Doug C

had they CANCELLED it, i would agree with you, they postponed it.

I disagree. Of course, they had better reschedule. There is a huge difference between expecting to see the band while in the glow of playing every song at the residency and seeing them 5 months later. Yes, they may still be taking requests and putting more rarities in the list than usual OR they may not. Canceling to appear on Saturday Night Live was a poor decision. That some boarders are actually excited to see them do 2 songs an hour apart on SNL is bizarre. It would have been FANtastic to say, "We can't do it. It sucks but the timing just won't allow it. Please keep us in mind". I have no idea what their thought process was and I am not in their position but I hope that I would make the same decision if I were. Jeff Tweedy, like you and I, can make a bad decision that he may regret.

Again, I hope to somehow work out the Ryman. Message me if you have a line on tickets. Cheers.

I have replied enough but I'll go one more. I personally disagree with the decision to cancel a sold out show on 5 days notice to appear on SNL. I feel that the principle broken doesn't justify the principle followed. The exposure isn't going to be that important to override the commitment to your touring schedule. This was not a serious illness or a family emergency. Do Wilco have a right to feel otherwise? Certainly.

I wish that more fans felt the way that I do and I admit that I am as surprised by the defenders of the decision as I am by the decision itself. Though it is my interpretation, it seems to smack of an inability to criticize and from some of you it has a taint of being a sin to criticize. It is like Al Franken says about the difference between some conservatives and some liberals: A conservative loves their country like a 4 year old loves their mother and a liberal loves their country like an adult loves their mother. To the 4 year old, mommy is never wrong and can't be criticized. To an adult, because they love their mother they want her to know when she has made a mistake. Let me paraphrase my original post to sum up: if Wilco had made the opposite decision, the vast majority would be saying, "Well done! That is why I love this band", though now I feel that a few zealots would actually say, "What a bunch of bullshit! Wilco could have gotten exposure and grown! Idiots".

To each his own. I have been educated today and yesterday about the thought process of many Wilco fans, well at least of some VCers. That said, as stated earlier, I am desperately trying to rearrange and drive to Nashville. I would be greatly obliged if someone had 2 resonably priced tickets to the Ryman show for an obviously serious and true fan.

Doug

Masked hater II, that was hilarious. Even more so if serious, less so but still hilarious, if sarcastic.

When was that ghost borned?

I wasn't voicing my displeasure with the government so much as I was voicing my displeasure with you. And that's something that's very important to me.

What about me?

I'm struck by how the (semi-)anonymity of the internet affects situations like this.

 

1. It emboldens people who otherwise would have been left whining to their girlfriends and the few others unfortunate enough to be within earshot to enter a forum like this and not just complain about a rescheduled show, but to slag off the band itself and go on rants about how they're screwing over their fans.

 

2. It prevents me from laughing in all of those people's faces at how ridiculous they're being. Seriously, if we were all in a bar, and some of you were going on like you are in this thread, I wouldn't be able to control my laughter. There are people in the world with real problems. Stop being such spoiled brats.

1) I haven't slagged off Wilco at all. Criticizing a scheduling decision is very appropriate. I have not ranted about screwed fans.

2) If there were an actual Wilco fan bar in Tampa, I'd be there saying the same things. This is the next best thing. I have also discussed it face to face with real people. Disappointment of any kind is a "real problem". The magnitudes only differ. I could say to you that needing to reply to those upset is laughable and not a "real problem". Pot kettle black, sir or madam.

Good Lord.

Redux.

Good Lord redux. I knew that. You are saying that 2 TV songs are better than nothing. I am saying that 2 Tv songs are basically nothing. I just don't get jazzed watching a band I like do a song on Conan or SNL. It's lovely and all but doesn't do much for me. I don't want to fight.

jakobnicholas, I apologize for my tone. A misunderstanding between us. Sorry.

Thank you. I am unable to do math. Good Lord.

You still but a hell of alot of stock in seeing 2 songs on TV. I'll enjoy it but, it's 2 songs on TV.

It isn't a load of crap. Read my post again and first, please, before replying. I am aware of the albums influences. I said that I do NOT want it influenced by fans choices. Jaysus! Is there anything remotely critical allowed? And I didn't even criticize. Some of ya'll scare me. What is inside of them is obviously due to influences. Sheesh!

You are hilarious. Thank God someone posts flippant replies to lots of posts.

If I had Charleston tickets, I'd definitely be peeved about this.

 

But speaking as a Wilco fan living far from Charleston--in other words, speaking on behalf of the vast majority of Wilco fans--I'm glad Wilco chose SNL, because that's a gig I'll actually get to see; it's a move that shows appreciation for Wilco fans everywhere, not just the ones in Charleston.

Ha ha! It is TWO songs1 It isn't "a gig I'll actually get to see". Wow. I hope that you enjoy the hell out of watching Wilco play 2 songs at differents parts of a sketch comedy show as much, hell, MORE, than I would have enjoyed a live show. To quote John McEnroe, "You can't be serious?".

ponch, I have already stated that I do not think that they are 'sticking it to me'. How absurd. I fell that aprinciple is at stake. Yes it is one concert but many fans. You could also say that 'it is one SNL appearance. What will it really add to us to justify this action?'. As stated, I have had the wind knocked out of me. Something that I never expected has occured. Remember, I said that I am trying to workout Tampa to Nashville now but logistics and ticket prices could prove prohibitive. I love this band. They are the soundtrack of the majority of my life, though i do like other bands, too. Which is why I am so taken aback by the decision.

ponch1028, Did you read my explanation for my feelings? It is not 'blood pressure' etc. I presented rational reasons for my feelings.

I say this to you, Mr.-Could-have-been-at-People's-Temple:

Here is a quote from Greg Kot's 'Learning How To Die': "We're not U2," Tweedy says. "We're not the biggest rock band in the world. But we are part of the fabric of certain people's lives who have tickets and are waiting to see us. And there is no doubt in my mind that for some people out there, we are one of the threads they are hanging on to. And I think what we have to do as a band is to make those people aware of how we need them as much as they need us."

ponch1028, you epitomize what I meant by 'kool-aid drinker' and 'VC jonestown'. The idea that any band, or anything for that matter, is above reproach and fair criticism, is frightening when extrapolated. 'What happened to this board'? Wow1!

Here is a quote from Greg Kot's 'Learning How To Die': "We're not U2," Tweedy says. "We're not the biggest rock band in the world. But we are part of the fabric of certain people's lives who have tickets and are waiting to see us. And there is no doubt in my mind that for some people out there, we are one of the threads they are hanging on to. And I think what we have to do as a band is to make those people aware of how we need them as much as they need us."

It's called "making the best of a bad situation".

 

Or, what I probably would have done - I would have made the trip to Nashville anyway and had a good time without going to the show.

 

Shit happens. You can either piss and moan about it or you can power on and make the best of the situation. So you paid for air fare, took time off, booked hotels, etc? Go on to Charleston! It's a great city with a rich history, beautiful buildings and parks, the beach (which is gorgeous in the winter), good shopping, and some of the most mind-blowing food in the country. I think that would be a lot more fun and rewarding than maintaining a level of raised blood pressure over a postponed show.

Of course that's what it is called.

Makes sense.

Yes it does. But I am a person of principle. I find the principle involved here to go against my moral compass. I am not talking life or death morals but simple right or wrong. I am not 'pissing and moaning' or 'raising my blodd pressure'. I feel aggrieved. I never would have expectedthis from this band. Something I felt secure about has been shown to be false. Does that mean that I am done with wilco? Certainly not. I am desperately trying to work out going to Nashville from Tampa instead of Charleston. But I do feel as though I have been emotionally kicked in the teeth by an, in my view, unprincipled decision.

I don't want them to be influenced by any album. I want them to make the music they feel that they have inside them. Though obviously it will have some type of influence, I'd rather be surprised. If they actually made an album because of an influence recommended by fans, I'd laugh the laugh of deep disgust.

Flunked US History, huh?

And spelling.

badu2fan, if that is true, then it is even worse. There are business ethics and there are business ethics. Nothing at all wrong with wanting to be on SNL. There is nothing at all wrong with a business wanting to increase profits. What is wrong is the method by which you do these things. Wilco wasn't going to fold as a band and have their homes foreclosed on if they did not take the SNL gig. That the decision wasn't, "Tony, that would be very cool but we have a sold out show in 5 days. Tell them that if we can get a date in advance or a date that doesn't conflict, we'd be honored to play it. Otherwise, we're not going to pull the rug out from under fans so close to the show just for a TV appearance", saddens me. I don't think that they are sell-outs. That is a term so overused that has lost all meaning, like "awesome!". They just put the chance to sell some more albums above some fans. Anyone should see this point regardless of whether they had tickets. The inability that some of you have to criticize, shows a lack of insight at best and is somewhat frightening at worst.

Radio King, Kidsmoke, ELT and Screen Door.

You sound like my wife and I!! We were excited to see them after the Residency shows. The setlists are looking great, as I expected. What will the summer hold?

I would bet that you are in the minority with your answer. As far as wanting them to break in the mainstream, it won't happen. There music isn't mainstream. That you have friends that you expose to Wilco but still don't like them says volumes about your friends. Wanting to be on SNL is fine. No gripes. Canceling, again excuse me, postponing, a sold out show with 5 days notice is wrong from my end of the telescope.

No. I will be 45 on the 22nd of June. I am quite mature. What would you reaction be if they did the opposite, as I queried?