Preferred B

Thanks for the recap, P! It was wonderful to see the band back in my city again. It might not have been my first show since Covid's debut, but it was my first indoor GA show. And what a fun, sweaty night it was. Ending with Kicking TV was everything I could have hoped for. Happy to have been able to share it with those familiar front row faces, even if I don't make it to as many shows as I once did. And a special shout out to my nephew who just started his sophomore year at UW Madison and decided (all on his own!) to buy last-minute tickets to the show with a friend. Seeing him grinning in the midst of the crowd at his first Wilco concert definitely added an extra bit of enjoyment to the night for me.

I got nothin’. Including Junk folder. And I received my ticket email a couple days ago…

If I had gone to this first show, I would have been very surprised seeing only YHF plus a 3-song encore. Not because I was aware of these shows being billed as anything specific (other than the YHF album), but because, as others have mentioned, my mental model of what "one entire album" shows are just includes a longer second set. So I totally get that part. That being said, I'm intrigued by the idea of the band presenting the album nearly on its own - especially with arrangements more similar to the recorded versions. I'm eager to see the Saturday show in Chicago, and frankly also like the thought of an early night. I guess we'll see if the second night in NY is any different, but assuming this is the intentional format, I'm cool with it. Especially knowing ahead of time what to expect.

Wow happy 20 years, VC!  I joined pretty close to the beginning, it seems - I think I was seeking a recording of one of the January 2003 Tweedy Vic shows (the first of many solo shows I would attend). My first contact with whole lot of great people happened on this site, and I still have a saved web doc floating around of quotes that made me laugh from the RTT. (I just went and found it and honestly think I might get in trouble if I posted most of them. ) Here's to many more years!

Thanks for the recap, as always, P! I had to miss these shows last year, but was very happy to attend once again this weekend. While I hope there weren't too many disappointed numbers 21-30 in line, I thought it was a good strategy for Jeff to "reserve" 10 songs for himself each night. I always love hearing everyone's picks, including the ultra-obscure, but I think this allowed for more control over pacing and shaping the general trend of songs in one direction or another each evening. Thanks once again to Jeff and Susie for all they do, nap-powered or otherwise.

Yeah, those tickets totally went up early. Friend of the Fest was already gone at 9:59 when I tried. Oh well, guess I'm just a regular schmo as always. The pop-up part of the VIP sounds interesting, but I'm sure a lot of folks were drawn by the promise of some sort of semi-private bathrooms, to be honest.

 

Funny, I always thought the ethos of Solid Sound was that there wasn't supposed to be a VIP tier. Guess it was inevitable, though.

Yeah, when I got a break from work to load things up at 9:58, I was pretty surprised that Friend of the Fest passes were already gone 2 minutes before “on sale” time. It feels a little wrong that someone who has been to every SSF didn’t get a chance to be a “friend” of the festival!

Very nice recap, P. I really enjoyed this show and Milwaukee the night before. It felt like it had been a long Wilco/Jeff drought, so it was nice to ... soak up the rain in the company of friends. It was very cool hearing so many new songs over both nights. 2018 has been a hard year for my family, so many of the songs - older as well as new - had a particular resonance.

I'm so thankful and happy I got to attend these shows. Despite being a midwesterner, I've been to fortunate enough to visit both incarnations of Largo enough over the years to really grow attached to the place. The opportunity to see Jeff there is something I will certainly never take for granted.

Thursday and Friday were both excellent nights of music and comedy (from both openers and the main act). On Friday night I especially loved hearing "Ashes" solo - I saw that version live for the first time a little over four years ago in the same room, and it was every bit as good as I remembered. The two new songs on Thursday were also a treat. As I head back to the arctic north, I'll have the memory of music and good friends over the past few days to keep me warm. (Just kidding. I'll still freeze.)

Man, I loved this show. I knew I couldn't make either of the first two in St. Paul, so when they announced a 3rd and final show on a Friday night that also happened to be my birthday, I couldn't pass it up. So glad I didn't. So many favorite live songs, (And I'm honored to share my birthday with Josh! Though I didn't remove my shirt during Hoodoo Voodoo.)

Even though a many-months hiatus is run of the mill for a lot of touring bands - and I imagine Wilco has even done it at some point in the past - it did feel like an emotional night and a bit of a finale. It was great hearing Jeff talk about the crew and what genuinely kind, decent people they all are (and watching Glenn mime snorting a line of cocaine off his drum). Before "I'm The Man," John dragged Glenn up off his seat and then everyone except Nels and Jeff stood on something, arms aloft, for the intro.

I'm sure the break will be over before we know it. Until then, this was a great one to go out on! And I got to listen to the second half of Wisconsin football beating Michigan on the drive home, so, bonus.

Thanks for the recap, P! It felt a little weird not to be there, but sometimes with work and $$ and driving time and fests on back to back weekends (and the general march of time), ya just gotta make the call. Sounds like a good time as always, with another great rocking finish. I hope you got some custard. 

Love And Mercy [brian Wilson]

Vibes, T.

That's a great perspective. I'm on board with you. Do you think came to this philosophy while waiting in line for your 672nd or your 674th Wilco show? 

:lol

I took the New Zealand stuff as an extension of his previous joke about you requesting songs he hadn't even written yet, P. Like, not only that, you're congratulating them on shows they haven't played yet!

I would've enjoyed the fucking Brian Wilson song too, T, but YAMF is so great. And I am also guilty of singing Happy Birthday to "Brett."

I believe Paul was dubbed the King of Wilco Fans, a title of which is he certainly deserving. Maybe the next Solid Sound should have a Bbop exhibit. See all his handwritten show notes from the past 10 years!

I was telling some friends last night that I don't think I've ever not had fun at one of these benefit shows. No matter how the details go, it's going to be a good time. All hail the Tweedys!

It really was an excellent show. I hadn't had a chance to see most (any?) of the newest Wilco songs performed solo until last night, so I found myself catching more lyrical nuances than I have listening to the full band versions. It also seemed like the Vic had acquired a new PA system since my last visit, and thanks to that and Stan, things were sounding particularly crisp. Choosing the songs may not be fully in Jeff's hands for these shows, but I always enjoy seeing how he puts them together into a setlist with a recognizable ebb and flow.

My favorite banter tangent came after California Stars. Before the song, Jeff went off on a mini tongue-in-cheek rant about how audiences can never manage to sing the repeated verses the same as the originals, allowing him to sing the harmony. After informing us we did a passable job, he said he realized why he'd suddenly become so angry: the thought of the cheap, cardboard-boxed guitar Ted Nugent brought to the Oval Office as a gift. Jeff has strong opinions on the subject.

 (and I know at least one person who always enjoys Shouldn't Be Ashamed).

He remembers when they still wore gaiters!!

Bump! Will entertain reasonable offers.

I have a pair of Sunday 2/26 tickets for the final Chicago Theatre show to sell. They're Main Floor 3R, row LL. Looking for $192.45, which is exactly what I paid.

Respond here and or email me - ilamya at yahoo.com

Fun thread! I did more world travel than usual in 2016.

-A few weeks in Denmark in April and May for work (loved Tivoli)

-Croatia and a little Austria for the last half of June (Plitvice Lakes National Park is fantastic)

-SF in September

-Baltimore in October

Plus a handful of Chicago jaunts

Next year I don't have anything on the books yet, but trying to plan another Euro trip. I don't think Iceland is in the cards this time, but it's definitely somewhere I'd like to go.

Got my ticket! But yes, I was pretty annoyed that gender, birth date, and age were required fields to buy tickets. Required?! Not to mention the fact that computers can presumably do math, so I'm not sure why they need birth date and age.

And I don't know how much technical proficiency factors into this particular post, but here's Johnny's lovely print as currently being flattened on my coffee table between a book and Kleenex box.

Unwelcome Guest? That's a rare one.

a.k.a. "The Unwelcome Request," as Jeff jokingly (*ahem*) referred to it.  I'm thankful he decided to play it; it sounded great. 

It was a wonderful night; one I'm so happy to have spent with friends old and new. Already having wistful thoughts of desserts not eaten.

Thanks for the reports! I miss the days of throwing footballs at Joe Canale's crotch.

Edited.

Next best thing to audio! Thanks, Sandy.