Magnetized

I'll wait for Paul's detailed description of the show but I'll just make a few general comments. It was fantastic to see the boys again, as always, and they did NOT disappoint. I love the new format for Evening With shows, with two sets and an encore. At dinner before the show, and in brief conversations with people around me, I spoke with several people who were seeing Wilco for the first time, and it was gratifying (if not surprising) to hear such enthusiastic comments at intermission and after the show. It took about 3 songs to get most of the crowd out of their cushy seats and

Kinda makes sense to do the deep cuts set on a Thursday night, when many of the hardcore fans will have gotten to town early and will be thrilled to hear so many relative rarities. The “hits” can wait for the weekend shows. That was an amazing night!

Thanks as always for your detailed notes, which are always my first read the morning after a Jeff or Wilco show. One thing I’ll add is that it felt good to have Jeff make a couple of explicitly political comments. I wish I could remember details the way you can, but perhaps someone else has better recall. Or again, hopefully we can hear it on a yet-to-surface recording. It was indeed a show worthy of memorializing.

Love your photos and recap, Tim!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/302810113453575/permalink/2088481974886371/?

I’ve really enjoyed your show recaps, Vince. And I salute your intrepid road trip!

I seem to remember that Chris Kattan and his girlfriend were serenaded by Jeff at the Letters to Santa auction a few months ago.

And best liner notes for the YHF deluxe edition went to Bob Mehr, who wrote Trouble Boys about The Replacments.

Thanks for your tremendous reportage on these shows, sir! With your setlist and Lady Susan’s videography, I think we are covered for night 4 except for one thing. Who was the opener? It looked like Judd Apatow was backstage so I’m guessing it was him but can you confirm?

Great write up, as usual. Next best thing to being there. Fascinating to hear about the new song, both lyrically and the way he sang it. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that he shares it on Starship Casual at some point, but there’s nothing like hearing it for the first time in a setting like Largo. Keep ‘em coming!

Nice report, Vince. How did the unruly audience react to Anbulance? And how was the singing along to the more familiar songs?

I was also up front so hard to gauge the enthusiasm level elsewhere, but it seemed like there was more than usual singing along (accurately!) and great, warm crowd responses. A friend who was farther back and lived in New Orleans said she thought it was an especially receptive crowd, and Jeff seemed genuinely pleased and appreciative. It was an absolutely stellar set and I can’t wait for tonight!

I’m no Bbop but since I was there I’ll try to give you a flavor of this festival and Wilco’s setlist. It was a 3-day festival set in the Botanical Gardens in Memphis. Apparently the festival has morphed a bit. It used to known by another name and was held elsewhere in town, but they seem to have settled on Memphofest in this location. There were two stages, one larger than the other and not too far apart, and they alternated set times so theoretically you could have seen all the acts on the bill if you didn’t care where you stood. No chairs allowed, and it was a late festival running from arou

For anyone on Facebook, there’s a thread you might be interested in. https://www.facebook.com/groups/390889574423674/permalink/2256017774577502/

It’s always so interesting to read your take on things, Paul. I can’t wait to hear your further thoughts about the “Era of Good Feelings” and what you discern from Jeff’s specific reactions. I think we can assume (hope?) this Wilco era won’t devolve into chaos the way it did in the United States!