passenger

Lay Lady Lay

Pete Drake, a Nashville icon, who played on the rest of Nashville Skyline (Peggy Day; Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You)

I don't know where to start on this topic.

There is a convention in St. Louis every year on Labor Day weekend. If you want to overdose on pedal steel, go there. It's coloquially referred to as "Scotty's" The first time I met Jeff he asked me if I'd been there. http://www.scottysmusic.com/isgc2009.htm

My favorite players: Buddy Emmons; Jimmy Day; Lloyd Green; Curly Chalker; Bobby Black; Ralph Mooney; Doug Jernigan; John Hughey; Jimmy Crawford; Jay Dee Maness; Paul Franklin.

The highest grossing instrumental of all time is "Sleepwalk" by Santo & Johnny.

The most recognized pedal steel phrases of all time are Jerry Garcia's intro and solo in "Teach Your Children"

Lloyd Maines (father of Natalie, of the Dixie Chicks) did all the great pedal steel on the Uncle Tupelo and Wilco albums. Jeff still loves him unconditionally.

Buddy Cage did not teach Garcia how to play steel. Zane Beck (the manufacturer of BMI guitars) did. Garcia's banjo background helped him immensely. He never considered himself to be a great steel player (and, if the truth be known, he wasn't. Just listen to him playing live sometime -- he had to do multiple studio takes to get his recordings right). He gave up the NRPS gig to Cage (who had been playing for years in Great Speckled Bird) because he didn't have the time to do that, play with the Dead, and keep up his drug habit.

I have too many favorite songs to list, but "Pride of Cucamonga" is definitely on the list. Garcia did not play steel on that number ... proof of the comments in the prior paragraph.

They weren't sworn to secrecy. Jeff supposedly played this at eardrum-splitting volume, so anybody who pulled up next to them would have heard everything.

 

I'm taking the drums back on Monday, so I'll ask for a full report, because I know this group is curious. I remember Andrew said he thought he gave the wrong reaction -- like calling a song "mellow" and Jeff getting upset because the song was supposed to be a "rocker" Anyway, I'll get as much detail as I can.

OK, here's what he said:

"Let me clarify and officially put on record that I like the new album. Elise LOVEs the new album, but we both agree that the listening party was a little tainted once we got lost... AGAIN! As with every Wilco record, there certainly are some memorable tracks and like Sky Blue Sky, there's the unmistakable signature sound of Mr. Nels Cline all over it. Like SBS, the lyrics are more mature and less disturbing but like I said, I'm only one man with one opinion- and I'll always treasure the old stuff like Being There when Wilco was more of a country band. And let's face it, topping Yankee Hotel will always be a herculean task."

The take I got was, if you liked Sky Blue Sky (and I loved it) you will love the new album. No sea changes here.

Why aren't these escorts saying anything about this? Were they sworn to secrecy?

They weren't sworn to secrecy. Jeff supposedly played this at eardrum-splitting volume, so anybody who pulled up next to them would have heard everything.

I'm taking the drums back on Monday, so I'll ask for a full report, because I know this group is curious. I remember Andrew said he thought he gave the wrong reaction -- like calling a song "mellow" and Jeff getting upset because the song was supposed to be a "rocker" Anyway, I'll get as much detail as I can.

what are some good country artists out now?

True Historians. Just featured on WXRT radio in Chicago on the "Local Anesthetic" program.

Also Gin Palace Jesters and the Hoyle Brothers.

Northwest suburbs

Way northwest suburbs. Even though this was his fourth time out, and he's been escorted every time, they still got lost. This year's excuse was that they were listinging to the new album at full volume and were distracted from their GPS instructions. So, anyway, their escorts got to hear what the rest of us won't get to hear for a few months.

Just a phenomenal night of music. Every performance was dead-on. Love & Mercy was probably my highlight. First I deidicated it to my wife and then Jeff (not to be outdone) dedicated it to Sue. Tom and Andrew's harmonies were glorious and I got to share fills with my son. It doesn't get any better than that.

Hey, lurking attendees, where are your pictures?

Also, first ever live performance of Glad It's Over.

And second ever (according to Jeff) performance of Let's Fight

All in all, a lot of stuff we've never done with him and a lot of stuff he hasn't done publicly in a long time.

Oh my! Ken you played One Hundred Years From Now ....Holy Cow how was that?

Lucky,lucky lucky wish I could have seen that.

Wendy said you'd be really jealous, but we were thinking of you.

We had to re-start it a couple of times to get the intro right, but after ignition, it was flawless.

I think this is the list. I may not have the order exactly right. A couple of songs were inverted at the last minute.

Forget The Flowers

Passenger Side

Secret of the Sea

How To Fight Loneliness

New Madrid

Candyfloss

Hoodoo Voodoo

Glad It's Over

One Wing

Let's Fight

Wilco The Song

Hey Chicken

Wishful Thinking

Sky Blue Sky

Thirteen

Box Full of Letters (6/8 time version)

True Love Will Find You In The End

100 Years From Now

Love & Mercy

I Shall Be Released

Fake Plastic Trees

Someday Soon

Heavy Metal Drummer

Cinnamon Girl

Just A Kid

Monday

All performed with various members of the Old Town School of Folk Music. We only played 26 songs, because it takes us so long to change groups between sets.

Jeff did all this with a migraine, but didn't tell anybody about it until the end of the show. I wouldn't have known if he hadn't said something.

A very special evening. Some of the best music we've ever made with him. I'm sure someone will post pictures soon.

3. he also had a guitar which, I have to admit, I was too busy listening to and didn't observe (I was in the back), that he said is a guitar that he rarely tours with, but is the guitar that he used to record a lot of the songs that he played on Saturday. then he launched into california stars, and i'll be damned if it wasn't a perfect recreation. I mean, literally perfect. Wonderful.

I'ts a pre-war Martin. A 000-18, I think. I have a picture of Bob Goins (the instructor from the Wilco Ensemble) sniffing it.

Wow!!! I had to leave early for a gig downtown (booked by my band after this date was set), but caught the first half and the intermission and had a great conversation with Jeff about Spencer's band (which has changed names about 4 times). He said that their bass player, Henry, is a rock star in the making; so much so that he refuses to go running with Spencer because his legs might get "muscley" and he won't be able to fit into his tight jeans. I told Jeff how much I loved the outfit their guitar player, Hayden wore at the Second City auction and he told me that Hayden is "a 13-year old who wants to grow up to be a farmer" and reads books about poultry maintenance. But he has great taste in clothing.

Thanks, Edie, for making sure my song got played. Thanks, Morgan & family for the mostest hosting.

Wendy, I love the pick. You have to bring it out to Barrington so you can watch Jeff use it. You suppose I can get a poster & a charm?

I also loved when Jeff said: "I don't roll out of bed for less than 30 gand on the road" implying that we're all getting a bargain (which, of course, we are). I talked to Jeff & Sue backstage afterwards and said I couln't believe he was doing 4 shows, and he said he's looking forward to it. He also said they're going to the inauguration, in case anybody was wondering. These are people that fully deserve every good thing that has happened and will ever happen to them in this life.

So who's the new group? I saw the dude with the dough, but didn't get a chance to talk to him.

Yeah, it looks like we're missing about three months of posts January to March 2006, I seem to remember some sort of minor crash at around that time so they might have been wiped out, they aren't in the archives (which start at December of 2005) or on this version of the board.

 

--Mike

I think that is right -

Some of these posts were so cool. The guy who started the thread won an unofficial award for "best first-time poster"

Because this comes up a lot, I'm going to just start posting this list in every thread.

 

1/14/06

4/8/06

(there was one more in 2006, wasn't there? I can't find the thread...)

That would have been the first Wilco Ensemble show 1/28/06

I can't believe we didn't revive this thread after April, '06 It's a consequece of our own inattention to these boards. The total number of posts by the entire Wilco Ensemble are one/one billionth of those of Atticus Poongoogler. (no offense, A.P.)

I still can't believe it's true. Maybe somebody can find something, somewhere that this thread was preserved

Edie!!!

Great pictures, everybody. The shots of Jeff dancing were when he was mimicking the New Zealanders. You can put those to good use, froggie

I don't see how anyone could wear those - unless you worked with horses. I wear boots everyday - but I would never wear cowboy boots.

Woud you wear a Nudie suit? That's the question.

He should get a Billy Jack hat - much cooler.

I don't think he would, though. Edie tried to talk him into going to Alcala's (notorious western wear store in Chicago) to get a pair of red cowboy boots to go with his Nudie suit, and he pretty much balked.

I just happened to think of LBJ - when I saw the photo.

You're absolutely right.

Open Road Cowboy Hat aka LBJ Hat

Not the same thing. Jeff's is vintage. As he explained, the new versions do not properly curve upwards on the periphery of the brim. Somebody took the time to steam and shape this baby to perfection.

Neil Poongoogler having a few religious experiences handily playing a handful of songs with Jeff (who called him out on his screen name, for which Neil had no excuse).

Neil had to work up the "courage" for this. He did Pieholden Suite and complained at the break that Jeff had played the chords in different positions that he was used to. When we explained that it was just different inversions, and really sounded great in the sound system juxtaposed to what Jeff was playing, he came back for four more songs in the second half. Kudos for a great performance.

Jeff's complimentary examples of the Peanuts' Christmas-like native dancing styles of New Zealand, and his tributes to Glenn, Pat and Nels).

This was hilarious. He was demonstrating how [badly] they dance in New Zealand. Supposedly, Glen's drum tech shot some footage that will appear in a YouTube video. Whoever finds this HAS to post it!!!

He wore a hat, and bowed and tipped it often.

He wore the same hat to the Wilco Ensemble LRS (where he never removed it) and to the Melbourne, Australia show I saw (where he likewise bowed and tipped it often) I think he picked up the technique in the southern hemisphere. He told me the hat is 40 years old, a recent acquisition, and he loves it. It's sort of like something you'd see worn by the good guy in a 1950's western.

Really great to see all the people that returned from last year and the new arrrivals. Just a ton of fun! Many thanks to Erin and Morgan and their families

and dance tips .

Great show, and great to meet froggie and sharon. Did Jeff ever show up for the afterparty?

adrian, where you in front of the rail or in the front row with the audience?. i was in front right in front of jeff, also taking lots of photos. there were quite a few photographers in front of the rail

 

some other notes:

 

Shouldn't Be Ashamed - i'm surprised how much of an applause this got as they started it. i would have thought its not that well known.

 

Impossible Germany - jeff spent more time soloing with Pat on this one. he pretty much kept away from Nels the whole tune

 

She's a Jar - this was where jeff did his "why do people keep applauding at that harp solo" thing happened. He'd blow the 6 notes and some girl screamed. the next time, he'd raise his hat as she'd scream. and again every time he'd play those notes also, when was the last time they played 5 summerteeth songs in one show?

 

Spiders (Kidsmoke) - is it just me, or did this sound more like the album version that its ever did?. during the bit where it slows down before starting up again, jeff got down on his knees, took his hat off and gave the audience a sympathetic look. then when it started up again, he jumped up like he sat on a drawing pin!

 

Walken - jeff was trying to tell a story and Mike kept cutting him off by playing those first couple of piano notes

 

I'm the Man Who Loves You - This is where glenn got his moment of fame. Jeff played the first note of the intro and then looked at glenn, while raising his head. nothing happened. so he did it again. nothing happened. the Mike joined in and jestured for him to stand up. When he did stand up, a spotlight appeared on his for about 15 seconds.

 

Red-Eyed and Blue - i was surprised that 5 rockers were played in a row. all they needed to do was tear into Monday to complete the group. this was a definate highlight

 

by the way, the incident where they kept repeating the intro was I'm the man who loves you, i think. The stage went dark, and a spotlight appeared on Glenn as he stood up for a good 15 seconds

 

The Lonely 1 - Nice to way to end off. I was surprised since its a simple quiet song, that the 6 of them still had something to do on it.

 

 

Then at the end, a few of us got backstage for a bit. During the Autumn defense show earlier in the day, one of us suggested to John a bar thats near the venue. He said they'll be there but i didnt believe it. However, they all did rock up (except for Jeff) and we stayed there till about 3am. It was only the band and friends, plus some sad fans that were in the whole place at that time!

 

so, thanks Wilco - see you next year?

Brianne, Yankees have no business driving down here. I almost get killed every time I cross the street. I'm trying to get "chauffered" to the Melbourne show

Yeah, I normally kind of hate festivals anyway, so I was wondering if we were crazy to make the drive from Auckland. (My first experience driving on the "opposite" side of the road; quite an initiation.) But I'm so glad I got to see the Coromandel Peninsula. Cathedral Cove, Hot Water Beach, etc. - gorgeous. I wasn't expecting the hot water at Hot Water Beach to be quite so hot.

bumpity bump for anyone that might have missed this..