Sun Caught Fire

Another great write up and really appreciate this one after heading back to the east coast (paying no dues getting through) after night 2. Look forward to report on night 4. Thanks!

Perfect write up and always remind me of little things I would have forgotten. One other little remark I thought was funny was after each cover he said something like yeah I just wrote that" and after his lyrical flub interlude during New Madrid he then quipped "yeah I didn't write that one" as if the legitimate excuse for messing it up. In addition to how special it is to see Jeff in really the smallest/most intimate setting on his touring schedule,  it becomes obvious very quickly just how incredibly comfortable he feels there and how he plays off of the comedic feel of the room by always bringing his "A" comedy chops. 

I embraced much of punk and new wave, but never moved away from my love of the Grateful Dead. US Blues never a particular favorite as it was at times a very predictable encore.  Somewhat of an interesting choice for Wilco and would be happy to see a full band version after Philco.

That is one hell of a setlist. Yes bring it on to LA please. 

Thanks! Could not be there and really wanted this level of detail to feel like I was. Many wow moments for sure with it looks like 6 total break out tunes.

thanks as always Paul for helping Yun hee and me feel like we were at the show. Wish we were able to make it back to NY for the shows and no surprise really that they were two completely different shows. Glad you were there and we still hope to make it to the Orpheum in LA. Thanks again. 

Don't know about last night but they did on the first 4 shows of the tour.

No break for a happy birthday rendering? Glad i was able to catch On and On and On early in the tour as it seems to be gone.

Thanks for making me feel like I was there, much and always appreciated.

Thanks Paul, just as much fun to read when I am at the show as not. His mention of 512 days since the last Wilco show made me realize just how little Wilco has been able to tour in the last 3-3/4 years. Other than the 9 month stretch between June, 2019 and March, 2020 Wilco hadn't played any shows between the St Paul shows in mid November 2017 until August 5, 2021. I think the hiatus was longer than 512 days but haven't done the math so Jeff's quip might have been wrong that it was their longest break since before they were a band.  Years since Art of Almost was played and with no guitar in hand I assumed it would be Hummingbird when they launched into that beautiful version of On and On and On. 

Very solid setlist and happy to see a few of the Sky Blue Sky tunes stick, at least for now. Great report and to feel a little closer to being there (that pun just happens on it's own). Take care Senor PS and see you again hopefully soon on down the line. 

Steve

Perfectly encapsulated report, thanks so much. Been to so many different shows at Radio City over the years since my first - - Jethro Tull in January of 1977 - - and of course the Grateful Dead in 1980, but also the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Arcade Fire, the White Stripes etc. But having been to see Wilco there in 2004 and be able to do it again so many years later was pretty magical (even if the crowd overall was a bit stiff) and a super fun time. 

Yet another great read, thanks so much and see you in a couple of weeks for some stateside shows.

Great story and must have been a really fun moment.

They’re the first thing I look for in the morning when Wilco is on tour.

Same here and even when I'm on tour too!

Yes, cool format. But as long as you write I am happy with the resulting feel of being there that you convey.

Hold Me Anyway started the encore. True Love was a transition from end of Cali with no break and no mention of Daniel. Figured they thought a name perhaps not known there. Fun show with very little banter. Quick reference to the copy machine. A couple of kids near the front so Jeff said that was good to see as their regular fans are getting old and dying. At another point he said thanks for standing.one kid was maybe 11 and was air drumming along and got a grin from Glenn at end of main set. At the end of the show Jeff grabbed the drum sticks and handed them off to that kid, sweet. A guy behind us was calling for Spiders after most every song so Jeff politely shut him down a few times. New songs sounded really good with Glenn and Nels doing the most noticeable parts. Jeff used that uncle Sam stickers new small guitar I think on every new tune. Set was played as per the written setlist. One other moment was after another new song someone yelled "sold" and Jeff notes ok there's 1, we do usually sell them one at a time often door to door.

An interesting moment all around, thanks Paul! I think Jeff had just started strumming but not really started (but he was not happy with the timing as it was obvious he was starting a different song). As I heard it she called our for the Wilco bed and Jeff said you mean Remember the Mountain Bed. For whatever reason Jeff must have felt a tad guilty for the thrice calling them out (I recall a lyric as well perhaps in the one or two songs after Reservations) as he decided to slot the tune in. Interestingly, he did so without looking in their direction as best I could tell. Or was he thinking Wilco's fate in the Brazilian market hung in the balance. Lol. So great to see/hear the setlist variety. Wow.

A wonderful read, thanks Paul. Loved every minute of it and they somehow made the (at times) near tortuous 18-1/2 month wait fade away almost immediately. Such a thrill to see them again and know so much more to come!

Sound like Dead and Co. were at the same location as SBS, yes?

dead and co concerts were at the Barcelo resort but it was more people and other resorts were available. We stayed at Barcelo so i don't recall if one of the other involved resorts was the hard rock but cloud 9 coordinates most of these and they all seem to be run about the same. 

No.  The Dead and Phish events are put on by CID Entertainment at a much larger hotel.  The Hard Rock has been used as a "jump hotel" for these events where they bus people over the the much larger (I believe 10K attendance) sponsor hotel.   

 

Wilco's Sky Blu Sky is put on by Cloud 9.  They put on the Riviera Maya Hard Rock (2,500-3,000) and the Hard Rock Dominican Republic (3,500-4,000) events. http://www.cloud9adventures.com/

 

There's bottled water everywhere!  The table side water for breakfast, lunch, and dinner comes from bottles as well.   I heard the ice is filtered.  We ate breakfast at Ipanema each morning (buffet style w/ omelettes etc. and dinner at Los Gallos and Toro each evening as well as grilled burgers, etc for lunch at the poolside grill.  We stayed away from anything else buffet style that was sitting around in warmers.  We had no issues.  

we were concerned about the water but agree with this post and didn't hear of anyone having any issue. these big resorts often have own filtration plants and in any event can easily stick to bottled water

We think this will be a fantastic event filled with Wilco fans. We loved the Dead and Co event we did in 2018 and hard to see any downside at all to seeing 3 Wilco shows in the same venue (maximum setlist variety as they know everyone there is there for all 3 shows) plus Jeff set and other performers other than it is relatively expensive and requires an ability to take off from work. We were a bit skeptical of Mexico and the water and everything else when we did Dead and Co and it was just an amazing weekend. We hope to do the Avett Brothers one as well end of February in the Dominican Republic. 

Paul:  Among many i am so very grateful for your earnest and stellar reporting of the shows you attend. Your reviews/recaps really fill the void of not be able to attend in person and always convey a real and honest sense of the performance, venue, crowd and vibe. Thanks so much for always taking the time and energy to do so, it is so very much appreciated and a quality/fun read even about the shows i do make it to!  Look forward to seeing you down the road as the Wilco wheels start to turn. 

Steve 

Thanks much Paul and count me happily among those who really enjoy/rely on your accounts. I was at both shows at Town Hall and still missed your not being there to do this level of reporting. One note of banter from night two at Town Hall was when Jeff recounted a bit of advice Michael Stipe once many years ago offered up. I think he has told it before and the advice was to give make up a try. What was noteworthy is that Jeff actually did a spot on impression of Michael, very impressive. 

My guess is they possibly haven’t finished plotting the tour, and are still confirming venues and/or dates. It takes a long time to plan and book a tour before you make announcements.

I think there is virtually no way that the entire 2019 year of shows has not been booked. They are just waiting to announce. Tours are being booked farther and farther in advance per comment Jeff made to a group of us on a loft tour last November. It seemed at that time that all of 2019 was already booked. Maybe waiting until closer to Solid Sound to max out ticket sales for their own festival first. I am in same boat of trying to hold off trip planning and at this point more so just hoping convenient tour stops do not conflict with existing plans. 

As always, thanks so much for the reporting. Looks like I may only make it to the two Town Hall shows this tour so relying even more heavily on your most excellent reporting. 

Much obliged!