Lukestar

On 1/18/2024 at 12:30 PM, Passenger Sid said:

Bravo, Wilco. So damn feel-good. So fun watching the skaters. Great job by video-maker & the talented skaters/dancers. 

My wife and I dig it. Great fun with what looks like a beautiful cultural touchstone in Cthi-cah-go. I'm lovin these visual excursions they're taking us on.

10 hours ago, sleapman said:

Fwiw, it looked to me that the band's guitar techs were defintiely setting up for a second encore during Spiders (at least on Nel's side), and the house lights took a few beats to come on after the first encore. I walked by the soundbooth on the way out and it also looked like everybody working back there was ready for more music. Feels like it was an audible from the band to end it. 

As a streamer, I commented to my wife how spry JT seemed on stage, given he's battling such hip pain...swaying back and forth, and even rhythm stepping left and right, shifting his weight to time. 

Then, as they exited after the main set, nugs cut to the stage right camera as the fellas filed passed, and I noticed a distinct gimp in his stride. Maybe the 'body moving' caught up with him and they launched Spiders to end it? (which was a great finish, imo) Either way, my wonderful wife received a new hip a few years ago and our family is acutely aware of the pain that comes with a spent one. Here's to Jeff for dealing, and Wilco for a great end 'o tour show and sharing it with the masses. 

We've had a great run in over here in WNY throughout '21/'22, between SSF/tour re-schedules and regular schedules, and it was really great to have a virtual seat in the room for one of these shows in '23.

This weekend gets my bet. A double whammy announcement of SSF24 and Cousin.

Wilco, keepin' the southern rock cred intact!

That's a major award. You should be proud. 

Thanks for the reports! Always a pleasure to read.

Bookended the week w/Jon Spencer + The HITmakers on Sunday to Angel Olsen and The Big Time Band last night. A nice turn of the months.

5 hours ago, bböp said:

 

For anyone interested...

 

Paul Suwan's Guest DJ set:

-Misunderstood (1/9/03, Chicago)
-Hummingbird (6/8/04, New York)
-Kicking Television (9/13/03, Morrison, CO)
-Be Not So Fearful [Bill Fay] (fragment of unknown Jeff acoustic performance; referring to 5/20/07 show at Shepherd’s Bush Empire when Fay played the song with Wilco)
-Promising (fragment of studio version; referring to 5/7/2005 Vic show)
-Peaches [Presidents of the USA] (house music from 2/16/08, Chicago)
—intermission—
-Black Moon (3/11/12, Zagreb, Croatia)
-Love Will Keep Us Together [The Captain and Tennille] and Gut Feeling/Slap Your Mammy [Devo] (12/31/04, New York)
-Dreamer In My Dreams (4/6/10, Boston)
-Theologians (4/16/03, Chicago)
-The Lonely 1 (5/19/04, DeKalb, IL)

Nice. Thanks for sharing. I used to have those two* from '04 on an old CD/drive that I lost track of a long time ago.

I only managed to catch the last song of Paul's set during this Wilco Radioooooooo stretch, and it was really great to hear again. It brought me back to when Nels and Pat were the brand new guys and the band became something new, but not different.

(*DeKalb, when I heard Hell Is Chrome played live for the first time and my mind melted, and the two covers from New Year's at the Garden)

12 hours ago, bböp said:

 

Who's that guy? Yeah, I hope they end up doing another edition of WWR sooner than later, though I know it takes a ton of work to put it all together.

 

Anyway, for those jonesing for more Wilco radio, here's that link to the archives of Pat's excellent show, the Baroque Down Palace, from Memphis' WYXR.

 

And here was Nels' "Thoughts Of A Fool" set, as I jotted it down:

-Deep Water (Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant)

-Thoughts Of A Fool (Ernest Tubb)

-He'll Have To Go (Jim Reeves)

-He Stopped Loving Her Today (George Jones)

-I'm Not Ready Yet (Tammy Wynette; written by Tom T. Hall)

-It's Not Supposed To Be That Way (Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson)

-Can I Sleep In Your Arms (Carla Bozulich; from Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger; written by Hank Cochran)

-Sunday Morning Coming Down (Kris Kristofferson)

-Albuquerque (Neil Young)

——intermission——

-Sounds Of Night (Porter Waggoner and Dolly Parton)

-Sweet Heaven When I Die (Norman Blake, recorded live at McCabe's Guitar Shop)

-instrumental-not sure of title (Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys)

-Friend Of The Devil (Grateful Dead)

-Bryant's Bounce (Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant)

-Snowbird (Chet Atkins)

-Guitar Happy (Joe Maphis)

-Buckaroo (Joe Maphis; written by Buck Owens; cover of Buck Owens and his Buckaroos)

-Why Not? (Hank Garland Trio)

This is great! Thanks for transcribing, bböp! I guess I did hear most of Nels' set, after all. His story about Willie recording with Carla Bozulich is one of those "who'd a thought" kind of tales.

So, how fast were you in jotting down that dude Paul Suwan's setlist? : D

3 hours ago, bböp said:

I have (almost all of) Nels’ setlist, which I’ll post here in a bit. I’m pretty sure Pat’s set was an abridged version of a previously recorded set of his radio show, the Baroque Down Palace, which you can find on the site for Memphis’s WXYR…will try to find a link.

I caught a bit of Paul Suwan's set, too. Great stuff! I wish Wilcoworld Radioooooooo had a month more.

2 hours ago, lost highway said:

Okay, someone's got to have these playlists. I could see waiting for them to take down the radio first, but I think Pat and Nels have made my new favorite mix tapes.

Mikael played some jams, too. I've only heard a bit of his set, but what I did hear was excellent. 

Nerdy note....

The Stones hit their 20yr mark with Undercover (not awful, IMO, given I was 15 and it was part of what formed my perception of who they were as a whole...beginning with Some Girls thru Tattoo You. The following 10yrs of discovering and digging into their entire catalogue were just as formative, and I still feel that thrill when listening from time to time, after having stepped away from their music for a while), their 30yr mark with Voodoo Lounge (uhhhh, ok*) and Bridges to Babylon, almost halfway through their fourth decade (just happy they were still active, making music to go on tour with).

Yo La Tengo deserves note for their longevity and continually creative output.

*Although, over time, Out Of Tears has become my favorite song from that album. Check the video....totally 90's slick and Charlie actually acting.

4 hours ago, bböp said:

Yet he also took a moment to make the point that it could be even better if everyone participated in, for example, clapping their hands over their heads like he had tried to get people to do a song earlier during Hummingbird. Jeff acknowledged that he fully understood that if everyone in the audience was like him and felt very excited on the inside but barely showed it on the outside, that it would be the worst audience ever. (He didn't say this, but I mean, he wrote a song about exactly this; see: Low Key.) So from the "do as I say, not as I do" department, Jeff nevertheless tried to encourage crowd participation by remarking that one's mindset should be that "I'm not gonna go to my deathbed thinking I didn't clap my hands over my head in Madison. I'm gonna be happy I fucking lived."

I once saw a candid photo of myself, taken side stage at a local show, that revealed me with a bit of a scowl. I was horrified, because I remembered thinking to myself, specifically when I saw the camera was pointed at me, "I don't mind this photo being taken, I'm having a great time and it's ok to let people know it once in a while".

So, now I clap along when encouraged.

Indeed. I was told those are the apples grown for dumplings.

Keeping it short....

They came out chipper and cheerful, making way for one another as they realized that one or two entered out of order of their playing position, from stage right.

You can see from above that the setlist deviated from what it had been the preceding few shows (if paying attention, as a nerd like me does) and it was the first of a few surprises (Spiders! which wasn't a surprise except in how they presented it...with all new crowd interaction).

My wife and I were close enough that you could read lips and see very clearly the business of playing a show from the band's standpoint. During the opening of War on War Jeff jokingly shook his head at Glenn and said "Too fast", both chuckling. 

The stage is nice and low at this venue. Probably no more than 5' off the ground, which made it nice and connective between the band and audience.

If you haven't been to any shows this tour, and have only read that they follow up VC with the Many Worlds coda, you'd expect them to segue right into it, as I did. However, Pat was playing piano during VC, with no Guitar nearby, and I thought maybe they were going to take a rest from it that night. But then VC faded and the crew came out with a guitar for Pat, as the rest took a breath of sorts. Then they played it, and it worked so well, with that slight respite in between.

In terms of watching how they interacted and followed each other, it was a crack up to see Nels react to Jeff's soloing on ALTWYS. Making "ouch" faces in respect of the shredding, and vocally expressing his awe of it. Completely genuine and rousing. He's not one to be so expressive, that I've ever noticed, so maybe his partial set with Mike Watt at SSF has gotten him into a new mode of performing? Or, not.

Anyways... this is no longer short, or well written, so I'll clarify that among the other surprises were the four encore tunes. You know how it is when they come back out...you say to yourself "I wonder if they'll play ____ and ____ and ____, or cut it short and play just two, etc. etc.

Well, they, seemingly at the time, kept playing. I guess the apples didn't mind.

Box Full Of Letters is always great and Late Greats was so good to hear again after a long while, it gave me a swell in the ol' chest and stomach area.

If ever there were a Roadcase worthy show from this summer, I hope this is it.

Came on stage just before 8p and left for good just after 10p (10:10p?)

I know I'm leaving things out (if you're still reading), but that's most of what I remember. Woodrow E. Pecker, Prof of Bird Whistling at Juliard, had a student in attendance, and there were a couple of very fun and funny interactions between them and Tweety (see that?). You'll hear it in the Roadcase (fingers crossed).

Kamikaze Palm Tree were fun to watch and really interesting to listen to. Very reminiscent of Cate Le Bon, and if they play near you, go see them.

Beak & Skiff is a beautiful apple orchard in Lafayette, NY the hills of Central New York, just east of Skaneateles (skinny-at-lees) and south west of Syracuse. Coming from Rochester (NY, of course) it's a 62 mile drive east, with over half of it off the thruway. There's a natural amphitheater, however slight, that a regional promoter must've eyeballed a few years ago and worked to plant a stage throughout the summer, this being the third (I think?) they've hosted shows there. Saw The War On Drugs there in June and that was just a good show and pleasant venue experience. File under "Will go back".

A couple photos from the show. John levitating and a crappy rainbow, in that order...

Here's a bit of audio...w/some video attached...

Looks like a good recovery by the band.

Get well, Nels.

1 hour ago, bböp said:

 …with what Jeff said would almost certainly be the only front-to-back performance of it…

…at least for the next twenty years? Fingers crossed they have a french horn player on stage with them then…*wink*nudge*

Mid way through that BEAUTIFUL show, I came to my senses and realized we weren’t getting rained on, as expected all week. What a gorgeous night and great way to kick off the weekend.

Those guys, and ladies at one point, were sharp as hell. Even when Tweedy did a double take at the start of The Universe, he nor anyone else seemed to flinch. They were confident in these songs and it showed. One of the greats, in my book.

I opened this thread thinking it was going to be about how Many Worlds has them absolutely channeling the Dead.

17 hours ago, lizish said:

yum!!

 

Heading out from Buffalo on the 20th and hoping to make Albany on the 27th. 

 

https://eriecanalway.org/explore/cycling

 

cannot wait!!!

As a Rochesterian, I think this is one of coolest things. Have a great ride!

23 minutes ago, jff said:

  I thought the Ode artwork sucked.

The nerve! It's a Grammy winner!! 

This new album is going to make very many people happy, and help make the summer great.

Yes, it seems we'll have to wait for the sun to carry it over tomorrow. Here's a little sample...

https://mora.jp/package/43000008/190296133374/?fmid=newRelease_all_0001

20 hours ago, Brian F. said:

I really enjoyed the performance, watched via the livestream.  The direction of the livestream video, however, was terrible.  There'd be a horn part, and the cameras would be in a closeup on Jeff or Nels.  There'd be a closeup on the horn players, standing with their instruments at their sides.  There were constant shots from the very top and back of the theater.  The cameras would zoom in or out or pan at odd moments.  It was a visual trainwreck accompanying an aural treasure. 

I said the same thing to my wife. I was genuinely aggravated, to the point of being removed from the moment, when there were no shots (none!) of JT playing the solo in ITMWLY. I couldn't believe it! I'm sounding outraged because it was a moment I was anticipating, but I got over it (just now, after reading how I sound).

Speaking from experience in broadcast and live video, many times a production will use remote cameras that are operated from the control deck/room, using actual joysticks. So, that accounts for the odd movement from time to time and that's understandable. However, somebody is literally calling the shots and often times, usually in a setting where the AV crew isn't part of the band's crew (this happens on ACL even), it's clear that person does not know the performance details necessary to keep up, or call it accurately. It can be maddening. I also understand there are sometimes circumstances beyond control (human error, budget..in regards to the use of the remotes, etc.).

Whatever, though.

This was a joy to see and hear, to experience, even if it was over a stream. We certainly were affected emotionally and spiritually. This music not only evokes memories and feelings from the past, that means something different for everyone. It's also proven to stand as a work that continues to have a meaningful impact on listeners, over a long period of time...passing the test of time, I'd say. It was a beautiful gesture by Wilco.

Wow. Going to get a tissue right now....

1 hour ago, Magnetized said:

Boy, it was like a balm for the soul to read your recap, Paul. I wasn’t there last night but will be for the rest of the NY shows, and I was fuming after reading so many hateful/hurtful comments in the Facebook group. I was bitterly disappointed to see people expressing outrage and accusing Wilco of getting soft and lazy. How could they be so shortsighted and entitled? Your review put me in a better frame of mind, but I may never get over my negative feelings about some of the so-called “fans.”

Wilco broke their hearts

The Sadies are one of the best that have ever played. Dallas was a truly beautiful person, as is each and every Sadie. He’ll be terribly missed but the music lives. There are so many connections, I have been wishing for a Sadies appearance at SSF and I think it would’ve been just a matter of time. Btw, if you’re unfamiliar with them, start with Favourite Colours (remember, they hail from Canada) and go in either direction from there.