mpolak21

Jim guests on the encore of the 4-30-2003 Minus 5/Wilco show that's on the Owl archive. Well worth checking out. He guests on a few of the June 2003 show encores too. Somedays, I wish Jim was brought on as a full time member in 2001 as Jay's replacement. --Mike

I would start with 16 Lovers Lane and then give Before Hollywood and Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express a listen. --Mike

Yeah, it's one of my favorites. I was stunned when I found out it was a B-side. I grew up with all the CD re-issues, so I didn't even realize for awhile that it wasn't actually a proper album track on Face to Face. --Mike

Yeah, I don't know if I ever gotten anyone to confirm when Michael's first actual show with the band was. He was definitely with them on the West Coast run of shows in late August and early September of 2002 (I can hear him on the soundboards and he's in the Morning Becomes Eclectic video in that timeframe). He had a keyboard rig setup along with the laptop by the October 2002 shows. --Mike

That's a very insightful point, Crow. Without going too deep into things I know little about, it seems pretty well documented 1999 and 2000 were not exactly the heights of health for either Jeff or Jay. I am not sure having the added pictures of having like a "One Headlight" level hit, and the band circa 1999 having to go through that journey would have ended up all that great. Though I am sure Jay would have bought like a million more awesome vintage keyboards with his royalties. Retrospectively, Wilco seems to have gotten the increase in popularity it could handle every step of its career.

1.) Waterloo Sunset 2.) This Time Tomorrow 3.) This is Where I Belong 4.) Days 5.) Autumn Almanac 6.) Do You Remember Walter? 7.) Got to be Free 8.) Til The End of the Day 9.) Sitting in the Midday Sun 10.) Love Me Till The Sunshines

It was probably the kid's country band, Riders in the Sky, I saw them at the Capitol Music Theater in Wheeling, WV when I was in Kindergarten/First Grade. Julian Lennon and Weird Al Yankovich were other early shows I saw as a kid. --Mike

Yeah, my ears agree with yours, I have always heard him sing "plot device." --Mike

That was the first vinyl I ever heard. I found it in a stash of my parents' records, and it was the only thing I recognized. --Mike

At a very short lived Tower Records in South Charleston, WV, when I was 11. --Mike

9/19/2003: http://wilcoarchive.com/wilco%2020030919/ 9/20/2003: http://wilcoarchive.com/wilco%2020030920/ 5/19/2004: http://wilcoarchive.com/wilco%2020040519/ 5/20/2004: http://wilcoarchive.com/wilco%2020040520/ Main page: http://www.owlandbear.com/wilco-archive/

On the last two proper shows for the YHF tour on 9/19/2003 and 9/20/2003, both Nels and Pat guested on a few tunes. Handshake Drugs in particular, Nels played guitar, Pat played extra percussion near Glenn's rig. They both came into the band after Ghost was recorded. Their first shows are the 5/19 and 5/20/2004 gigs at Otto's in Dekalb. All four shows are available in the Wilco archive on Owl and Bear. I'm partial to the 12/5/2001 Los Angeles show from the four piece, and all of the Filmore run (parts of which were filmed for the I Am Trying To Break Your Heart documentary) are worth seeking

There was certainly a magic in those shows with all the space in the songs, it's probably the closest Wilco has ever gotten to sounding like Jeff's solo material (which I would speculate is why they appeal to us).

Yes, during the late 2001 tour when it was just Jeff/Leroy/John/Glenn. Jeff had a MacBook in his rig, Leroy had a few samplers in his equipment also. --Mike

I'll go to bat for this one too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN2VNFpiGWo

Watched the Quad documentary last night, great work as always by the BBC. I loved the scenes of the mixing board and hearing some of the tracks isolated and Roger's comments on how he hit that final perfect scream in Love, Reign O'er Me were really interesting. It has inspired me to pop on Quadrophenia at work today. --Mike

Sometimes as evidenced by the Sunken Treasure DVD, fans aren't even quiet during Jeff's set either. --Mike

Lennon used to write cheat sheat notes to songs and tape them on the back of his guitars. I am pretty compelled when I hear mistakes on the live boots, it makes them feel more human. I have no idea how he's able to remember some of the lyrics every night, imagine trying to do Remember the Mountain Bed. It's got to be a relief when they do I'm a Wheel. --Mike

. If you dig the Quadrophenia era of the Who, I strongly recommend Ritchie Utenberger's book Won't Get Fooled Again: http://www.richieunterberger.com/Who70s.html. Which focuses on the Lifehouse sessions and Quad. Great insights to Pete's process and incredible creativity in that time. --Mike

That's always been a tough song for him to get. I seem to remember a lot of boots I have where he flubs a line or sings the wrong verse at the wrong time. --Mike

They could bring it:

They were the best. Will miss Doss dearly.

That's awesome, I started collecting shows that way. I'd make a list of my favorite songs and try to match as many as I could per show. --Mike