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mylifeisought

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Posts posted by mylifeisought

    Jeff and Cameras

    in Just A Fan

    Posted

    I guess I should clarify here. I'm not in favor of dickheads who hold a glowing screen aloft all night. But I was on the rail, with a clear shot at the band without obstructing anyone's view for the Iowa show. I use the rapid-shot function on my camera, take 15-20 pictures within 30 seconds, screen off, without looking at the shots I took, do that subtly six or seven times over the course of a night, and end up with some shots like the one I've attached. And a lot that suck. I'm conscious of the people around me, and I consider the "no video" signs to include shooting for YouTube. If told not to take pictures, I wouldn't, just like every time I see Bob Dylan. And Wilco might want to take a cue from Dylan and have the security people up front telling people not to take photos.

    Point is, is a very conscientious concertgoer, always trying to be aware of the people around me. If I'm at a show where the camera's going to bug people, I don't use it, or move to somewhere in the room where it's not a problem. But if Jeff's going to start glaring at anyone who whips out a camera (which, to some extent seemed to be the case in Iowa City), I really think they should just put a blanket ban down. I don't take photos at shows to try and prove I was there (as Jeff mentioned in Memphis), or to pad my Facebook photo albums. I do it because it's my hobby and I was a photo minor in college.

    I guess the way I see it is that this woman in Memphis should have put the damn phone down, people should stop filming everything for YouTube, but as long as Wilco continues to allow photography, I should be able to subtly continue to take photos without worrying I'm pissing off the band.

    IMG_4054.jpg

    Jeff and Cameras

    in Just A Fan

    Posted

    you can take pictures and enjoy a show too... :hmm

     

    Exactly. This is why, as I said, I take the pictures in quick bursts, not even checking how the pictures are. I figure I'll have some good ones by the end of the night, and it never fails.

    Jeff and Cameras

    in Just A Fan

    Posted

    I logged on this morning to check the Memphis setlist, and read about Jeff's (probably justified) blow-up at the woman with the cellphone last night, and it really made me start to wonder about the band's camera and photo policy, and whether or not it needs a revision. A week and a half ago, my wife and I were in the front row at the (amazing) Iowa City show. One of my long-time hobbies has been concert photography, and I tend to take about 100-200 pictures at any given show, usually in rapid bursts of 10 to 20 every ten minutes or so, knowing that I'll end up with 10 or 15 amazing shots from the night. I turn off my flash, I turn off the orange AF light, and, as much as I can, I even turn off my camera's screen. I try to be as unobtrusive as I can to the people around me at the gig, as well as to the band.

    But, for the whole evening, Jeff seemed to be shaking his head at various people. A couple of whom had iPhones up and were obviously videotaping, but many of us were definitely just taking pictures. I never saw him glaring directly at me, but at one point in time the woman next to me tapped me on the shoulder and said "He's shaking his head, there's no photography allowed." I politely corrected her that there was no flash allowed, but it was still perplexing.

    At each of the six Wilco shows I've been to, it has clearly stated on the Wilco website as well as often at the entry to the venue that non-flash photography is permitted. Now, in light of last night's events, I have to wonder if the band doesn't need to take a second look at its policies. As long as the band allows photography, people will be allowed to bring in something that doubles as a videocamera. It sounds like the show was disrupted more than once last night because of this issue. And I shouldn't have to worry that one of my favorite artists is pissed at me during a show for doing something that is clearly permitted in their current policies. I didn't take a single video that night.

    I fully understand Jeff's feeling on taking video live. Just because your cellphone can take video doesn't mean it's going to be any good. But I really don't see how the band's photo policy can have it both ways on this. Thoughts?

    IMU Main Lounge, 10/01/2009

    in After The Show

    Posted

    -Wilco (The Song)

    -I Am Trying To Break Your Heart

    -Bull Black Nova

    -You Are My Face

    -Once Wing

    -A Shot In The Arm

    -At Least That's What You Said

    -Deeper Down

    -Impossible Germany

    -Cars Can't Escape

    -Can't Stand It

    -Jesus, Etc.

    -Sonny Feeling

    -Handshake Drugs

    -Hate It Here

    -Walken

    -I'm The Man Who Loves You

     

    ENCORE 1

    -Ashes of American Flags

    -A Magazine Called Sunset

    -Misunderstood >

    -Spiders (Kidsmoke)

     

    ENCORE 2

    -You Never Know (w/ Liam Finn)

    -California Stars (w/ Liam Finn)

    -Box Full Of Letters

    -Heavy Metal Drummer

    -Casino Queen

    -Outtasite (Outta Mind)

     

    I feel like something's missing in the second half of the main set. Also on the setlist (but not played): Hummingbird (after ITMWLY), Far Far Away (before Spiders), and Hoodoo Vooodoo (closing the show) Outtasite (Outtamind) was not on the written setlist. Saw three tapers.

    Epic show, band was in good spirits and Glenn now has a gong. More to come, sleep now.

    Lollapalooza 2009

    in Someone Else's Song

    Posted

    My thoughts:

    I've been to quite a few festivals, and Lollapalooza 2008 was the best. Period. Top to bottom, I saw an unthinkably good three days of music--Radiohead, Wilco (my fifth show, and I was right up close for Jeff's solo set), Okkervil River, Broken Social Scene, The National, and, surprisingly, Kanye were among the best individual shows I've ever seen. So it's not a surprise that 2009 would be a letdown. But really? The Killers headlining main stage? Depeche Mode, while wonderful, is obviously a huge step down from Radiohead. There are real standouts here (LOU FUCKING REED?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? And TVotR, Andrew Bird, Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, of Montreal, Neko Case)

    But this lineup simply isn't as deep as 2008. Not at the top, not in the middle, not even at the bottom. The dance tent is the clear improvement (Simian Mobile Disco!!!!!!). But on the whole this seems to be an off-year for what I think (sorry, Bonnaroo!) is America's finest festival.

    Indianapolis Show (June 15)

    in After The Show

    Posted

    Don't know why it took me this long to post about this show. Possibly that i'm still slightly stunned from it.

    It's the third time i've seen Wilco in a little over a year and a half (10/13/05 Indy, 10/4/06 Purdue before this), and while this was the shortest show of the three, it was certainly the best. While I know that some people haven't been huge fans of Low opening, I, for one, loved it. I count them among my favorite bands as well, and i thought they played an excellent set to a crowd that wasn't there to see them. Closing with "Murderer" followed by "Breaker" was fabulous.

    Wilco came on promptly, powering out of the gate with "A Shot In The Arm," "Side With The Seeds" and "You Are My Face" (excellent!!!) "IATTBYH" was fabulous as always, and i was taken by surprise by an excellent "Kamera." Always nice to hear "Handshake" and "War On War." "Impossible Germany" has grown significantly more powerful since last October. The macrame schtick was pretty funny.

    "Hate It Here" rocked as hard as i'd expected--certainly a highlight. Walken has gotten better each time i've seen it.

    "ITMWLY" rocked particularly hard tonight, and Jeff's "Hummingbird" dance was, to say the least, hilarious.

    I was NOT expecting "Sunken Treasure" (my favorite Wilco song), which they'd opened with last time they played at the Murat. To lead out of that into the best "Spiders" i've ever heard was SPECTACULAR. Nels and Jeff tore the place down. They could have stopped there and I would have been satisfied. But they still had a little bit more for us--an always-welcome "HMD" followed by a blistering "Outtasite (Outta Mind)" and then closing with "California Stars", a song which i've always hoped to hear live.

    After the show, i got one of the awesome ice cream tour shirts, and then went out to wait to meet the band, a successful endeavor. Jeff was really nice and in an excellent mood, chatting about Guided By Voices with some of the other people outside of the theater.

    To sum up--thank you, Wilco, for an unforgettable 20th birthday!!!

    Fall tour

    in After The Show

    Posted

    Setlist-wise, i think Purdue wins (and not just because I was there). Only versions of "One By One," "What Light," "In A Future Age," and "Monday" from this tour. And it's really too bad that this show wasn't recorded, because it featured what would have probably gone down as the best ALTWYS ever--Jeff cries in the second verse, proceeds to play the SHIT out of his guitar for the solo. Plus "A Shot In The Arm" opener, excellent "Via Chicago," and the debut of "Let's Not Get Carried Away"

    West Lafayette, IN

    in After The Show

    Posted

    That list is missing Handshake Drugs. I just got about an hour ago (2 and a half hour drive), and i'm exhausted, and will give a full account tomorrow. Suffice to say that Jeff starting to cry during "At Least That's What You Said" was AMAZINGLY intense. The whole band seemed to take their grief out on their intruments, leading to ferocious and vicious versions of several songs. Very intense night, the crowd sent Jeff all of our love, and he seemed touched. Fucking AWESOME show.

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