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theashtraysays

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    Solid Sound 2019 - The Hiatus is OVER!!!

    in Just A Fan

    Posted

    Want to help welcome back our favorite band from the long hiatus?
    Planning on being in Joe’s Field on Friday night at SSF?
    I think a big, warm, MassMoca welcome is in order, and I’m thinking a little signage would do the trick. Nothing fancy, just a little something to make sure they know we missed them.  I’ll make and bring the signs and get them out on Friday at the festival.  Your job would be to hold one up at the start of the show.  Easy peasy.  No flash mobbing, no dancing, no skill required, and no Bull Black Nova’s… If you’re interested in participating, PM me or just reply below and I’ll take it from there.  See y’all soon.

    Vince

    Knoxville night 1 & 2

    in Got Extras?

    Posted

    All tickets have been sold.

     

    I have extras for both nights, 3 for Wed and 2 for Thurs.

    No, you don't have to sit next to me nor hold up a sign.

    Face & fees... no resells please.  PM me if you're in need.

    Jeff Tweedy — 17 April 2019, Cincinnati, OH (Cincinnati Music Hall Ballroom)

    in After The Show

    Posted

    Having spent my voting bandwidth for the Louisville show, I figured I'd resort to the tried-yet-not-overly-true signage approach for the Cinci show.  I even had a new(ish) sign that said "DON'T FORGET..... to play BULL BLACK NOVA" (see what I did there?).  Anyway, I happened to be in the second row, just behind the 4 empty front row seats (see bbop's recap).  When Jeff commented about those seats a few songs in, I propped up the sign on one of the empties.  That elicited an immediate "THAT'S not gonna happen tonight".  Alas, twas not to be. I still think it was a better suggestion for a wedding reception than She's A Jar.  Just sayin. 

    On to the non-BBN report. 

    Speaking of the empty seats, one of the guys who jumped up to claim them was Brian Methe, who designed the teddy-bear-in-a-jar poster for the evening.  He told Jeff that he did that, and Jeff gave a pleasant but not overly enthusiastic acknowledgement.  Brian then slipped back to his regular seat...

    On the interaction with the lady who claimed one of the front row seats, then proceeded to talk and work her phone... that conversation was indeed a little tense.  As Jeff was calling her out, Eric (burly tour manager extraordinaire) poked out from behind the curtain side stage to see if he was needed.  Jeff saw him and said "Eric, check their tickets!" and to the lady "he's a big guy".  Lady: "my husband's a big guy".  Jeff (not seeing any big guys on the front row): "where's he?" Lady: "he's over there".  Jeff: "then maybe you should go back and sit with him".  She did eventually settle down, and it was her that he addressed with the "are you still mad at me? I played Cali Stars".

    After Aaron's clap-along for Let's Go Rain, and ahead of HMD, Jeff announced that there would be a dance contest, asking everyone to line up on the left and right sides of the room, and then dance down the center aisle to him.  He would the judge the contestants.  That didn't happen, but there was one enthusiastic woman on the front row (on the other side of the room from me and the phone lady) who unlocked her body, stood and did some moves throughout the whole song.  Jeff awarded her the coveted harmonica prize which seemed to shock her quite a bit.  She was the only contestant. 

    It really was a weird room and vibe.  The room was 3x wide than deep, with a curved ceiling (think small airplane hanger).  Seats were silver metal banquet style with cushy seats, linked together on their sides, arranged in a wide fan shape such that the wings were much farther away than the back of the center.  There was some lighting all around (sconces or something), and Jeff commented that he could see this audience much better than most shows, and that this was rather disconcerting.  There was no standing, save for the post-set applause, and a quick return to seats for the abbreviated encore.  James E was poised to bring Jeff another guitar after Shot in the Arm, but Jeff kinda waved him off and headed straight out. 

    It seemed that Jeff was again looking for a singalong path to try and engage the crowd, but not to very much success.  There was zero singing on Hummingbird, which then prompted a rather desperate Cali Stars.  We collectively failed at singing the melody while Jeff did the harmony.  Let's Go Rain was better but not overwhelming at all.  Ahead of that one, there were several of the failed request shouts, but someone did yell a loud and clear LET'S GO RAIN, and Jeff replied with "Now THERE'S a great suggestion.... 'cause  I was just about to play that one".  And he did.

    The underwear and the Edmund Fitzgerald banter segments were definitely the tops of the evening.  I didn't think that Cinci is known for their Canadian heritage (mostly German), so I can't imagine how the Gordon Lightfoot song won the vote.  That song would have been no more out of place than anything else that evening. 

    Cheers!!

    Jeff Tweedy —16 April 2019, Louisville, KY (Headliners Music Hall)

    in After The Show

    Posted

    Stellar reporting as always, Mr. Bbop.  My two cents...

    First, 26.  This is the number of votes that BBN had last night, per a reliable source.  I can't claim that I am personally responsible for all 26, but I will say that I thought something between 20 and 25 would be a good, likely-to-win-but-not-reek-of-chicanery number.  So there you go, my PSA for the day.  I was pretty surprised when he played if after just 3 songs, and on a smaller than normal guitar (I think a little Martin, but not "the" little Martin he uses most of the time). I didn't even get a chance to hoist the sign... which was probably way too big considering we were all up against the stage.  Alas.  I've never heard him flub the song quite that drastically, and I think we lost pretty much a whole verse.  Still a treat, of course. 

    In non-BBN news, the show was tons of fun.  Really loose, lots of cutting up, and really a pretty respectful crowd with lots of enthusiastic singing.  Cali Stars showed up early, and it seemed that Jeff was scanning his "song candidate list" for singalongs once New Madrid got everyone going.  There wasn't a lot of clap-a-longs (thankfully), and what little there was got met with the usual head shake.  He did compliment one woman near the front who he said was "the only one who can clap - she's the only one who's even close".... but then said "but you have to stop when I tell you to". 

    There was not a single "whoo" at the New York City line in New Madrid.  Well done, Louisville. 

    As we were getting our patdowns and ID checks to go in, the venue folks were telling us that this "is going to be like a living room show", implying that we all needed to behave and shush appropriately.  Those of us in the front of the line exchanged a few eye rolls on that one.  They also alerted us that the bar would close at 8:30, which was an excellent move.  The bar is at the back and there's no separation from the room.  It helped tremendously. 

    All in all, it was definitely a show where Jeff read the room (and likely the report from James Elkington that the chatter during his set was really harsh, which it was), and decided just to go with it as was mentioned earlier.  Fortunately the crowd energy seemed to swing toward singing rather than heckling and chatter (again, after James' set...).  Definitely a loose evening, and just a good fun bar show.  Being down front in a pack of great VC folks representing the diehards and freaks sure didn't hurt either.  :thumbup

    Vince

    Jeff Tweedy — 23 March 2019, Chicago, IL (Vic Theatre) [Annual Charity Benefit; Night 2 of 2]

    in After The Show

    Posted

    Definitely qualified for a "Best Nova-Less Show" for me.  Great mix of songs, good crowd.  Sweet vibe through the whole night.

     

    One thing that occurred to me today as I was thinking back and seeing all the posts was how much Jeff really seemed to be enjoying having Sue there.  This was maybe the first time that he's played these benefit shows immediately after being on the road, and it just seemed that he was really glad to have her in the room.  Maybe a little moreso in the Friday show, but both really.  Lots of the new songs are very personal / intimate about family, which led to lots of comments about Susie.  And other songs like Hate It Here (Susie says it's all a lie) and the Herman's Hermits ditty (prompted by "what's her favorite?") had comments about whether or not Susie liked that song or not, or something that prompted a snide text message later in the show.  But you could tell that he was glad to be home for a week, glad to be playing again in front of Susie and interacting all night with her, and happy to take the rest of us along for the ride.  That's part of what makes these shows such a delight to be a part of. 

    Jeff Tweedy — 20 March 2019, Nashville, TN (James K. Polk Theater)

    in After The Show

    Posted

    Great recap Vince! Was your sign visible??

    Actually I have a new sign, but I didn't get a chance to hoist it.  It was realllly dark (even moreso than Vancouver), and I was 4 rows back so there was no chance he could see it.  And there was this weird wide aisle between the 3rd and 4th row of the pit which made the 4th row even further back.  But TONS of leg room!  And nice sight lines because of that and the high stage.  As for the sign.... I'll probly tote it up to the Vic shows, because I love the abuse. 

     

    Oh, and the request top vote-getter was razzed a little.  63 was the winning vote count, and Jeff said that he suspected that the winner had "some computer skills", and that 63 was unnecessary since 2 would put him ahead of the rest.  He threatened not to play the request, but I think it was "You're Not Alone" which he did play. 

     

    Celebrity sightings - Pat was at the Grimey's in-store show, along with James Haggerty (AD bassist).  Didn't see either at the evening show.

    But apparently Aaron Lee Tasjen was at the evening show per his IG.  I didn't see him there unfortunately.  For those of you who haven't heard his music, I highly recommend his "Karma for Cheap". 

    Jeff Tweedy — 20 March 2019, Nashville, TN (James K. Polk Theater)

    in After The Show

    Posted

    Four songs in to a very orderly and polite set, Jeff remarked "this could not be more different than last night.  They were animals"... to which someone in the crowd responded "Give us time!".  That seemed to ignite the back and forth for the evening which I thought was a pretty good balance of chattiness and respect.  No plugging in was needed.  Heck, he probably could have done a song without PA in that room.  Maybe not.

    The room was a cavernous modern-ish theater, with plush seats and high stage, and looked like something that would have recitals, lectures, and orchestras.  The sound was great - Stan was thrilled.  Jeff commented that it "looks like a spaceship".  It was another one of those dark rooms where Jeff couldn't see anyone.  The crowd was generally good, and the comments were all taken very well.  Jeff seemed in a great mood.  Chatty.  No hat.  Quite a bit of the same banter that has been reported in other shows (the steroid asterisk comment, the every-song-gets-one-vote comment, the original lyrics story to Guaranteed). But still some off-the-cuff banter and some classic eyeroll moments.  Oh, and there was a production of Anasthasia going on in the adjacent theater, which made for an interesting lobby crowd.  

    There must have been a rather large NYC continent, as the "all come from NYC" line in New Madrid got a very large "woo", generating eyeroll #1.  And during ITMWLY, the crowd started a clap-along which fortunately was abandoned early on.  That got an eyeroll AND a headshake.  After Guaranteed (which got a huge "ooohhh" after the "you're no walk in the park" line), Jeff mentioned that he wished that maybe he had put more chuckle moments in the song rather than just that one.  

    The new song White Wooden Cross was played, and explores the thought process of "What would I do / if the white wooden cross meant that I lost you".   I believe he said it was from Warmer.  Speaking of Warmer, Jeff noted that "the new record is called Warmer.  It's not a joke.  I wish it was a joke now", and commented on the "Open Kimono" early title.  

    During the encore break, the house lights came up, and everyone stood as Jeff came back.  Seeing the standing, Jeff said "go ahead and sit back down" before he started playing.  The skronky guitar middle section of Misunderstood was especially detailed and chaotic, which got a big laugh from the crowd as it ended.  To which Jeff relied after the song "that's the way it was written".  

     

    Hoping some other folks can chime in with other notable moments.  That's all I got for now.  

     

    Jeff started at 8:30 and played till about 10:05.  And here's the setlist as played...

     

    Via Chicago (w/harmonica)
    Remember The Mountain Bed
    Bombs Above
    Some Birds
    I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
    New Madrid

    Having Been Is No Way To Be

    Lost Love

    Guaranteed
    Impossible Germany

    Hummingbird
    Family Ghost

    You're Not Alone

    You and I

    White Wooden Cross

    Jesus, etc

    Evergreen

    Passenger Side
    Let's Go Rain
    I Know What It's Like
    I'm The Man Who Loves You
    ---------------------------------
    Don't Forget
    Misunderstood
    Acuff-Rose

     

     

    For completeness, here's the setlist from the Grimey's instore show -

    Bomb Above

    Some Birds

    Guaranteed

    From Far Away (requested by SarahC, and started in a key that was just not gonna work.... and restarted)

    IATTBYH

    I Know What It's Like

     

    Best banter - "This is cutting into my nap time."

    Notable gear - he played all the songs on a small, silver-top colored guitar that I think said "Barclay" on the headstock.  A very "puny" sounding instrument imho.  

     

    See ya next time!

    Vince

     

     
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