tblair

what's wrong with letting the people who queue the longest in first..??

quite obviously it's fairer, but no-one makes any money out of it

what a fucked up world!

One Sunday Morning getting the heave-ho??

how many metal guitarists can shit all over most of these selections?

 

 

 

a lot.

Lou Reed....

JJR were great... I used to see them every few weeks, but since they've been touring quite heavily, I hadn't seen them for quite a while. Suffice to say they were as great as ever!

I went to see The Jim Jones Revue a couple of nights before Wilco, and Mark was in the bar (a JJR fan) with...? Nick Lowe!

then 2 nights later, there's Nick again!

Mark Lamarr's shows were great. He had one that just played the best rock n roll... he is genuinely knowledgeable, and an obvious fan. His other show God's Jukebox (I think) was just as good, but more eclectic

only 3 songs from The Whole Love not played (over the 2 nights)... they're obviously proud and happy with the new album...

I 'd love to have heard Black Moon

That's the lights, it's a tasteful light brown, I think.

 

 

That's the way to do it! My wife is 5 ft nothing and hates stand-up gigs she can't see at, so we either stand and try to go up front, or sit. Love the sloping floors, e.g. Brixton Academy. Very glad now we went in the circle, even though I wish I was at the front not the back. the excellent youtube encore clip reminds me of one of the drawbacks: the pillars/arches can get in the way a bit. My wife kindly swapped seats so my view of Nels wasn't obstructed, I mean you can't not study Nels in action, can you? I did write down all the songs, but the order's a blur. Was hoping someone would post on Wilcoworld as they had for Bristol, Manchester and I think Glasgow, but oddly for neither Fri nor Sat.

 

So did Sat definitely sound a lot better than Fri?

not a lot of difference really... Jeff's voice was clearer downstairs, which was to be expected. But apart from that, I thought the sound was as good a live sound as you're (generally) likely to get

Brixton next...??

(still have my ticket for the cancelled Wilco show at the Academy....)

I also requested it for my wife, though not for reasons as serious as yours, so it's great that it was played. Although the request function on wilcoworld allows you state why you're requesting, I don't think they're in the habit of referring to it, but at least it looks like it's there for a reason! It was the first song she really noticed me playing by Wilco, and so occupies a special space. She didn't know I'd requested it and was thrilled it was played.

 

This was my second Wilco gig, first being last year at the RFH. Wishing now I'd seen them on all the previous tours, but have only become significantly into them in the last few years, and now I think I would go as far as saying there is no better band to see live. Last night was perfect. Loved the Roundhouse, first visit, acoustics were top notch. Was at the back of the circle, but it didn't feel too far away, and I had a great view of them. Good to be able to view Glenn. As a drummer I am blown away by his power, precision, technique, inventiveness and musicality. I would dearly love to be able to do what he does!

 

So many highpoints, and the setlist was immaculate (I for one am much happier hearing HMD as final encore song than Misunderstood). I would have preferred One Sunday Morning further on, but it also works well as an opener. I thought Art of Almost came into its own. They brought to it a visceral edge that the record, much as I love it, lacks. War on War, ALTWYS, Imp Germ, all superb.

 

I've had left ear tinnitus since the RFH, and am sure Bull Black Nova had something to do with it. Last night I had my drumming earplugs at the ready to protect myself, but didn't need to. It was immense, but controlled. They sound so good as a 6-person beast comprised of 6 outstanding individuals. Nels and Glenn bring, as well as astonishing technique and imagination, a drama and a physicality that makes them mesmerising.

 

Jonathan Wilson didn't do much for me. One song seemed to be a straight copy of Neil Young's Dangerbird with different words.

agree about the volume levels at RFH. That was the loudest show I've experienced for a long time

I was at the back upstairs of Friday... and yea, even at the back didn't feel like very far from the stage. The one problem with the Roundhouse is, downstairs, unless you're near the front, because the stage is relatively low, and there's no slope on the floor at all, it's difficult to see much if you're anything less then 6 foot tall. That's why we went upstairs for the first night (with wife and sister) then on my own for Saturday... downstairs

I don't think the second night was any 'quieter'

Wilco have been playing loud and hard for a few years now... I'm surprise anyone is surprised anymore

Damn, I'd love to hear him and Jeff talk about music for 15 minutes. I could see parallels being drawn between Elbow in England and Wilco in the US as far as how underrated they are.

which is where the comparison ends... Wilco have a fantastic singer and aren't boring

They only went and iced the f...king cake!

 

Nick Lowe came out to do Cruel To Be Kind. Nick f...king Lowe! Cruel to be f...king Kind! I found a level of heaven beyond level seven.

You know that video of Wilco backing Roger McGuinn doing "So you want to be a rock'n'roll star"? As much fun as that and then some more for good measure. Love watching JT beaming doing backing vocals.

it was the best version of the song... ever...

I don't know how Wilco do it, but they get possibly the best live sound ever. I was at the back, upstairs for the first night, and it was amazing (Jeff could have been a bit higher in the mix.... but that's all), and last night, nearer the front downstairs, and it was immaculate. Loud but not distorted (none of that rubbish ' I can make the bass guitar and bass drum so loud, so loud it feels like your heart is going to explode and you can't hear anything above it.... because I can!' nonsense, that many bands do), and no matter how much distortion and feedback is going, you still get the subtleties of all the instruments. Their sound person is worth their weight in gold

but Cruel To Be Kind... I was thinking, this song will never sound as good as this again. 3(!) acoustic guitars replicating the original perfectly... all the backing vocals sung so sweetly.. and the solo!!... note for note perfect... - little bit of a stumble going into the second verse... which kind of made it even better... ?!?

saddest thing was I was on my own, and my wife and sister who'd come the night before, and who both adore Nick, weren't there... cries of "Oh no!" when I got home to break the news

..even better than when I used to see Rockpile

still wish he'd talk a bit more...

Dermot O'Leary is kind of embarrassing really. The interview was painful... "why don't you call it the Tweedy fest...? "go on call it the Tweedy fest..."... "It's obviously a better name.. the Tweedy fest"... stfu! "did you have Hold Steady on?" why? why the Hold Steady? is it because you like them?

painful... sounded like Jeff was doing a good job of being polite

and does he know the difference between Wilco and Jeff Tweedy? He announced Jeff's performances as being by Wilco...

which one's Pink?

twat

I think it ended just before 11

said the same things about his hat AND the Shepherds Bush incident... his head in a shadow all evening...? is he starting to get paranoid about the possibility of a tiny bald patch on his head? ... and THAT incident... yes, we either don't care anymore, or we don't know what you're talking about (which was the case for the 2 people I was with.. .so I had to explain why he was apologising..)

never heard so many new songs from the latest album, which was a change. The shows seems to be very based around songs where Nels shines... Wiclo, featuring Nels Cline on guitar ...?

pretty amazing show though, unsurprisingly.

tonight...? expect a few less new songs, maybe...

ps... wasn't Shot In The Arm the last song??...

shortest encore ever from them

Yep, was forgetting Royal Festival Hall - that was a good one, polite seating but great viewing venue.

 

Hopefully Tweedy will be chatty tonight - he's been less so in more recent visits but used to bite in response to banter with wind-up merchants in the London crowds.

 

Didn't go to the infamous gig in '97 ish when he had a running battle with the audience at Shepherds Bush - seemed to attract hecklers chasing

a bit of 'sport' in the London gigs that followed that one. Brings out the best in him - he's a far better front man when bristling, prickly and on edge IMO.

 

And loved that line at Shep Bush a few years ago about the bloke near the front who looked like Salman Rushdie ...

I know he says he wants to talk less to play more songs, but when he does loosen up, he's very funny and it makes such a difference. Probably more than he realises.

A friend of mine went to see them last night (Bristol) for his first time, and he said it was great, but not much interaction. I think for newcomers it's even more 'important' to talk a bit

a great example of when he's more relaxed:

Looking forward to London shows tonight and tomorrow.

 

Seems the band are slowly working their way round all the London venues of a certain size - they've been pretty much everywhere, Shepherds Bush Empire, Hammersmith, Astoria (sadly no more), rubbish place in the East End beginning with T name of which escapes me, Kentish Town Forum, now Roundhouse which will be my first visit since it was revamped - heard good things though.

 

Hoping for some surprises over the two nights - as usual a lot of punters will be there for both nights and Jeff's normally pretty good at changing it for multiple night shows in one place. Remember seeing them on two successive nights in Dublin in 2007 and there were something like 14 songs different second night.

 

Bring it on....

troxy... one of Wilco's best shows for me

Royal Festival Hall too

for all of Wilco's good intentions, I've never received any information from Wilco's website, even though I keep on registering.. so if it's a gig with reserved seats (like the Royal Festival Hall), all the good seats are gone before I know they've even been on sale. I get more information from co-Wilco fans on 'efestivals' than I do from Wilco

not sure what this might have to do with Sandbag...

Here, this will get you to the same place:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WfGbQSU9ac

 

Cant' decide whether its really fun and cute, or just cheesy. I'm a softie, so I'll tend to think its all in fun, but am expecting some folks to take out their arrows.

cute or cheesy or not, Jeff's playing is great!

Like others, loved the poster.

 

There were some differences in the group I went with but I loved Art of Almost. Just a huge, elemental song. In the pit upfront you could feel the bass just rumble through you. Very cool. I do wonder if it would be better as the last song before the encore.

 

A very different song was One Sunday Morning. A lovely, beautiful song that the band extended into 13 minutes (according to a friend of mine, your mileage may vary). I could see it becoming a regular in the set list for the next several years.

13 minutes!

that's about a minute longer than the recorded version... phew! (sorry )

and 36 Inches High!

of all the fantastic Nick Lowe songs, that would be about... errrmmm... last on the list

(sarcasm mode this morning... don't ask)

yeah my front element of my lens was covered w/ water...i had a hood on, but i was close enough to the stage edge that splashing droplets eventually found their way on to it. it was raining so hard i didn't bother trying to wipe it down. most of the time if you didn't have direct light coming into the lens you couldn't tell droplets were there. that shot was definitely a stroke of luck.

the best ones often are...

fantastic picture.. I love the pattern in the drop... the beauty in the detail of nature, framing Jeff like that

(and I don't think the luck/randomness takes away from your abilities... )

if there's one photo that sums up the weekend, it might be this one

that's amazing..

is the effect caused by a random drop of rain?

Every time I've been there - just standing in the circular-ish hall. There are raised seats around the sides but I think those are first come first served too and, of course, not something you're likely to consider

I think the raised seats (the balcony) are reserved. It's not like a regular balcony where you feel detached from the show. Plus, the stage is quite low, so if you're standing downstairs, unless you're very near the front, you're lucky to see any more than the head and shoulders of the band (or less if you're not tall).

I'll be trying for one night upstairs, and the other standing

Five star review in the Independent:

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/wilco-royal-festival-hall-london-2083741.html

blimey, they're a 'mainstream rock band' now

In the song You Never Know:

 

It's a long heavy hell

Synthesizer Patel

I don't care anymore

I don't care anymore

 

 

As for why that's the lyric, you never know. (Sorry. That was awful.)

I'd never picked up on that lyric before, ta....