shoesgetcold3

I have become the guy I used to hate. I loved hearing Wine, Love will find you, and Long Time Ago even though they are not on a Wilco proper album nor instantly recognizable to even a die hard. The beauty of the solo show is hearing gems that not only would you never get during a full band performance, but are rare in a solo setting as well. The most impressive songs from my point of view were Hummingbird and Hate it Here because Jeff does not play guitar on those songs with a full band. So to hear Jeff's solo interpretation is something different and very cool. The two AM songs really sounded great live, the strong alt-country tunes really go well on acoustic guitar. I thought Nothings ever gonna was the most emotionally charged song of the evening as the guitar really popped. And getting I Shall Be Released (which is among my favorite all time songs) was more then I could have asked for.

The event was extremely well run from start to finish. The volunteers and security staff were professional, yet friendly. The setup was great with all three price point sections well marked. I counted (more estimated) about 800 seats and I thought most were filled. Yes there were some empties, but no huge blocks of seats. The sound was very very good and pure. The crowd was mostly polite, although there were still quite a few requests being shouted, something I had hoped would not happen in a more conservative setting (even though the temple is reformed)

My favorite banter of the night was Jeff in response to Peter calling him out on being lazy by naming the last album and first track eponymously. Jeff joked that Peter does not name all his jokes, he just call them jokes.

Snacks? Beer?

Who said "Your prayers will never be answered again?"

JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound just got themselves a new fan. And with their next two performances at Pritzker and the Hideout, count me in.

Does anyone know the genius behind the idea of getting Jeff and her together? I am just so curious. Their voices sound AMAZING together, IMO, and what a cute show they put on at the Wiltern.

http://www.bordersmedia.com/features/audio/tweedy.asp?cmpid=SL_20090629_REW

This answers that question.

Two words: Pritzker residency

No, it is the palace at the main entrance that you do not need to pay to go in. Square outside circular inside. I love the pillowy stones and circular windows outside.

Thanks for the response. Preferred B, nice job staying at the Parador. Like I said, walking down the hill to town to see a Wilco show might have been the highlight of my entire life.

I would love to see a picture of the guys in front of Palace de Carlos V. I believe they had a day off after the Granada show. Does anyone know if they did any sightseeing?

The Alhambra is one of the coolest places I have ever been. One of my favorite internal debates is natural beauty vs. man made. Spain has plenty of both, but the argument of man made beauty is never presented more strongly then at the Alhambra. I was fortunate enough to stay at the Parador de San Francisco which is inside the Alhambra. Not having to leave at night made me feel like a sultan looking over the town below. It was such a magical place. Staying there on a day Wilco was playing a show in town at night would have been the pinnacle of my life.

These were my quick first impressions mainly meant for my wife who had left the house by the time I saw the stream was up. Naturally I listened and made these notes. I have not read anything written yet, but I will start now. You do not have to read this. I will not be offended. And I could be way off. But like I said, this is a quick first impression.

1. Wilco the Song - Already a classic in the HMD, Shot way. May get tiring eventually. album version sounds great

2. Deeper Down - fragmented. sounds less organic then SBS. Definitely some computer action from verse to verse

3. One Wing - quite different then the live lolla version. rocks hard at end.

4. Black Bull Nova - another very unique track. seems like it will translate great to a live show. longest song so far. loud

5. You and I - Duet! Similar to version at Vic solo show, excpet with Feist. Great song, favorite so far.

6. You never know - Would fit on SBS and All Things Must Pass. Terrific. Can't wait for live version.

7. My country disappeared - Nice harmony from John. Slower song. haven't been listening closely to lyrics so far, but these lyrics made me notice

8. Solitaire - sounds familiar but pretty sure this is first time hearing. harmony but does not sound like john. very pretty song

9. I'll fight - similar to solo version - sounds great with band - another very nice song

10. Sonny feeling - classic wilco/jeff. beach boy influenced.

11. Everlasting - heard in zoo and AA. glenns drums stick out. layered sound very full.

really sonds like an album with beginning middle end. great flow. cant wait to listen again

Some posters have said they have heard Jay complain over the years. Maybe this time his complaining was to a friend/acquaintance who is also a lawyer who said, "Why not sue them, we have nothing to lose." The lawyer works on contingency and files a suit which being about Wilco will get plenty of publicity (thank you Greg Kot) and for only $50,000, which is really not that much money to anyone with money. Sure it is a jerky thing to do, but this is America and who really cares about reputation anyways? It reeks of desperation but so do many many lawsuits filed. It seems like not that big of a deal, and something Jeff will probably deal very little with. And except for Jeff being a man of principle (Bennett is iced out forever) fans will never see anything come of this.

1st show of 2009 was a great one. This was the loosest Wilco performance I have been to in quite some time. I have read so many times on these post show threads about how tight the band was on that particular night. And I always agree. That is what made last nights show different and fun. They were not the hit every note band last night, more get up on stage and work through the kinks. It was fantastic. Jeff mentioned they had been busy finishing their album and other projects and had not had a lot of rehearsel time. He also shared the new Wilco motto, which is the same as the old Wilco motto, "It could be worse." It reminded me of a Bugs Bunny skit. But then again I get most of my high culture from looney toones.

Only the 2 new songs which have been mentioned. No forget the flowers like H. Stone said, def AGIB and Yankee heavy. I rarely comment on crowds because it is all so subjective to where you sit and how you feel on a particular night but I thought the Sconnie crowd was fantastic. Loud, enthusiastic, and full of love. Jeff reciprocated in one of his more natural, relaxed performances. No awkwardness (which I sometimes like) Jeff was smooth.

I also pulled a Wilco related April Fools joke. When I went to the computer this morning I said "new email from Wilco" loud enough for my wife to hear. I then proceeded to get very excited and yell no way, this is amazing. As her interest grew, I said Wilco was doing a 5 night residency this July at Pritzker. She got super excited, ran over to the computer, only to find an NBA box score I was checking out. I totally got her. Unfortuately I was also let down that there was no pritzker residency scheduled, yet.

#9 may be true but does Nels red flood pants not do the trick?

I have 2 floor seats in section 5 row H for Monday nights show.

Tickets were 250 each or best offer. I will not charge ticketmaster fees and will pay to overnight ship them to you.

My wife and I were very excited to travel and see this show, but sometimes life happens. I purchased back in September on the presale date.

Please let me know if you are interested.

goldberg.ron@gmail.com

I saw Pat on Friday night and the beard is still growing. I like beards. Even Pat's.

For at least one guy here, this is a dream come true. I hope to be there.

And I believe it is bottom 6th for radio interview and then they stand in the TV booth top of 7th getting ready to sing before sitting down for tv interview in bottom 7th.

Jeff played a super nice acoustic show at the Kids Stage at Lolla. In years past acts I have seen on the kids stage attract a couple hundred people. There were a couple thousand there to see Jeff. He played in front of the stage to be closer to the real kids (as opposed to the rest of us grown ups who still act like kids) He asked for requests from the kids and had some fun with some of the songs they chose (On & On & On and Hell is Chrome were both suggested yet shot down due to adult like themes) Jeff also got quite a rise when he invited an old friend from Uncle Tupelo up for a reunion (it was Bill Belzer) and said "friends are good, I think we can all agree."

The setlist:

What Light

Hummingbird

Heavy Metal Drummer (Jeff's choice after a few kids suggestions denied)

New Madrid (w/ Belzer)

ITMWLY

Hoodoo Voodoo

It was great to see Jeff perform on the same day as Jack White and Radiohead. Some funny banter with kids (Don't let your parents take to any awful bands) as well as an ultimatum to buy Woody Guthrie albums (basically saying you are a bad parent if you do not own Woody Guthrie for your kids)

Great Times at Lolla 2008. I can not wait for tonight!

I saw Tracy Letts new play "Superior Donuts" at the Steppenwolf Theatre last Sunday night and as the lights went down and the cast took their bows, Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again) started playing.

I remember my first mix tape ever, mainly taped off of B-96, containing such gems as Super Bowl Shuffle, My Girl Likes to Party all the time, Rock me Amadeus, and Grandma got run over by a reindeer.

When I graduated HS in '93 I made mix tapes for both my girlfriends (the real one and the summer one) which contained Hey Jealousy. I also remember buying a Mr. Big CD off a friend for $1 so I could use More than Words. And I definitely had Run to You on the summer gf's mix, but definitely not on the gf's mix, although that was the only difference.

We recently brought this album back to rotation in my house because of all the Colin Meloy parallels and how much Decemberists we listen to. I always thought Aeroplane was a good album, and still do. But when I compare it to The Crain Wife or even Picaresque, I feel the apprentice outdid the teacher. Maybe it is because I am so driven by seeing bands live (although that Pitchfork article makes seeing NMH a possibly creepy experience) and the D's are so good live that I love them even more. Like other comments here, I enjoy Aeroplane, it is certainly not in my top 25 or one that demands to be played all the time, but I call it a great album.

I apologize if any of you were sitting near me and my girl. I came down with it bad the Thursday before the first show and carried it with all 5 nights. I passed it on to my girlfriend (and any number of you) and she spent Sunday all day in bed. Both of us had 24 hour flu bug plus the cold, cough, sneeze thing. I went through a lil pack of kleenex just about every night. So not only will I remember these wonderful shows forever, I will remember what I had to deal with to make it all 5. Wimpy would have meant staying home. A group complaint makes everyone feel a little better.

I would attend another residency in a heartbeat. Realistically this will not happen for sometime, but a millenium park run this summer should not be out of the question. And I will try my hardest to be there too. All the physical and emotional energy I put into attending the shows was repaid with the bands hard work and the fans great attitude. It was net positive in any event. I think Wilco is one of the best bands of all time and the fact that I am living in Chicago during their heyday is amazing luck. So anytime they play driving distance from Chicago, count me in.

I should also say that I live 3 miles from the Riv, ate an early dinner at home, found street parking, got in line close to the time doors opened, and sat in the first 3 rows of non reserved balcony seats all 5 nights. I could totally understand how people who stood in line and stood during the shows would be toast after this. Attending 5 shows in 6 nights is a chore. Especially the weekday nights where you still have a life to attend to. There is a tipping point for many people where the chore of going weighs more then the gain. Living a rock stars life is not easy!

Nels was in red pants. John was jumping off speakers. Pat came out to make a name for himself. And Jeff was happier then a pig in mud. (He might ask if that means he was happy. Yes it does) The band loved every minute of these 5 nights. I loved every minute during, before, and between these 5 shows. It was the coolest thing a band could do for their fans. I view so many songs differently because I now have a mental picture of every single one of their songs played live. If it was even possible, I got closer to their amazing music. And now have a lifetime of memories. Or at least a years worth because Jeff said they would do this again next year.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

It was good, but would have been better if he was wearing his red pants

Rarely able to tell what is next, another new song is played, followed by the "I can't believe they are playing this, finally marveling in their pulling it off so well. that is the pattern I feel as I watch the shows. This is fantastic. They opened with 5 out of the loop songs before 1 minute of drown after finally getting into a song off a "mainstream" Wilco album. (Jeff still jokes no one owns or has heard AM) The rarer AM and Summerteeth tracks were right on. The overall crowd energy was not quite like it was Friday or Saturday, but it was still awesome. It would be like Tiger Woods shooting 64, 64, 72. Still a great crowd tonight but you could tell it was Monday. Can't wait to hear the remaining songs. They have held some great ones back.

We are in the middle of something special, a 5 day concert event that it will be looked back upon for decades as a musical high water mark. For those of us fortunate enough to attend, heck even for epeople reading these posts, we are currently making history. I personally will refrain from judging the nights vs. each other. Last nights show, as people have mentioned, contained history making moments. John's crowd reaction was nothing short of amazing. His love came in waves, one round of applause bigger than the next. The true encore was special, you knew when it started with ELT (first song first night) they had nothing planned. The restart on Hoodoo confirmed it. Jeff even said he did not want to ruin the harmony of the nights, probably referring to the planned setlists they had mapped out in advance.

I have noticed one other thing. There seems to be a crazy VC phenomena going on here. Like the shows are being done so we can spread the word to the world. They seem almost catering to us crazies. Rare mermaid songs, b sides, true encores, horns, special guests, all topics that have been discussed here recently. I am appreciative to the band for playing these shows, but also the crowds for making them so special. The person earlier who said they feel like an event is totally right. This is event concert viewing.