phish907

my wife and I had a conversation on the way home from the show about who is better live the Avetts (currently) or Being There era Wilco. We both agreed that nothing would likely ever top Being There era Wilco in terms of intensity and the "what the hell is going to happen next" factor. However The Avetts right now are just killing it live.

 

The whole Wilco vs. The Avetts thing, I don't know, I for one am still disappointed with I and Love and You and after Emotionalism and the Gleam Ep's I was expecting huge huge things and was let down. That being said, I think Avetts vs. Wilco is apples and oranges and I will always have room for both. I will concede that one band is peaking and the other has already peaked, for what that is worth.

Great point about bands reaching their peak. I love the sonwriting and the new direction the Avetts have taken and I enjoy being along for the ride. The songwriting on I & Love & You is the best from the Avett's to this date. I do love 4 Thiefs and Emotionalism is a standout, I especially love Salina live. I appreciate the fact the Avett's are willing to take chances and I don't mind at all that they have broadened their audience by taking these chances.

My original point may not have been clear, I was more less comparing current Wilco shows to current Avett Brother shows and for me there is no comparision, the Avett's win by a long stretch. Still Love Wilco but it is very cofusing that Wilco now probably has the most diverse and talented line up ever and they are very routine live, especially given the large catalogue that they can now draw from. Simply put, I get excited to read Avett setlists each moring after a show. Reading a Wilco setlist does not get the same responce as they are normally one and the same. That said I still pay to see them, just don't do back to back nights any longer as I feel it is a waste of money or like watching the same movie 2 nights in a row.

Given your name I can't believe you didn't mention Vermont's Phinest!

I like Phish but they are not close to the band they once was. The phish907 was just something that I came up with, really no meaning behind it other than knowing it would draw some criticism on this board several years ago when I joined.

I know I am going to get killed on here for my opinions. However, The Avett Brothers are the best thing going today. I & Love & You is a solid progresion to me. Easily some of the best lyrics out there today. Head full of doubt is an excellent song, so is Laundry Room and Ill with Want. I could only wish that Wilco is half as interesting both on cd/vinyl and live as these guys. I have no clue as why people even bother to post Wilco setlists any longer. Except for 1 or 2 songs a night it is the same old line. My last few Wilco concerts I have been able to predict almost the entire set list from reading them on Via Chicago. Simply put the last Wilco concert I attended was boring. The Avetts on the other hand, provide an energetic and diverse set list every night and for my money way more bang for the buck. I miss the days of the unpredictable Wilco sets. Sorry to disappoint or incite a riot but Wilco is by far not the most interesting recorded or live band anymore. I prefer the Avett Brothers and My Morning Jacket anyday. Still Love me some Wilco but it just isn't the same anymore. Perhaps time for Jeff to shake things up a bit? Now start throwing your stones at me.

Until about 3 years ago, I would have said no one. Now:

1) The Avett Brothers

2) My Morning Jacket

3) The Grateful Dead ( I have rediscovered them)

4) Uncle Tupelo

5) Wilco ( but they are still great)

ST was a 1999 release, and thus not in the purview of the RS list, which is the topic of the thread. You are, of course, free to love it as much as you like.

Ah! You are right. Should have thought about the date before I wrote my post, Still Love me some Summerteeth!

Where is the LOVE for Summerteeth? My top Wilco ever! Like SBS and YHF but Love me some Summerteeth!

I was curious to see what the much-hyped $30 ticket would buy me at Seattle's Qwest Stadium next June? I expected a seat in the nosebleeds. What was offered was far worse - a seat in the nosebleeds behind the band. $30 for a view of the 'thingy' and a video-screen. Even more galling was the next price point - $57.50 was basically the same area. The 360 Degree Stage which is only really a 360 degree video screen is just a rouse to rake in the dough. Friends of mine who paid $100 for a ticket have the luxury of a nose-bleed with a view. For a band who have "marketed" themselves as being all about integrity - they are really taking the piss. To put this in some sort of context, I went to see the Police outdoors at the Gorge, Washington two years ago. $75 got us the opportunity to sit anywhere on a sloping lawn outside of modestly sized front section where tickets were going for $225. Even better the support band was Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Maybe it might be worth paying that much to see U2 if they were still somewhat close to making great music. That's hardly the case and poor Bono can no longer properly sing songs like "With or Without You" or "Bad" any longer.

Just what I expected from U2, they have not been revelant musically for quite some time. U2, The Eagles and a few other bands are the poster childs for overpaid, rip you off and get very rich non revelant bands. I feel sorry for anyone who shells out a dollar to see them.

10 years ago when I first got into Son Volt, Tupelo, and Wilco (in that order) I would have killed for a reunion. Now...not so much.

 

Wilco's career trajectory has been nearly straight up as they have continued to make interesting music while Farrar's has been nearly a flat line from Wide Swing Tremolo onwards as Jay continues to wallow about how sorry the world is...and the music suffers for it.

 

At this point, they're so far apart not only in terms of their careers but in terms of where they seem to be at mentally/personally (am I the only one who thinks Jay seems just miserable all the freakin' time?).

 

I'm happy they're apart and thankful that it may be a just little Too Far Apart, so to speak.

Well said and I do agree! Jay's music while I still enjoy, is stuck in a alt-country rut.

Let me go on record as saying I was a huge UT fan and I still listen to Son Volt even though I prefer Wilco, especially the older Wilco stuff circa Being There and SummerTeeth. From reading many Farrar interviews and seeing Son Volt live many times. I think Jay is a major asshole, a talented one but still an asshole. The way he comes off in interviews and live shows, I just don't understand him. I have also heard from a few folks who have meet him that he is less than pleasant sometimes.

Sweet Jesus! I had no idea Erin Brady posted on VC.

Don't care much for who Erin Brady was, is or may be. I really think a thread 7 pages long about the merits or lack thereof regarding Aerosmith, a band clearly making music only for a quick buck is boring and outrageous. For Heaven's sake, these money hungry smucks have not been revelant since 1990 and hire outside song writers to write their sappy pop crap they have the nerve to try and sell to the public. I really do dig some of their early to late 70's music but they have sucked since Joe got the boot many years back and I really hope they just give up and go away. I am sure I will have no luck with that as there is too much more money to steal from their fans.

Good news! Now with Steven out, if I can just get the other guys convinced to stop making music, all of my life's goals will have been accomplished!

I was at that show. That was the 4th show with Nels. Is that correct? I've said this before, but he was actually the first guy in the band I ever talked to. I asked him a question about one of his pedals.

You are right. Wilco played there two years in a row and they were free concerts. Cool venue outdoors and you could also watch the soundcheck. Although the year before was actually the better show, still enjoyed seeing the new band rock.

Seems like only yesterday...

 

LouieB

I saw the outdoor Pittsburgh show not long after the show at Otto's. It was strange seeing the new members but the potential of what could be was evident. Nels was very impressive.

To be honest I don't really care what Jeff Tweedy is or is not tired of. I'm tired of ITMWLY, but I expect it when I go to a show, just like he should expect some criticism in a forum dedicated to talking about each show. People around here throw just as much high praise his way as criticism. The purpose of this subforum is to discuss the shows and the sets, and I would find it pretty boring if no one ever said anything but OH MAN BEST SHOW/SET EVER HIGH FIVE. You said the same setlist only matters if you see every show. The point stands that if you see two back to back, and they have the same set, it would matter to you. I was simply agreeing with someone up there that, when you are attending multiple shows, you like it when they mix it up a bit more.

 

We're obviously attending multiple dates, we love this band and their shows, it was a simple comment. We're hardly crying into our pillows over here. And it was a great show tonight, with a great set shuffle.

Thank's for summing up how I feel. I don't listen to Wilco to make Jeff happy. I listen to Wilco becuase they are an excellent band made of great musicians. Despite the changing cast memebers.

The same setlist only matters if you see every show.

I don't go to every show but I do attend a lot of them. Jeff staes that the band can now play EVERY Wilco song. I don't understand why they play the same songs over and over. I do love the band and love the shows. I would just like to be suprised every once in awhile with a song or two from the back catalogue.

I know I am going to take some grief for this comment, but I am really not excited about these set lists. It is generally the same songs except for 1 or 2 a night with a different song mixed in here and there. They have been usuing the same encore songs for the past few years. Never the less I will still enjoy the shows I am planning to go to.

I am and always will be a huge Dead fan. I think you can hear hints of GD in certain Wilco songs but I don't really see a strong comparison. But I can see where a case can be made for one. For my money, a song such as "You are my face" Sounds like a Phish song to me? Just stirring the pot a little. However, I do believe that Wilco and GD share quite a few fans. For the person who made the point about Ryan Adams, I do agree that he has made quite a bit of music that sound GDish since his collaberation with Phil Lesh.

It is The Beatles, the cover will be "Why The Beatles Broke Up". Good guess at Wilco though. I saw the new cover on MSNBC last night.

R.I.P. Jay, you will be missed!!!

Anyone out there have 2 floor seats for Cincy? Please send email if you have 2 to sell.

Thanks in advance!!!

I have takem my dughter since she was 9 or 10. She is a month or so away from 16 now. Always has been a good experience. I do watch the venue I take her to. She meet Jeff and the gang in Pittsburgh one summer and they played her favorite song " Forget the Flowers" by her request. Very cool expience!!!

Thanks for the post. I wasn't lucky enough to read it the first time around. It was different to think about Jeff in the perspective that he put the story in. I for one sure hope he remains ok. I sure do enjoy the creativity it has sparked. I remember seeing Jeff in some shows around 97 to 98 looking really bad. Though the shows were very good, that had to be very difficult for him.

I Love A.M. even though I don't listen as much as I used to. Every time I put it in I fall in Love with it all over. Too many good memories tied to A.M. for me not to foundly remember it. I don't like the songs live much anymore, just heard them 1 too many times.

If I am not mistaken didn't he play on Ryan Adams "Heartbreaker"? I know Pat has made it around a little. Good musician and good fit in Wilco.

At Dawn was the first MMJ I ever heard. Ever since then they rank right up there with Wilco for me(maybe ahead). It seems like with every listen I find something new about each song that I like. I have tickets to Louisville and I am hyped for that. Before that every chance I had to see them fell through. I am keeping my fingers crossed.