.   If you're inclined to help or just leave good wishes, you can do so at http://fundly.com/the-chris-thomas-family-fund#home

 

He died on Jefftivus, just another weird Wilco coincidence in my life.

Jefftivus!

Would love to meet you & the fam. Come by the VC table in the bar/food area overlooking Courtyard C on Friday night...please folks, don't be shy. It's such a great chance to connect! Plus, free beef jerky! Homemade even.

 

Hi Donna -- maybe this is the year we meet!  I'm working Sat/Sun, and I'll be looking for youse guys at the VC table. 

"This special edition of The Roundtable will focus on the immense variety that the festival has to offer, with artist interviews and live performances hosted by The Roundtable's Joe Donahue, and WAMC's President and CEO, Dr. Alan Chartock. Says Chartock, "We're so proud to participate in the Solid Sound Festival, because like WAMC, it's a true celebration of the arts that honors a full range of artistic expression right here in our own community."

 

Ugh.  Alan Chartock loves the sound of his own voice.

True, but he built an amazing public radio network hereabouts!  Beats any other I've heard, hands down, including DC, Boston, LA.

Plus they use Wilco music on their intro's/outro's.

Helloooo VC, long time no see.   For anyone in need of a roof and running water, I am in Troy, NY about 45 min - 1 hour from North Adams.  Have a free bed and a couch to offer.  I'll be volunteering at the festival (don't know my schedule yet).  

 

Also have a primitive camping spot available right on the NY/MA border in Petersburgh -- about 20 minutes from North Adams?  No phone, no lights, no motorcars.  Well, not really, bring your motor car, by all means.  Off the grid.

 

Just putting it out there if anyone is in dire need of a place to crash. 

I am scanning the western horizon .... holler when you come thru Troy! I'll be searching for you manana!

I would request that the next stage lighting design NOT include the bright interrogation spotlights behind the band -- that was pretty distracting. I did love the flickering tubes tho!

Dear Analogman:

 

 

http://bt.etree.org/...s.php?id=537906

 

 

just sayin', ...

maybe that was rehearsal for the solo show?

I'm still in my usual post-Wilco haze of bliss. Pure Wilco magic!.

 

Thank you Wilco, and Mass MOCA, and all the artists, and the town of North Adams, and the volunteers. Bravo!

One funny thing, on the way out of the event on the "D" bus, every single person thanked the driver as they exited the school bus. She was chuckling about it. I imagine Wilco and their fans left a very positive impression on the locals.

 

Imagine if all those buildings were full of art -- it would take as much time to absorb as the Met! I missed Pat's Polaroid exhibit -- hope he displays it online sometime! The Leonard Nimoy photography was a treat -- I was expecting/hoping it was his zaftig women pics, but this was very compelling. Loved the peacock tree, and the black, uh, 'pods'. I will plan my time better NEXT YEAR so I can see everything!

great pics -- thank you! I loved the high five guys on the bridge! The volunteers high-fived everyone walking into the field for Jeff's show -- very typical of the staff attitude throughout the venue.

Review from the Albany Times Union.

 

August 15, 2010 at 9:41 am by Greg Haymes By GREG HAYMES

Special to the Times Union

 

NORTH ADAMS – From its very conception more than a year and a half ago, the Solid Sound Festival has been about the integration of music and art, and on Saturday afternoon at MASS MoCA it all came together beautifully. The Vermont-based a cappella trio of women known as Mountain Man raised their voices and offered an impromptu performance in the museum’s largest gallery. There was political theater in the museum courtyard as Bread & Puppet Theater performed “The Decapitalization Circus.” And at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday night, the eclectic Chicago rock band Wilco – who organized the three-day festival with MASS MoCA – took the stage to wrap up day two with a sprawling, glorious two and a half hour show that left the crowd – and the band – ecstatic.

 

“Did you guys hear the train go by during that song?” Wilco bandleader Jeff Tweedy asked the field full of cheering fans after the swirling psychedelia of “Deeper Down.” “We made that happen. It’s part of our installation.”

 

 

Throughout the day on Saturday, eight musical acts – selected by Wilco – performed outdoors at three different locations throughout the museum’s massive complex. And the music was dizzying diverse.

 

There was the fractured pop-punk of the three-man Maine-based Brenda. The exquisite flamenco-jazz acoustic guitar instrumental sounds of Sir Richard Bishop. The lush folk harmonies of Vetiver. With self-indulgent art-music of the duo On Fillmore (led by Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche). The swinging-for-the-fences, flat-out rock ‘n’ roll of the all-star Baseball Project (which featured R.E.M.’s Mike Mills pinch-hitting for his bandmate Peter Buck on bass).

 

And there was the magnificent gospel of veteran soul singer Mavis Staples, who offered a spine-chilling preview of her upcoming album, “You Are Not Alone,” which Tweedy produced. With a soulful voice that seemed to rise to the heavens and back, Staples roared through a batch of traditional gospel tunes, as well as a couple of Tweedy-penned numbers. And, yes, Tweedy joined Staples and her band for a couple of songs, strumming his acoustic guitar.

 

But the night belonged to Wilco, and the six-man band was holding nothing back. Tweedy writes wonderful pop songs, and the band takes the beautiful melodies to anthemic levels. But in a true act of subversion, Wilco then begins to deconstruct their own carefully assembled masterpieces with thrilling bouts of jagged, often dissonant sonic sabotage. The band primary sabateur is guitarist Nels Cline, who can shift from beautiful Jim Hall-like jazz passages to total cacaphony in a single measure of music. He did that time after time on Saturday night on such songs as “Ashes of American Flags,” “A Shot in the Arm” and “Impossible Germany.”

 

In the quintessential moment of the night, Wilco played “Jesus, Etc.,” Tweedy left his microphone behind and led the crowd of 5-6,000 fans in a gigantic sing-along.

 

“I can’t believe how much fun this has been,” Tweedy proclaimed. “And it ain’t even over.” The festival concludes today with a solo performance by Tweedy and assortment of musical friends.

 

_____________________________

 

It was great to see Johnny Lackey's 4 'winter residency' posters included in the Wilco poster retrospective hung in the museum -- curated by Mass MOCA!

yes, chance of showers and possible thunderstorms.

When they played Jesus, etc., Jeff let the audience sing most of the song (which we did very well!), and Jeff came in towards the end. He said it was one of the top ten best moments for him -- then he upgraded it to best one or two.

Nice reportage there!

 

Politest crowd ever ... LOTS of kids, quite a few white-haired folk, I love that. And, yes, a boatload of hipsters. Very little weed that I could tell, but I do what I can. VC was well represented up front, but I didn't talk to anybody once I staked out my spot. Loved Mavis Staples and her band. Jeff played a couple (sorry, I don't know the names), and he and Mavis were just grinning back and forth like crazy To hear them do "I'll Take You There" from 1971 -- can you dig it!!

 

Wilco couldn't have been better, which I say every time I see them, and they keep proving me wrong. More old songs would have made me happy, but hey. My crowd neighbors were a funny mix between people singing along with old vs. new songs.

 

It was very well done, the whole organization of the festival, use of the Museum (an old electric parts factory). I popped over the mountain to North Adams, parked at the tiny airport (where a tiny airshow was going on), hopped right on a school bus, and was deposited at the door of Mass MOCA. Staff was plentiful and very friendly, and I just walked right in and up to the front. Weather -- perfect. I loved when the train came through right up above the field.

 

So, I bought a ticket from someone here last minute, not being able to afford to do the whole thing. He lost my ticket along the way up from NY(his wife found it lying in the driveway). I couldn't find another single, so long story short, this gentleman -- let's call him Josh, because that's his name -- bought me a ticket because he felt so bad, and left it at willcall. Just another example of Wilco family values. Restores your faith and all that.

 

They had a fascinating prop light setup onstage -- they looked like large candlesticks made of gas lines, like old gaslamps, but they had some sort of elongated clear bulb that flashed w/the music.. It was a cool nod to the setting. Nice piece of backdrop art too.

 

A+ Wilco & Mass MOCA -- kudos! Can't wait for tomorrow when I have time to check out the exhibits and see Jeff solo.

Aw Wendy, I was hoping you would be able to be at this! We shall do our best at reportage!

 

I shall seek you out, my friend.

should I stay or should I go? I live about an hour from MassMOCA (great museum btw) but buying 2 tix is a bit pricey for me. Hmmmm.

 

In either case, I have a couple extra sleeping spots for VC friends in need.

Happy belated, magic man.

 

Happiest birthday, Donna dear!

birthday hugs, my deer friend.

Dumbarton Oaks one of my all-time favorite spots in DC. Beautiful museum (esp. the pre-Columbian art) and gardens, tucked away in residential Georgetown.

Belated birthday wishes mate!

Belated birthday wishes Wendy! Hope it was delightful.