tblair

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYMpK71_otU

a whole 9 hour chunk of the festival... go to about 5 hours 13 minutes in for Wilco

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road... ... his most over-rated album imo.. the beginning of the end. If he stuck to material he'd recorded up until that one, I'd be there like a shot.

Patrick (Mathe) was who we worked with mostly (I think!)... I vaguely remember Louis... (sorry Louis).

 

The french seemed to love us, we loved the french, so it was all good. Some of my best memories are of touring France. That's probably why I get a little defensive (for them) when people criticise them. It happens so often, is really dumb, and based on nothing but jealousy as far as I can tell!

really cool! a Wilco fan who liked my band.. that's cool... very cool

 

we played in France more than any other country. We loved it, the french (seemed to) love us... the gig at le Maroquinerie was one of the most enjoyable we ever did. I love the set up there. From a performers perspective, looking out at a banked/wall of punters is almost unbearably inspiring.

 

I always remember, whoever our tour agent was, every one of them struggled to find us a venue in Paris that ever made any money. Paris was the first place we played outside of the uk... we had a fan who ran the Gibus club, which was a fantastic place... (he was the guy who organised the gig of Beatles covers, which was never meant to be an album, just a one-off event. It worked out so well, that we released it)

 

anywaysss....

Paris was always difficult. I never understood why. Every other city was no problem... Bordeaux, Lyons (oh... Lyons!), Montpelier, Marseille... anywhere was great

 

Once, we did 2 nights at the New Morning. That was a great venue, would suit Wilco? no?

(edited to say... the stage might be a bit too small..?)

No idea ! I'm gonna ask. But I've been at la Maroquinerie so often that there's a good chance I've seen you play there ! If I only knew who you are…

we played there in 2002 (The Inmates)

I've done the same as victor79, trying to contact everyone to try and see why Wilco didn't come to Paris more often. The answer was that it's almost impossible for them to make any money if they play their usual 800-1000 people venues. They've waited all these years to receive an offer for a venue like this one, which can hold 2500 seated people and make it profitable for them. When it was announced they'd play the REX, I had the chance to talk to John Stirratt. I warned him about this "sitting issue" and he told me "oh, don't worry, we know how to work these places." In my opinion, the other night, the real problems were 1/ security were instructed not to allow people to dance close to the stage; 2/ the REX always sells "VIP" seats with Champagne as an excuse to charge extra money ; 3/ the setlist WAS designed for a sitting audience. 4/ no one in France knew that you could make requests on the Website. But don't blame it on the french audience. The show at the club "la Maroquinerie" in 2005 or 2006, was duly reviewed in MOJO as one of the best EVER. Myself, I've seen the band in four different countries, and it was by far the most satisfying.

But the money issue is where it's at : they played two concerts in Brussels, thus playing for more or less as many people as in Paris in one, but surely making much more money…

la Maroquinerie!... that's the place (I forgot the name) where we got ripped off and didn't get any money. Good place, fantastic audience, but no money . I wonder if it's still the same people who run it ?

What does everyone think about the sit vs. stand debate?

all I know is a seated audience seems to not be the most conducive for Jeff... it seems to make him feel... errmm..... uneasy?

 

in my experience

Where I thought it was just a venue with over zealous security (btw it was a fancy-pants venue with roman statues and fake palm

trees, etc), my Parisian friend and host also seemed to blame it on her own culture. "You are not allowed to have fun in France," she said dramatically.

I've met people who say that about their own country in loads of different countries. I think it usually says as much about them as it does about the place. If you can't have fun in France - a beautiful country with amazing people, but not unique in that respect - ... then you're doing something wrong

And don't talk me about snobbish. I'm a parisian.

And don't talk me about snobbish. I'm a parisian. I know this city by heart. I know too well it's default. I know the hipsters. I'm friend with some of them. But is it too much for once to enjoy something on a genuine first degree where it matters more to enjoy the moment rather than being in only concern about how I'll tell my social contacts how I was there and oh it was "meh... not that good".

 

you know the hipsters? ... good for you

 

it's all the generalising that's dumb. This concert was disappointing.. that's all. Every time I've seen Wilco play to as seated audience, that's what happens. It's Wilco, half of what they play isn't exactly get up and dance type material

 

I've spent a lot of time in Paris, and France generally. My band has played Paris probably 2 or 3 dozen times, and they have been among the most enthusiastic audiences we've ever played to... I'm no stranger

 

maybe they should have played a different theatre... we always like the Bataclan (when it didn't have seats)... not sure if that's big enough (or even running still). I do remember our promoter having trouble finding a place to play in Paris that didn't completely rip you (the act) off. The last time we played in a great club to about 7 or 800 people, and after the local agents cut, the hire of the place (I know, they charged us for that!), the PA and everything else, we didn't get paid anything

 

we haven't been back since

WORST crowd ever. Wilco give it all and we tried to stand up at the begining of the show because they were rocking out and we wanted to have a party with them as we have been waiting for so long for them to come back. But all those lame people behind us told us to sit down. I mean it's a rock concert not Mozart. If you want to sit, just stay home and listen to the record, don't bully people that goes to a concert to give as good a feedback as the guys deserve. Parisian audience is just crap. Like tweedy said watching them makes him wants to sleep. And when finally Tweedy encourage them to stand up mid-way to the show, they stood up like a bunch of sheeps. Talk about spontaneity. Wilco should not come back after this. This town and this country ain't worth it. Why bother with a bored bourgeois audience. Looking forward to Primavera where we're going to have a real blast (us real fans).

what a snobbish load of pumped up ranting crap

 

real fans....

Not sure if this has already been posted. Found it last night and thoroughly enjoyed it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqYlM6N7rZ8&feature=player_embedded

It's not that they're letting people in early who've been waiting a long time; it's that the venue is charging an additonal $20/head for people to get in early and it's a) not fair to the people who can't/don't fork over the cash and in some cases, a complete scam, considering some of the folks who pay the extra dough don't actually end up in a better spot.

 

Maybe I read your response wrong, just seemed like you thought the venue was merely letting people in early who'd been standing outside -- at no extra charge...

no, that's exactly what I thought was happening (but thanks for the clarification... ). I think my sarcasm messed the reply up. I was suggesting (they should be) letting people in who have queued the longest first, without charging them... you know that quaint 'queueing' thing...

 

it stinks!

 

(the fact that they might not even get a 'better' spot, just means they're useless as well... it shouldn't happen at all...imo)

I think you're missing something.

who... me?

what am I missing?

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.

I'd like to see Slash having a go at The Boxer

 

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...