SeattleC

Briiliant game. Went to Vancouver for the day yesterday. Blue skies, one of the most stunning cities in the world, massive crowds on the street and got to see two events (hockey and curling). Fan-bloody-tastic!!!!!!More than anything the sense of joy and pride emanating from the hosts and all Canadians there was something to behold. And again, Vancouver on a clear, sunny day in February can't but help put a massive smile on your face.

I really should try to get up there next weekend while this is still happening. I had a meeting with some people from Vancouver on Friday, and they said that the streets are like a hockey game just let out, everywhere downtown all the time. It sounds like a blast. The weather this weekend was amazing to boot. I rode around Lake Washington on my bike today in shorts in February. That's a first.

Holy crap this game is exciting.

No kidding, that was the best hockey game I've seen in a long time. We had split loyalties in the house between Team USA and Team Canada, so that was good for some banter during the game.

I just booked a trip to Prague, Vienna and Budapest. I can't wait! Was wondering if anyone has been to these cities? If so what did you do? Any must see sights or restaraunts..any day trip recommendations?

 

Thanks!

 

That list of cities hit the nostalgia vein for me….

I went to all three in 1990, and also Berlin when you could still bust pieces of the wall off, which I still have. I’m sure things have changed, but these stood out at the time:

Prague: Charles Bridge and the Prague Castle, and the clock tower view from above Old Town square. And also a pub that I wish I could remember the name of, down a few stairs toward the river from the clock tower. In that pub someone told me that they finally, as of that year, could legally read the Lord of the Rings books because they were no longer banned and everyone was excited about their newfound freedom from Soviet oppression. Oh, and pilsners were 15 cents. I’m sure that’s no longer the case.

Vienna: The Parliament Building blows away anything in Washington DC, as far as Greek revival architecture, and St Stephen’s Cathedral’s roof is amazing.

Budapest: The only place that has longer escalators than the metro in DC to the subway, or maybe they weren’t but they seemed like it.

Have fun!

"Jesus, Etc" wasn't a singalong, although Jeff did ask us to join in if we wanted to. I think we gave it a good shot.

Indigo, I totally missed your post about this when I asked a couple of times. I'm glad I went back and read it all, and thank you to okebo for pointing that out.

I was definitely pleased with the show last night. The crowd was great and the atmosphere was really fun. It was a little torturous to stand through Default. I thought Califone was ok but I had a hard time hearing them. I thought the sound for Wilco, however, was really incredible considering the venue.

 

This was my first time seeing the band since (the album) came out, and I was really impressed with how the new songs sounded live. One Wing and You Never Know were definitely highlights for me. I have to say that I love hearing Hate it Here and Walken live. They both have such a fun groove to them! The guys seemed to be having fun throughout the night and I wish the show could have lasted longer.

 

I topped off my night by running over to Robson Square and hearing Jeremy Fisher play a short set near the skating rink. I LOVE him! It was a very fun day!!!

 

Did Jeff ask you guys to sing Jesus,etc.? I'm really curious because he was so into doing that at the previous three shows, but this was a very different crowd, I gather.

Very soothing. Hope I did not insult you.

 

Not even remotely insulted. Your comment cracked me up actually!

Great picutes -- but that one of Jeff with the purple back is scarey -- the purple, his dark clothes, crazy black hair and blues eyues... looks like he's saying, "Good Evening .. welcome to the Vampire's Lair -- moo-aa ha ha ha haaaa...."

 

More of the fault of the subject, not the photographer. Great pictures.

He was looking directly at me, that's my favorite shot. It's hard to take warm and cuddly pictures of Jeff, but that's not 'a fault' of the subject

That photo was from Hummingbird done with the caberet singer approach, and then a little Roger Daltry flourish near the end (mic twirl and 'catch'.) Here's a couple more that you may find more soothing barbkm:

...

Thank you all for your advice, but I was hoping that everyone would agree on one unwritten etiquette, but there are differences of opinions. I find it upsetting that I will have to sit just because a seat is provided, and the hundreds of people around me will be sitting. It is what it is. If nothing else, I will lead, and hope others follow. This is my first time seeing Wilco, and I sure as hell am going to have the time of my life. Bob

As I said, do both! Tweedy will approve. There isn't a cookbook to follow.

I really liked the wild candelabra lighting and tapestry backdrop that Wilco are using on this tour, along with the wild screen/light things. Very impressive, without being overbearing and gaudy. In certain lighting, the tapestry was particularly cool because of the texture and color transitions. Kudos to whoever designed this setup.

Here's the only photo I have that captures much of the setup, although it doesn't capture the multicolored lighting effects that sometimes occurred:

Did they even try making this crowd sing Jesus, etc. and if so did it work?

I'm not entirely sure about that. In Victoria Friday night the fans gave the band a standing ovation as they hit the stage and I think they really appreciated that.

I agree with you. Jeff's face lit up at the standing ovation to start things off in Victoria and it set the good mood for the night. I was impressed that people did that. They did sit down after that, which fit the situation.

Jeff also commented positively on the fact the the Portland crowd had figured out when to sit and when to stand 'all by yourselves'. In other words, they stood for the rocking songs and sat for some of the more mellow stuff. That's a good compromise if, like Portland, people all do it. In Victoria a couple of people in front of me stood up about midway through the show and stayed there, blocking some of my view of stage center and right. I personally didn't care and was glad to stand. However, the people behind me weren't standing, putting me, being tall, in an awkward postion, so I went back and forth for awhile before saying F%$# it and standing for the rest.

Bottom line, sit and stand, depending on the song, that's my (and apparently Jeff Tweedy's) advice.

But a call out to Spokane, where I saw the worst Wilco show of any I've seen (still good, not great). If you don't stand up for some of the rowdy songs, Mr. Tweedy will not be too happy with you.

Good photos camelhead and beelove. I'll add a few more to the mix. I was front row almost center in the balcony. Not great for close shots, but a nice place to watch the show and it adds a different perspective on things. I was able to be up front on the floor for Seattle and Victoria. Between the setlists and the variety of spots (balcony, floor standing, floor seat) it was a great mix. It was nice to hear Sunken Treasure and Remember the Mtn. Bed as openers in Portland, and Kingpin later on. They didn't show up again in the other two shows. Great crowd in Portland; y'all have a nice little city. Always a pleasure to visit.

Beautiful Victoria, and in the rain shadow of the Olympics. It was really nice weather considering what was going on back in Seattle. Just back from the boat not too long ago (the crossing was really rough tonight - lots of people got sick from the huge storm swells in the Strait of Juan de Fuca - I took dramamine before leaving and enjoyed the rocking and rolling) As Jeff said in the show in talking about how Victoria had moved way up their favorite places list: 'you have to take a boat to get here. How good is that?'. Meant positively of course. Of the three shows (Portland, Seattle, Victoria) I saw this past week, I liked Victoria the best. The crowd did a nice job of welcoming the band with a standing ovation right when they entered, and Jeff seemed pleased. The sound quality was by far the best of the three venues. The setlist was really great and wasn't shut down by an 11 PM venue curfew, like Seattle. What a finish, with I Got You, Hoodoo Voodoo, and I'm a Wheel. Seattle far and away won the Jesus, etc. test, and you could tell that some of the Victoria crowd didn't know alot of the songs, but people were into it. More should've stood up on certain songs where it was a mix of standing and sitting. Jeff had complimented Portland for figuring out knowing when to stand and sit 'all by yourselves'. But it was a great show anyway, and man, the sound quality and energy of the band were incredible. Here are a few photos, starting with one of the beautiful Parliament Building - then to the show:

I'll bet they don't play Broken Arrow though. I'll bet that was a one off event.

Happy that Missoula proved me wrong. Portland tomorrow perhaps?

I know it's been done by U2, and it's my favorite Bono live song, hands down. However, the current iteration of Wilco is designed to rip Helter Skelter, from the triple lead guitar triumvariate of Jeff, Nels, and Pat, through the drums of Glenn, and into the Paul like bass that John could no doubt pull off, and the Mikael enhancements on the George Martinish sonic front.

I envy you....and I wouldn't presume to argue that point. OTOH - if Neil's pinnacle was RNS, where Crazy Horse were the very basic garage band foundation for his brilliant creativity, then it makes me respect what Jeff's done all the more. Rather than stand on the shoulders of a "good" band playing exactly what they're told to, he's challenged himself to work with better and better musicians over the years. You may not like the Gen3 Wilco as much as the earlier versions, but they have serious chops and great chemistry. That takes effort to accomplish, and a fair bit of ego downsizing.

Don't envy how old that makes me though....Personally, I wholeheartedly think Gen3 Wilco live is the best so far, based on the 3 shows I've seen so far over the last few years. I hope to confirm that with the 3 shows next week. I'll bet they don't play Broken Arrow though. I'll bet that was a one off event.

Seriously, that looked like a snorefest. Nearly all the clips sounded like easy listening / adult contemporary.

 

That ain't Neil. This is Neil.

 

No makeup, no fancy threads, no great vocal technique, no great technical prowess on guitar, no great nothin'. Just freakin' GREAT.

I saw Neil do the Rust Never Sleeps show in Denver in 1978. If I had to pick, I think it would end up as the best concert I've ever seen. Sorry Wilco, but you are in the top three.

Edited to add: These performances really are poor. John Mellencamp and James Taylor are standout awful.

 

I'm counting on Stephen Colbert to be sitting nearby in Victoria, before he goes to Vancouver to see his speed skaters. We know he's a Wilco friend.

 

Pardon the reply to my own post (poor manners I'm told)

I realized this is the night of the opening ceremonies, so I expect Stephen Colbert will be occupied in Vancouver that evening. Thanks to Wilco for skipping that event to play for us in Victoria!~

I don't think Wilco Tango Foxtrot is a salute to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Wilco Tango Foxtrot = WTF

Which is what you'll say after 3 of them.....

Lagunitas has wonderful IPA.

disingenuous??

 

i'm with you, blue, i love this record.

It's really nice. Way better than Hombre Lobo, not that that was a bad album. This just hits it more for me.

We have to see this Broken Arrow performance. This is getting me more excited for PacNW Wilco Week.

There's a fair bit of buzz about the show already from what I can tell, but I share that sentiment. I'm not one who generally needs or wants to move around a whole lot during a show, but I get distracted if I suspect the band (especially Wilco) is bored or annoyed. I was at that 2004 show as well and remember Jeff's crack about Glenn painting the guy, and I remember hating the idiots in Seattle 2006 who kept shouting about the Seahawks (they were in the Super Bowl that weekend). The crowd at the Royal for Band of Horses was pretty tame, if I remember correctly -- but then again, they'd played here twice already in the last couple years.

 

Anyway, hopefully people (and the band) understand that this is a big deal for Victoria, and the show is a memorable one.

I think it's time to bump this back up! It's almost Wilco Week in the Pacific Northwest (Portland, Seattle, and Victoria for me)

I'm counting on Stephen Colbert to be sitting nearby in Victoria, before he goes to Vancouver to see his speed skaters. We know he's a Wilco friend.

Some people can't wear contacts because of the state of their eyes (me, for instance), and I understand that at least some of those people are also ineligible for LASIK because of that condition. Can someone else tell me whether that's ALL people, or just some? Because for glasses-wearing folk who can't wear contacts but ARE eligible for LASIK, and are active enough that glasses are prohibitive, well, that's another no-brainer.

Have you recently confirmed that even with newer contact designs you can't wear them? Otherwise it may be worth another try. The ability to correct for astigmatism and improved permeability has made a huge difference in recent years. If not for daily use, being able to wear them for outdoor activities is still worth having some around for (if they'll work).

Ain't doing LASIK, no way...

Johnny Cash

Not anymore, being older and wiser

I like your downtown Louisville photos. Good vibes to you Greg.