Preferred B

You seem to be the only one clamoring...

I'd like to request an audio clip, please.

Thanks for starting the thread, T! And excellent job googling the setlist. It was hot spicy cheese bread we were eating this morning, interneters!

There wasn't a ton of extended banter, true, but plenty of asides and check-ins with the audience. Everyone seemed to be in great spirits; plenty of smiles all around. Loved seeing Nels go crazy on lots of songs. Jeff's comment that his Hummingbird moonwalk was "the shyest moonwalk ever" got some laughs. He also rated the crowd's Spiders clapping in comparison with other recent shows. "You've surpassed Kansas City... now you're at Zagreb level ..." The clapping break lasted a long time - long enough for the semi-inevitable speed-up. The cringing look on Glenn's face before launching into the final jam was great.

We really thought we were in for it with rain all evening, but as Jeff noted, it held off until the end. The band was set up farther back from the front of the stage than usual just in case. But other than a really brief sprinkle, there was no rain until after the show. There was, however, plenty of lightning during the encores. When the band came out for the acoustic set, they were looking up as well. Jeff joked, "It's okay, we're all unplugged." After the third song, I saw the tour manager come to the side of the stage and make the call for one more. Afterward, Jeff told us to "Go home! Run for your lives!"

Finally, a hometown show is always something special for a fan. I've gone to see Wilco plenty, but it's always just a little cooler when the band comes to me. And it has been years and years and years since the band played a GA show in Madison, and never outdoors. "We've never seen you like this before!" Jeff exclaimed the first time he greeted the crowd. And after all these years, singing along to "Here I come again and I'm bringing my friends - okay alright okay alright!" when surrounded by friends is just pure happiness.

Sounds great, Lou! You can message me here or through other channels.

I have two tickets to sell in section 105 Row R for Wilco in Chicago on 8/21. The total from Songkick came to $190.25. The tickets haven't been mailed yet, so I don't have them in hand, but would send them as soon as they arrive. Let me know if you're interested!

This was a fun show, and I'm so pleased we happened to be in Croatia for it. (Believe me, I have scheduled some Wilco trips in my day, but this was truly a coincidence!) The extended Croatian version of "Art of Almost" was a highlight. Jeff also complimented the crowd's clapping near the end of "Spiders" without being asked, although he did gently prompt any folks who didn't happen to be participating to jump in as well. The crowd seemed to enjoy themselves, and I overheard one fan as we were leaving proclaim Wilco "The best American band, I think." I hope someone is on the scene to report from Montenegro in a couple days!

P.S. The Swedish band was A Knockout Angle. Whole lotta bow ties and shorts.

Nice recap, P! Thirteen was wonderful - I really enjoyed seeing Sammy and Spencer up on stage with Jeff. And I know I'm not the only person who wanted to hear Space Oddity, but I was certainly thrilled that Jeff granted my request. The song holds a lot of memories for me, so to be with friends and see Jeff play it - and sing along with the crowd - meant a lot.

Of course the banter corner made the show even more fun. The retelling of the Ramones story yielded some additional entertaining details (like Joey Ramone spending an hour putting on and taking off fingerless gloves before coming out, as seen through the bus window). Jeff poked a little fun at a couple audience members who had requested multiple "dirges" before hitting on songs Jeff wanted to play. And I am probably just projecting based on my own mental reflex every time I hear the name Steve, but there may have been a fleeting Flight of the Conchords reference as Jeff was attributing one of the other requests.

As always, this is one of my favorite times of the year. Jeff and Susan (and Mark) deserve a mountain of thanks for their generosity and hard work on these shows!

I believe he referred to California Stars as "an entry-level request," but it actually was a legit request from someone in line as well. So he didn't exactly perform an impromptu audience suggestion, it was just a happy coincidence.

I love these shows every year, and I was happy Jeff chose to play Taste the Ceiling - I really enjoyed hearing some of these Star Wars (Schindler's List?) songs acoustically. Jeff's mention of Scott McCaughey helping to write that song reminded me that it had previously made me think of "View from Below." (Honestly, it's probably just the titles.)

Looking forward to tonight!

Ooh, Simple Twist of Fate! Nice. I'm very bummed I couldn't be in town (or in country) for this practically local show. I can't remember the last time I missed Jeff or Wilco in Wisconsin. I'm glad it was good, but there was little doubt of that. I'll just have to bide my time until the Vic.

Looks like the Glenn performance in Madison is actually May 6th, 2017!

This sounds like a really cool experience, and a nice compliment to the Tokyo show. Thanks for the detailed reports. Did you spend any time hanging out with the Japanese fans, Paul? Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing at least one Tweedy at the Vic in May. Wish I could make Sheboygan, too!

Gotta be a benefit, right?

For the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry.

Ah, it was so great to finally see Star Wars live! Hill Auditorium feels smaller than it is from up close, which is very cool for a large space (though I don't know how it feels from the upper balcony). I didn't realize how much I'd missed seeing "You Are My Face" in the regular rotation, but I did.

Was it mentioned at some point how the large porcelain (?) cat on stage was procured? A worthy addition.

I'll be very disappointed if I hear he didn't play Pecan Pie.

Just started wondering if Magnetized is the first Wilco song title that is spelt wrongly - unless they're doing a Slade.

Only if you are British! We like our z's around here. (Note: that's "zees" - not "zeds.")

Sounds like a fun show - looking forward to seeing the new album performed sooner or later!

I love this. I love that it's short. More short albums, everyone!

Chiming in about a week late, but I had an excellent time (as always) at Solid Sound. It kind of feels like a big reunion at this point, since I know so many folks who've made the trip every year (and picked up new friends along the way). I hope that spirit lives on in years to come.

I'm attending a more typical "giant field" type festival in a couple weeks, and I'm curious to see how it will measure up. (Which is a nicer way to say: what percentage of me will hate it?) I know all too well that I'm spoiled by the general environment at SSF. The ability to wander around and see art, sit inside, walk a short distance into town and grocery shop/eat at a restaurant/take a break: all this is pretty great. It is frustrating that smaller performances in unique indoor spaces fill up quickly, but I think the opportunity to see them at all is pretty cool and unique as festivals go. Sure, it would be great if the crowd were smaller ... for me as a festival-goer, but obviously not for the festival runners. 

I had no issues with food lines, and have no real complaints about the audience at Joe's Field. As people have stated, your personal experience in any crowd is going to depend on your attitude and the assortment of people who happen to be around you. Sometimes you hit the jackpot with that, and sometimes it sucks, but it is what it is.

My favorite surprise of the fest was Glenn's "Tintinnabulators" interactive exhibit in the basement lobby MASS MoCA restrooms. It inspired a new shorthand among my friends for taking a trip to the facilities: "I'm gonna go bang a gong."

Great show. I'd take that rain over terrible heat any day. God, I love "Dark Neon."

So... The "At Least That What You Said" bubble! I'm not sure how many of you saw this happen, but during the slow beginning of the song there was this perfect bubble that floated over my head center stage about 10 yards from the stage and ended up just in front of Jeff's face before lifting up and disappearing into the stage awning.

Definitely was a real bubble.

I don't have much to add to that recap, except that I had an excellent time as always. I hope we can get another 2-night stand next year (c'mon, Chicago!) but it was fantastic to have this show in May instead of February or March, weather-wise. I was able to catch my first game at Wrigley on Saturday with some good friends. Even though I'll never be a Cubs fan, gotta respect the ballpark.

I maintain that it would have been interesting to hear an acoustic arrangement of Diamond Light, but I don't have to worry about pesky things like how that would even work! I was more than happy to get Lost Love, at any rate.

Congrats again on your own graduation weekend, P!

I doubt I deserve much credit, Sarah, but I'm certainly glad to see it popping up regularly in setlists!

I'd love to see another St. Louis Wilco show one of these days. Sounds like it was a good one, and thanks for the reports.

I'm happy they've realized Dark Neon is awesome live and they should play it all the time.

Love on a Wire

Sounds daring!

I love the volleyball banter. Thanks for the details!

I've been to every one of these, they're always a blast, and everybody should go. Yay!

I've been meaning to comment here, but I guess I don't have a lot to add that hasn't been said already. I enjoyed the opportunity to see a 2-night stand at the Vic, and I'm glad Jeff wasn't in pain both nights. I really enjoyed Sima's contributions; neither of the previous shows I'd seen had any female backing vocals. Seeing The Minus 5 is always a treat, too. Maybe they'll work on "I'll Sing It" before Solid Sound, T. (Or Omaha!)

I hope Kanye is at Solid Sound.

Thorough reporting as always, P. The snow, below-zero temps, and weeknight timing just after the holidays all conspired to make this very tough to attend for a non-local like me (and maybe that was for the best!), but it sounds like a good time for a good cause. Any other details on the comedians' opening set?