tblair

Guardian Review

I s'pose that's why they never get the 'attention' (?) they deserve in the uk. How a show as good as it was only gets 3 out of 5 stars just baffles me.

They do sometimes show their Velvet Underground influences, but Wilco (the song) isn't one of 'em. Either the reviewer doesn't know VU or the song itself, one or the other.

Which songs were the country-rock ones that plodded?... I don't recall any 'plodding' at all.

they could have taken some risks and sounded more like themselves.

I wonder what the reviewer would consider a 5 star show?

Think you might find there's a high percentage of regulars at the London shows. As Tweedy himself has pointed out, Wilco always sell the same amount of records in the UK.

maybe... depends what a 'high' percentage is. I'd be surprised if even close to half the audience would have seen them more than a couple of times (especially as it was a show in a part of London that they probably have never played). And it would be a mistake (imo) to simply 'preach to the converted'...

still, different strokes, an' all that

Don't disagree with that but Spiders for example eats up 10 minutes plus of a two hour set which means two or three others are squeezed out. It's not as if they haven't played this in London every time they've played there. Same goes for the others. I say rotate and let's hear more of the gems that rarely get played.

I think it's weird the way die-hard fans, who go to multiple shows, expects 'their' band to change the set for them, who are probably in the minority. I'd imagine most punters at the shows, haven't seen every show Wilco have played over the last few years, and might not have seen them play Spiders, which is a major highlight of their show (and has changed a little over the years). It's the same with Springsteen fans who complain about him playing Thunder Road (or whatever) most of the time. I, for one, would be dissapointed if these staples were missed out. My wife came last night, she doesn't see them as often as I do, but thought the show was amazing, and thought Spiders was fantastic

fantastic show last night... the band still seem to be getting better.

The venue was nice, but it won't last long as a 'proper' venue unless it sorts a few things out. No bar to speak of upstairs, just a couple of tables selling bottles (and a long queue), the stage isn't much of a stage, the lighting was very basic (Jeff was pretty much in darkness for lots of the set), side monitor speakers blocking some of the view..... and we had reserved seats in the blacony, but when we got there, we were told there was a cock up with the seats, and they showed us a couple of seats but said if someone comes for those seats, you'll have to move. I said I don't want to spend half the evening being shoved around, just give me a couple of seats that we've paid for... anyway, sure enough, about 20 minutes into the show, some guy comes up to us and says we're in his seats, so I said talk to the usher, who then said we might have to move. I'm starting to get pissed off now, I've waited months for this show, don't make me miss half the show by sorting my seats out... anyway, we got another couple of seats (with a better view of Nils), and eventually calmed down and loved the whole show...

can't wait for the Forum in November.... a 'proper' venue

I meant the stage looks small...

just called the venue, and Wilco are due on at 8.30, with an 11 o' clock finish...

that seems long enough..

Has anyone been before? The place looks great in it's deco glory. The pictures on it's website make it look like the stage isn't exactly permanent, and maybe a bit small though..... ?

Seems like years since the Shepherd's Bush gigs and the cancelled Brixton show, so really looking forward to tonight. Should we expect anything special on his birthday? (it'll be special anyway...)

I think it goes sort of like this.

'cept he lifted his foot a couple of times, so he'd have to be ejected

ps... says on my ticket for the Troxy tomorrow that I have a VIP table...???.. how am I going to dance?

4 -- Repect personal space. Feel free to dance and bop at will -- I do -- but no one wants you mashing up against them or stepping on their toes. Try what I do -- I don't move my feet. I bounce in place. A bonus-- this is a great upper thigh and ass work out. If I had 2 or 3 shows a week, my ass would be rockin!

dance without moving your feet...?? then it's not dancing. So, no dancing at Wilco shows?

Wilco, followed by Bruce...

that's about as good as it gets!

Happened to me too (the 'clip' holding the cd is way too strong!!). I wrote to the publishers (or was it the distributor?) and they replaced it.

(actually they sent me another book with the cd!!)

Yay! Thank you. I'm so happy when I read about this gig today. I was so disappointed last time by the cancellation of the Brixton gig I flew over to Ireland to see them there instead.

I don't have the money to do that this time so I'm thrilled they are finally coming back to London

Shame it's The Troxy though, not my favourite venue

I've never been to the Troxy. It looks lovely....

A question- what sense does it make for a festival to bring over Wilco for 1 european gig, they're equipment etc and only have them play for an hr ? Seemed ridiculous to me they're set was so short.

good question...

Most festival sets aren't any longer than an hour (unless it's a headliner). But yeah, it seems like a long way to go just for an hour. Maybe the promoter was such a fan, they were willing to pay over the odds just to get a chance to see Wilco.... maybe???

just a little 'bump' in the vague hope that it might make any differece as to whether they come back to the uk, or not...

was there ever any official (or unofficial even) reason as to why they cancelled last time?

maybe they could make up for the cancelled UK shows...???

out of all the Wilco shows I've seen, Sunken Treasure was the best opener...

for what that's worth....??

I always thought that "learning how to die if you want to be alive" was a reference to the fact that much of our lives are spent doing things or not doing things because of our innate fear of death. Sort of like the guy who spends his life afraid of dying of cancer because there is a history in his family and he dies of a heart attack.

 

So I thought the point of the line was that the only way to truly live life to its fullest is to enjoy every moment for what it is. Accept that death is coming and love life. Dont sweat death, enjoy life.

 

That's what I took from the line -- could be completely off base though. I suppose living each day has a buddhist quality to it...

That sounds good.

I guess I was just a bit slow (with the lyrics), and it took a book to explain them to me.

All forms are Impermanent.

I'm still struggling with this stuff, that's not fair..

sorry to bother you. I deleted the post. carry on.

now you've deleted your posts, the thread looks like aload of nonsense....

thanks for your input...

jeez... one thing I hate about forums is all the nit-picking over irrelevant specifics. I never said Tolle was a Buddhist.

but anyway...

While it's clear he's ripped a lot of teachings out of the Buddhist canon, he claims no religious or spiritual affiliations. He is 'self enlightened.'

not sure how that affects my original post/question?

I could re-phrase it if you like...

Is Jeff into Tolle-like spiritual enlightenment?

how's that?

(not sure I'm happy with the word 'ripped', makes it sound like he's stolen something. What I've read and heard, he constantly acknowledges where what he's saying has been said before)

Tolle isn't a Buddhist.

I thought alot of what he says is based on Buddhism. On one of his cd's, he says (paraphrasing here), "if I can condense what I'm saying to one word, it's Buddhism"

maybe I misunderstood it

ps I didn't actually say he was a Buddhist deliberatley because I didn't think he was, but a lot of his 'teachings' are based on it, aren't they?

Just came back from the doctors surgery, reading the Eckhart Tolle book, "The Power Of Now". It's quite heavy (but not, at the same time...?!)

The lyrics to War On War, have always slightly puzzled me. I kind of thought I understood, but not quite (if you get my drift). Anyway the whole concept of 'learning to die' was explained in the book. Briefly:

"You will know it (the truth) at the latest when you feel death approaching. Death is a stripping away of all that is not you, The secret of life is to "die before you die" - and find that there is no death"

If that sounds a bit gobledegook-ish, you probably need to read the book, but I find it all oddly re-assuring, and most of it makes good sense to me. It takes me back to the sixties, when a lot of the music I was listening to (Beatles/Lennon, Who/Townshend, Coltrane, McLaughlin) seemed to be 'looking' for the same thing, and totally explains why I love Wilco and Jeff's lyrics. I didn't consciously go looking for it, it kind of found me, or I was open enough to let it in. I dunno, but it all makes sense to me.

(not sure if it's ok to directly quote because of copyright reasons, but I have credited it)

Shows in Spain (by any band) are hardly ever taped,it doesn't seem to be such a big thing over there sadly.

they're probably more into enjoying the moment than trying to preserve it for the future, which has the negative effect of taking away from that very same moment....

the Spanish understand... (in my experience)

A lot of early Wilco rockers just scream out The Stones (Exile period) to me

monday seems to have the exact same intro as the guitar part to rebel rebel by bowie.

Whats the guitar Nels plays during "You Are My Face"?

I think it's a Jerry Jones 12 string