what i once was

Thanks Humming bird...will take your advice

Trying to book flight from Chicago and wondering about the festival hours. Would appreciate information from those of you who've been before. Thanks

Does anyone know if they are going to release this concert on DVD? Would love to have...new material sounds fantastic-even from computer speakers- can't wait till I hear them live

I have a single ticket to the Sept 13th show in Indy and a parking pass. As much as I want to be at that show, I have a paralyzed husband and the caregiver arrangements I set up fell through...I'm stuck here in Chicago. Anyway, I'm offering the ticket and parking pass to anyone who can make the show...just sing along -when invited- for me.

First person who replies gets the ticket.

Thanks

The Goodman Theatre sound staff must be fans. Wilco was used for Gas for Less and Rebecca Gillman's The Crowd You're In With. Are these the theatre's picks or the playwights? Either way Wilco is reaching a new audience.

Great Show. Think I enjoyed it most of his best fundraiser shows-

I loved Jeff's 'nerd' impression...could be derived from Judah Friedlander's Toby Radoff in film American Splendor???

Wish I could attend tonight. Thanks Paul for setlist.

And big thank you to Sue

I have to be out of the country during parts of Jan, February and March of 2009 and if possible, Do Not want to be gone during a second Residency. Has anyone heard rumblings? Dates? Any advice/information would be appreciated.

Last night at Steppenwolf theatre's production of Superior Donuts by Tracey Letts they closed with Wilco. The play, set in Uptown, is about a boomer struggling to keep hold of his life , business and meaning in the changing society. He's let things slip and passively watched his life go by until an act of violence causes him to wake and take action. The Wilco song they played as we exited -Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway (Again).Pretty Damn Perfect.

Funny, the set had a window out into the street, there was snow , it was set in Uptown and I had been thinking about how much I enjoyed the Riv experience last winter- the shows and those around me at the shows but also the waiting in line with other fans. And the anticipation for the next show...and anyway There was Wilco. I wonder if anyone involved with the production had been at the Riv shows?

Arrived half hour early at the Goodman Theatre ( Chicago ) production of 'Gas for Less' of the 6 tracks I heard while waiting for the play to begin three were Wilco-What Light, Ashes and Blue-eyed Soul. I was psyched. Wish the play was as good as the music leading into it!

During a piece on work commutes. the work at home segment used Walken to accompany footage of commuting from breakfast table to home office.

I love it when Wilco turns up unexpectedly. Hopefully the SNL contributed to this inclusion. Would love to hear more Wilco in soundtracks etc.

After that show, I'm pretty sure I don't need to see them anymore. How will they ever live up to that?

Seriously?? I think I'll be holding my breath until the next show. I've had one of the most creatively productive weeks of my life despite shortened work hours so that I could join the ranks in line and the later hours. I still can't stop smiling.

This band is unbelievable. Even after a several day road trips hearing similar set lists the band is exciting every night. Jeff thanked the audience for providing them with a nice life. Well they have seriously contributed to mine and I will do what I can to make every show I can. They just get better- and now they have tons more material to mix in. Hold on boys and girls we are in for a wild ride.

Thanks Wilco

Speaking of the cold...Was there a long line to get in at 6 pm last night? I was thinking of getting there around 615 or so and dont feel like standing outside in the cold.

When doors opened line was just west of alley on Lawrence- not bad- and line moved pretty quickly

After 3 shows, I'm so spent that I'm really debating selling my ticket, staying home, and listening on the radio and saving my energy for tomorrow. I don't think that I have it in me to stand outside in the cold and then stand for another 4 1/2 hours inside. Oh what to do?

Go! You will be kicking your warm rested self if you miss it.

It is a rock show. You stand at a rock show. It's a sign of respect for the band and it brings more energy to the audience. I can guarantee that more people in the balcony want to stand and dance then sit and get tired. I have seen MANY shows at the Riv where everyone is standing in the balcony. I've seen many shows in general where everyone stands regardless. It's just hard for me to see the band giving all they have and the audience sitting there like stones.

Agreed. I was in the balcony last night-cause my husband came along and he has recently suffered a stroke... and HE STOOD UP for most of the show. Most of the people on our side of the balcony stood most of the show-one person complained. Always one.

I can't sit-impossible. My body can't deal with that much musical energy and slouch in some marginally comfortable seat. I'm alone the next two and I'm on the floor.

Given some of the stories/jokes (bubba the bus driver with the cock tattoo, drug jokes, etc.), I don't think the school function thing played into things much last night. Also, apparently Sue is eating raw only now, which Jeff followed up with Pecan Pie.

 

How was this a "different vibe" than last year? Just curious, I wasn't at last year's event.

 

I had a great time. Got there around 7:45 and scored some chairs near the back left bar with some of the teachers; just in time as it filled up quickly . A little noisy back there, but all in all a great time. I drank too much. Would have liked to hear I'm Always In Love and Hesitating Beauty, but I can't complain as I didn't get there early to put in my request. Plus there were some nice surprises in the setlist.

 

Jules

Last year the audience seemed a bit more relaxed but Jeff seemed a bit more nervous, his quips nervous interjections. This year the crowd seemed less interactive- could be my seats. Jeff seemed more rehearsed this year, show seemed a bit more formal. Either way it was a great night.

It was a great show. A surprising number of repeated requests from last year's concert. Seems as though when Jeff asks for requests, people want to hear songs from side projects and cuts that didn't make a Wilco album. I would love to hear a solo show featuring a set list of Jeff's favorites- Wilco, Uncle Tupelo, Golden Smog and Minus Five. Maybe stories relating to his picks, writing, recording, performing stories- his children's critiques. I loved last years interview stories and the bus stories last night.

I found I had an extra ticket last night and asked my sister to come along. My youngest brother and I have given her CDs of most Tweedy projects (I was not sure how much they were played). She was curious- wondered why I'd travel around to catch 6-8 shows each year. So I invited her. She prepped by listening to SBS this week. I was kinda nervous about her reaction- She loved it. She called this morning and while playing her Wilco collection she found she's missing Mermaid 2. Pretty incredible first exposure. Hmmm... The joy of exposing someone to music you love- in the case of Wilco- gets tempered by the realization that you've just added to the competition for tickets.

Does anyone know what time the doors open?

I'm third in line. Thanks

5'm still trying-have not been told that tickets were sold out...anyone get that message?

5'm still trying-have not been told that tickets were sold out...anyone get that message?

shut out in Chicago!!! hit find tickets at 10 exactly!

I'm going for a pair of 5 night ticket pack but have conflict with Fri...don't laugh...taking my niece to Spice Girls for 16th birthday! I'd love to give those tickets to my stepdaughter and her husband but wonder if tickets are for use by only one holder. Anyone have any ideas how the pack tickets work???

Thanks Great! Sorry you're work is boring today. Hope it doesn't happen often...if it does, do yourself a favor and change jobs. Life's too short not to find your work interesting and challenging.

Anyway, you've just added a new dimension of pleasure to my work place. Thanks again.

I asked Heather when we were backstage after the auction to share with us winning bidders about what kind of families they have helped in the past. I like hearing about that.

 

She said this story was from last year. It was a family consisting of a mother with many little children, NOT PROPERLY CLOTHED considering the fact that they lived in a terrible run-down old and cheaply-built (i.e. probably very poorly insulated) home that had ... NO HEAT. In Chicago. In December. They had NO CURTAINS in their home but instead had newspaper in the windows to attempt to keep out the cold.

 

I don't know what she does to find their degree of need, but that qualifies for needy in my book. If you still have questions, you might get some answers by contacting the post office. Since ANYONE can pick a Letter from Santa from the post office and help someone in need, perhaps they have some helpful information about how to choose a family to help. And really you could have asked her on the spot last night, I'm sure she would have answered that question for you. She has done this for many years.

Thanks. The family you described was definitely a needy family. I've adopted families using social service and school suggestions- not in the amounts SC's benefit will. I've heard some disappointing stories people selecting on their own. $10,000. for a well chosen family would be an amazing gift of hope. You must feel great. Have fun!

Just curious... how do they select the families? They read only one letter while i was there but it could have been written by my nephew. How do they know these people are in true need? Do they contact a social service, church, school?