Rusty Shackleford

I turn 33 tomorrow, but I've been told I don't look a day over 46.

The band really fed off the crowd. The crowd was amazing. Jeff looked so happy. John and Nels looked like they couldn't believe the energy from the crowd. Jeff had the crowd take over vocals in Jesus Etc and I have never heard it so loud. Same for Hummingbird. The crowd drowned Jeff out in parts of Either Way too. I think that explains the setlist in large part.

 

I sing my head off at every show. Stinks that we only get shows like this when everyone else does too. Sing along people!! You should know that makes the band happy. You will be rewarded for it.

I totally agree. I also think the band totally loves it when fans sing along with the new stuff, not just the old favorites.

Love your comments...and totally am with you on the great crowd vibe going on that night...the crowd was so intense and amazing...great to know that the energy given off from the band can be directed right back to them and create such a cycle of what I like to call HEAVEN.

You need to attend more shows!!!!

I have the show if you need a copy!

Thanks for the offer--I already downloaded the show and have been listening to it. The sound comes across better on the tape than it did live (I hardly heard the keyboards all night), but there's no substitute for being right up front and watching those guys do their thing.

I hope I can catch them again soon!

what time did the guys take the stage last night? thanks!

Low came on promptly at 7:30 and played till about 8:15. Wilco didn't come on til about 8:40, then they played for 2 solid hours (with brief breaks between encores). The sheer pace of the show was incredible, with all the swapping gear between (and sometimes within) songs.

As for the attendance, by the time the show started it seemed like the pavilion was pretty full--the pit was full as was the center seating area. The "loge" areas on the sides of the pavilion were only about half full to start, but filled up pretty well by the end (maybe folks coming in from the lawn?). Even though the show didn't sell out, it was pretty packed, and the crowd had plenty of energy. When they came out for the 3rd encore, Jeff said "you guys are nuts." He seemed genuinely impressed with the audience.

can anyone confirm they still do the 3-guitar attack on this song?

Yep, and Pat was totally doing his Pete Townshend impression. After he did a couple of windmills (to raucous applause, of course), Jeff smiled and said "Happy Birthday."

It was a highlight of the show, IMHO.

As for Glenn, I'd never seen these guys live, so I didn't realize what a kick-ass drummer he really is. During IATTBYH, which I've never much liked on the live versions I'd heard, I was totally mesmerized by his drumming--that song was a real highlight for me. And on the harder-rocking songs, he just totally killed. I stood in a spot where I could watch Nels work up close, but I ended up watching Glenn more than anyone.

I've never seen Wilco live before, and I was blown away. They clearly enjoyed themselves, and played a very long set. Here's what I can remember, though the order is undoubtedly wrong:

Shot in the Arm

Side with the Seeds

You Are My Face

IATTBYH

Kamera

Shake it Off

Via Chicago

Handshake Drugs

War On War

Sky Blue Sky

Hate It Here

Impossible Germany

Jesus Etc.

Walken

ITMWLY

Hummingbird

Encore 1:

California Stars

Poor Places

Spiders

Encore 2:

Heavy Metal Drummer

The Late Greats

I'm Always in Love (!)

Outta Mind Outta Site (!!)

I'm A Wheel

Encore 3 (!!):

What Light

Quick thoughts before I go to bed:

Now that James Brown has passed on, I hereby nominate Glenn Kotche as the hardest working man in show business.

The crowd was totally into the band, and the feeling was mutual. The guys clearly loved it that the crowd responded enthusiastically to the new songs, with plenty of singing along.

The 2nd encore wasn't supposed to be so long--Nels kept taking off his guitar and starting to walk off, but Jeff kept adding songs. It was awesome. I got the feeling that if it were up to Tweedy, they'd still be playing.

I was totally impressed by the band, and the crowd, and the ease with which I was able to get the hell out of there and get home to Virginia. All in all, a fantastic evening.

I saw at least one person taping--I hope it gets posted somewhere online, because this show is one I will want to have for sure.

It was Sky Blue Sky, and the Red Sox won 11-0.

All in all, a good evening of TV.

Yeah it works fine for me, Quicktime.

I also was able to view it in Quicktime, but you probably need the Flip4Mac "Windows Media for Quicktime" plugin if you don't already have it.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...;displaylang=en

I went to Merriweather once when I first moved to DC in '03 and had a terrible experience, so I've never been back. I couldn't see or hear Radiohead from the lawn. I also think it would be a huge disappointment to see Wilco there, when they you can get them up close at the 930 so often.

Problem is, the 930 show last time around sold out in about 10 seconds (literally). At least at Merriweather I can get in. I've only been there once (several years ago) and thought it was fine. The lawn seats are kind of far away, but the pavilion seats all have a pretty good view.

I'm kind of surprised there are still so many seats for this show floating around...

Fables is uneven, but its high points are so good that I would consider it a great album. In addition to classics like Driver 8 and Maps and Legends, it has some lesser-played gems that I've always loved, like Good Advices, Wendell Gee, and Kohoutek.

I agree that the CD sounds better than the streamed and/or ripped versions that have been floating around for the past several weeks. That's why, after one full listen to the stream from the web site (I just couldn't help myself), I didn't spend any more time with the record until it came out yesterday. I like it a lot better now that I can hear everything.

But I would hope that most "professional" critics were reviewing an advance copy of the real album, and not just the streamed version. (I'm sure some took the short cut, but they shouldn't have.) Some just plain didn't like it, for whatever reason.

R.E.M.:

Chronic Town

Murmur

Reckoning

Fables of the Reconstruction

Lifes Rich Pageant

Document

Actually, those tickets (or at least some tickets) have been on Ebay for a few days now. I'm hoping that the jerk who put them up there was counting on the presale to make a quick buck and is now screwed.

THIS IS FUCKED UP

Totally. I also am on the 9:30 email list and didn't get notice.

This morning I've been at wilcotickets.com trying to get in since 9:15, and when it finally opened right at 10:00, it says there are no more tickets left.

WHAT THE HELL????