H.Stone

"Less Than..." is the grabber in that list.

Thought of you guys last night. I've missed you.

Ditto. 

Great to be back at a Wilco show.

Well, well, well! You're a sight for sore eyes, sir! 

I've been waiting for I'm A Wheel to show up as show closer! One more night, please.

I have to say I was excited to see Leopard-Skin... on the setlist.

Darin will be touring with Radiolab for all of the shows, but Glenn will only participate in those that fit in around the tour schedule.

Not me. I want to know if there will be any collaborations with Wilco or MMJ. That's the only thing that'll keep me there for his set in MA next month.

I feel the same. 2013 Bob Dylan reminds me more of Victoria's Secret than revolutionary music, and my leaving certainly won't take away from his legacy.

I can't believe I saw Tommy Stinson play with Wilco while they covered "Color Me Impressed." What?   

Regardless of the varying opinions of the all-cover show, John Hodgeman "hosting," etc., I think it's cool that Wilco continues to try to do something interesting with the festival. When you decide to venture to Mass MoCA, you're choosing to going through a fair amount of trouble to make it happen. It isn't an easy place to get to, and finding lodging has become increasingly difficult. It seems like once you've committed to attending Solid Sound, you've also committed to participating in the band's vision of art and entertainment for the weekend. It doesn't mean you're going to love all of it, but you're along for the ride. It seems like seem people are kind of pissed off about this or that, but that suggests you're a dissatisfied customer. In reality, I think we're all part of the experience. If we don't like it, we can decide to no longer participate. Or we can decide to participate again anyway because being part of the experience is satisfying in all sorts of ways. I don't think anyone actually has a problem with differing opinions, but when the complaints are aired in a way that suggests you've been denied something you deserve or are entitled to, well...it's off-putting.

My view of Friday night? Color me impressed. 

Monday ending up being a marathon day of eating and drinking, interrupted by geographical set changes (thunderstorms be damned! *shakes fist*) primarily involving airports, but I've finally made it back home.

It was great seeing so many dear friends over the weekend, and that alone makes SSF a success. There were a few other things that stood out to me:

* It was significantly more crowded, particularly on Saturday. Vendors (who've been at Solid Sound before) were running out of food before Wilco even took the stage on Saturday, and maneuvering through the grounds after about 2:00 was frustratingly difficult. I would rather pay an extra $50 for the three-day pass (early bird or otherwise) and have 1000 fewer people on the grounds.

* This year's installments were so cool. I loved the Phillips and Carrera "Humument"--incredible. And of course Xu Bing. The Loft exhibit was also a lot of fun. I'm glad I was able to look around early on Friday and had time to listen to all of the headphones.

* I loved the Radiolab segment. Live choreographed radio "stuff" (like a Prairie Home Companion) is a fun art to watch. Plus, baking on the pavement of Ctyd C made me empathize with the dinosaurs.

* Great food and beer choices. This isn't a make or break element of the fest, but it's really nice when they're so good.

I'll be in North Adams as of tomorrow night and can meet you Outside Mass MoCA anytime after that. Email me if interested. Tsszyman@gmail.com

Paid $99, will take best offer (possibly including payment in beer and samosas)

 I'm really grateful that he opted for "Nothing Up My Sleeve" over a more familiar second choice last night. (Sorry for going obscure!) For the record, I don't think any verses were left out.

I think the only thing he "missed" (or rather, that was different from the one recording I have of the song) is whistling a verse and then picking up the vocals with "it's not that I don't care at all" a final time. But "missed" is relative--it was a treat hearing that live. I'd only heard it live once before! And I haven't listened to that recording in awhile, so my memory may be faulty. But thanks for the great request; it was memorable.

Don't be such a cranky Brit.    

Sincerely,

Chummy 2

Maybe Jeff can help us out by starting to call out the offenders like he used to. Maybe he's just thrown in the towel on this issue?

That's a great idea except there will never be 100% compliance, so then he's left feeling angry and frustrated  because now people are not only taping and photographing, but they're doing it after he expressly asked them not to. I can see how that would be equally distracting--for everyone. A couple of years ago at one of these shows he agreed to play one of the new songs off of the Mavis album (You Are Not Alone). He said, "You have to promise you won't record this, though. I'm trusting you. *pause* I know I can't trust you." He started the song, and the person in front of me immediately started recording on his iPhone and nudged his buddy next to him, pointing out with a snicker that he was taping it anyway. I tapped him and said, "Why are you doing that?" to which he shrugged, turned back around, and went back to his taping.  I was irritated by that all night, so I can only imagine the compounded impact something like that could have on Jeff if he had to try to police everyone all night. 

Probably the most effective method was when venues posted signs of the policy ("If you are taking photos, we will take your phone/camera.") and then security enforced it for the duration of the show.

ETA: I guess more than a solution to the problem, I'd like people to be different. Is that too much to ask?  We're all swine...

These are always some of my favorite shows of the year, and last night was no different. With the intimacy of the venue and paying for tickets for two of us, we often opt for GA tickets vs. Golden Circle.  However, i think next year the extra $75 per ticket will be worth it so I don't have to experience the show behind 25+ glowing rectangles. And as if the glow of the screens isn't bad enough, people are also quite comfortable shooting photos and videos with their interrogation-style flashes on full power. Here's a new question for Jeff: Do you think one audience could agree to put their electronic devices away for an entire show and survive?  This a noble challenge, people. Let's try it.

/endrant

I had great time--Jeff was fantastic. Thanks to Susan and everyone else who has a part in organizing these each year.

Super late to this post-party, but thanks for the details, P. Several of my favorite people were at this show, but none of them reported on the rainbow SG (!) or the choice banter. You're such a rock star, P. You should get a Guitar Big Gulp.

 

Also, this ends a lot of questions from over the years ...

 

That answers a lot of questions...right up until it poses at least a dozen new ones.

When You Wake Up Feeling Old!

I searched them too: Of Monsters and Men: Little Talks

Thank you!!

That was fun! I'm working in my classroom and projected it on my SmartBoard.

Did anyone stay tuned after Wilco? If so, who was the band that played one song afterwards? I tried to catch enough lyrics to search and find them but was unsuccessful. Anyone?

I like having Wilco ts, but the quality has been really hit or miss the last few years. I love the AA 50/25/25 shirt, but they don't use it very often and the others just don't wash and wear well. However, we buy a lot of posters. I mean, who doesn't need more posters rolled up in the closet?!

I'm unable to attend the block party this year because of work, but we attended as a family last year to see Mavis Staples and Andrew Bird. It was a one-day event last year, and it sold out mid-afternoon. One of the best things about the festival is that kids 10 and under are free, so it was the perfect opportunity to bring our daughters to see some great performers but without a big investment should they not enjoy themselves and want to leave early. As for organization and execution of the event, there were a few things that put a damper on the event. The simple act of entering the gates took an eternity because there was almost no signage to direct people to the proper line ("Will Call" "Tickets In Hand" "A-D" "E-M" etc.). The shows were held on a stage that was in the corner of a parking lot which was surrounded by a fence, and everyone had to enter and exit out of the same place which made for a lot of congestion. Basically, the entire affair was really congested. The concessions were along one of the streets that bordered the "stage lot," and the lines for beer blocked off foot traffic trying to get through to the food stands, etc. There weren't very many vendors (maybe two places to buy beer? Five food vendors?), so there were a lot of lines and periods of everyone being out of food. Granted, those things aren't about the music, the stage, or the sound, but they did have an impact on my enjoyment of the day and night. I'll be interested to hear what they changed from last year--especially to manage a Wilco-sized crowd.

On the other hand, they had cool booths set up, art and music to peruse, some kids' activities at the back of the "stage lot," and very friendly attendees. If I didn't have commitments for work, I'd be there for Wilco in a second.

I kept picturing, like, each of the band members' faces emerging in colored lights or various Wilco "logos" or something...

HA!

Re: Bird's "new" bass player, his name is Alan Hampton and it looks like he's a pretty busy singer-songwriter in his own right...with a bit of a Nels-ian knack for collaboration. Not sure if there had been any previous connection between him and Andrew, but he seems like as good a fill-in/replacement for Mike Lewis as Andrew could probably find. Anyway, check out his personal site for more info.

Thank you! God, you really deliver, P. (twss)

Tell him I expect him to stand on his drum stool during Auntie Ebb's next performance.

Oh, good call!

One other thing: they sound checked "In The Street" (aka the theme from That 70s Show... ), and John sounded fantastic. He was also a little higher in the mix than usual last night, and it was great.

With the exception of a few dear friends being absent , last night's show was nearly perfect. The change-up in the setlist was nice (for those interested in these kinds of things, Red Eyed/Got You and Dreamer were cut from the original setlist), the opening acts were great, the band seemed relaxed and happy, and the crowd was appreciative. Candyfloss! Plus the beautiful acoustic Spiders, Laminated Cat with wicked lighting, and so many others. The time passed much, much too quickly.

I'm well past believing I'm objective when it comes to this band, but we brought along a friend and avid music lover for whom this was his third Wilco show (and first GA). After the show, while waiting for the lots to clear out, we rehashed the night and he kept coming back to the incredible talent of each of the band members and the exceptional rock show they put on for the audience. It was nice to listen to someone with "fresh" ears get as excited about a band you love as you do.

Lou--you said it perfectly: ABird was in full rock mode, and it was fantastic. I hadn't heard him live in a couple of years, and last night's set made me grateful I snagged a couple of tickets for Madison in September. Anyone know anything about his new bass player? Great harmonies!

I fear it will be much too far down the road before I see many of you again, but until then... (

Ahhh, Country Disappeared. Nice.

For a second I processed "Rising Red Lung" as "Sunloathe" (whatever, P...it's early) and was excited for those who got to hear it. But alas, it remains the only song from TWL that hasn't been played live. I thought this combination of record temps and outdoor shows might get it onto a setlist, but I guess it would make for difficult placement. I'm holding out hope for Geneva!